Hurling 2024

[johnnycool]

A very encouraging result and performance for Kilkenny.  3-17 to 1-15 it finished. As for Limerick It's a while since I've seen them give up so many goal scoring opportunities. 

Allowing the young fella to be left alone with TJ Reid on a one on one is criminal for Limerick, I've never seen them so bad, but credit to Kilkenny, they do what they do and and deserve to reach the final.

Kiely has an issue or two to resolve and I know everyone says they'll come good as they've done before, and I know they left it a bit tight in Munster last year with Waterford doing them a favour, but they very might be nipped if they don't get their act together, but we'll know more in a few weeks time when the alleged handbrake will be taken off!

[seafoid]

Clare are well on top of Tipp.
It is very unusual to have Cork and KK on record or almost record droughts and Tipp rebuilding
So fat this decade they have no all Irelands.

[johnnycool]

Clare are well on top of Tipp.
It is very unusual to have Cork and KK on record or almost record droughts and Tipp rebuilding
So fat this decade they have no all Irelands.

Tipp happy to be going in at the break only 7 down, whatever hurling has been done by Clare so far.

Bonnar Maher is lots of things but a full forward isn't one of them,  he needs to be further out the field winning dirty ball and driving forward with it.

Clare fouling giving Tipp a lifeline

[seafoid]

Clare are well on top of Tipp.
It is very unusual to have Cork and KK on record or almost record droughts and Tipp rebuilding
So fat this decade they have no all Irelands.

Tipp happy to be going in at the break only 7 down, whatever hurling has been done by Clare so far.

Bonnar Maher is lots of things but a full forward isn't one of them,  he needs to be further out the field winning dirty ball and driving forward with it.

Clare fouling giving Tipp a lifeline

Tipp are way off so far.
Kiely was interviewed on Radio 1. He said they lacked energy, cohesion and intensity and that it was one of the worst performances in his 8 years.

[johnnycool]

Tipp have decided to turn up, game on

[seafoid]

Game off. Tipp not accurate enough.

[seafoid]

19 wides. 10 frees sent wide.

[johnnycool]

19 wides. 10 frees sent wide.

Clare went up the gears when needed but in general the standard of hurling was poor over the weekend and whilst it may not have looked like it the Down lads say there was quite a lot of sand on the pitch in Portlaoise which probably contributed to the bunching, inability to rise the ball first time etc etc which ensured the game didn't really have any pace to it.

Tipp will be concerned, unsure of the spine of their team, does Maher come out to 6, who goes back in to 3, centre forward is probably where they should be playing Bonnar Maher IMO but they to find a balance in there and lads who can get the most out of Forde and Morris who need the ball in early and in space to cause defences problems.

 Clare content that they've a panel now going into championship but Kelly and O'Donnell need game time and surely the final is the place to get them some. Even Ryan Taylor and David McInerney haven't featured to date and are allegedly back to full fitness.
One concern for Clare is that they don't think John Conlan has 70 minutes in him and a stand in centre back isn't Seadna Morey in all fairness. Conlan has played some hurling in the last year with club and county and he isn't getting any younger but he is their talisman and there's more to replacing him than just for his hurling!
David Fitzgerald is a beast of a hurler, size, speed and skill, Clare need him in the game a lot more, but what a weapon.

[marty34]

I was completely wrong in my suggestion that Limerick and Tipperary would win.  Both were, in similiar ways, very disappointing.

Tipperary moreso as I was expecting them to front up and tear into Clare but it was the complete opposite. Clare had the fire and dominated the game.

Forde and O'Connor were poor on the frees.  Need to be hitting 90% of your free shots at any level. It's a good bulk of your scores nowadays. From watching Tipp yesterday, they have a ot of grafters but maybe need more skill.  Maybe that'll come with the harder ground.

Clare were good. Never let up. Building a good panel but they'll have a tough battle in Munster. Fitzgerald is showing his true potential - fast, powerful and works the scoreboard.  Cathal Malone is underated - does a mountain of work in that middle third.  They, unlike Tipp, hve skilfull and tricky players inside.  Hard to work with.

Munster should be fasinating once again. Will Limerick run out of steam. Has Davy's Waterford a kick in them? What Cork will turn up? Hard to believe the league is near over.

[johnnycool]

I was completely wrong in my suggestion that Limerick and Tipperary would win.  Both were, in similiar ways, very disappointing.

Tipperary moreso as I was expecting them to front up and tear into Clare but it was the complete opposite. Clare had the fire and dominated the game.

Forde and O'Connor were poor on the frees.  Need to be hitting 90% of your free shots at any level. It's a good bulk of your scores nowadays. From watching Tipp yesterday, they have a ot of grafters but maybe need more skill.  Maybe that'll come with the harder ground.

Clare were good. Never let up. Building a good panel but they'll have a tough battle in Munster. Fitzgerald is showing his true potential - fast, powerful and works the scoreboard.  Cathal Malone is underated - does a mountain of work in that middle third.  They, unlike Tipp, hve skilfull and tricky players inside.  Hard to work with.

Munster should be fasinating once again. Will Limerick run out of steam. Has Davy's Waterford a kick in them? What Cork will turn up? Hard to believe the league is near over.

I thought quite a few of the Tipp lads were bulky in the chest area, too much bench pressing over the winter maybe, and looked to be more ponderous than Clare by and large..
Yes, hurling is now a lot more physical than it used to be but pace is still the key asset for me.

[marty34]

I was completely wrong in my suggestion that Limerick and Tipperary would win.  Both were, in similiar ways, very disappointing.

Tipperary moreso as I was expecting them to front up and tear into Clare but it was the complete opposite. Clare had the fire and dominated the game.

Forde and O'Connor were poor on the frees.  Need to be hitting 90% of your free shots at any level. It's a good bulk of your scores nowadays. From watching Tipp yesterday, they have a ot of grafters but maybe need more skill.  Maybe that'll come with the harder ground.

Clare were good. Never let up. Building a good panel but they'll have a tough battle in Munster. Fitzgerald is showing his true potential - fast, powerful and works the scoreboard.  Cathal Malone is underated - does a mountain of work in that middle third.  They, unlike Tipp, hve skilfull and tricky players inside.  Hard to work with.

Munster should be fasinating once again. Will Limerick run out of steam. Has Davy's Waterford a kick in them? What Cork will turn up? Hard to believe the league is near over.

I thought quite a few of the Tipp lads were bulky in the chest area, too much bench pressing over the winter maybe, and looked to be more ponderous than Clare by and large..
Yes, hurling is now a lot more physical than it used to be but pace is still the key asset for me.

Agree JC. Just seemed to be more workers than shooters. Maybe the guile of the Mc Graths might help but Tyan, Connors, Dan Mc C and Bonnar Maher etc. will win the ball but need the finishers.

Maybe I'm being unfair and it was just one game but I expected a lot more from them. They'll not have a day when their free takers will have as bad a day either.

Maybe Cahill knows his team and experimented during the league but after yesterday, there's a lot more questions than answers I think.

[burdizzo]

19 wides. 10 frees sent wide.

Clare went up the gears when needed but in general the standard of hurling was poor over the weekend and whilst it may not have looked like it the Down lads say there was quite a lot of sand on the pitch in Portlaoise which probably contributed to the bunching, inability to rise the ball first time etc etc which ensured the game didn't really have any pace to it.

There was an awful lot of sand on the pitch. Seemingly, a drainage pipe broke underneath, and with all the rain, it had to be fixed - so the pitch was dug up to do it last week.

[seafoid]

Munster teams have to peak by end May to qualify . It's 3/5 and it is a dogfight.
Tipp can't peak end March and end May and July considering where they are starting from

https://twitter.com/BrophShane/status/1772003527205716004
The GAA has got a huge problem with the hurling and football leagues as in you can't trust what you are watching. Managers pick games over others to prioritise. So much of this years league has been fake and supporters won't stay paying high admission prices for it.

[seafoid]

19 wides. 10 frees sent wide.

Clare went up the gears when needed but in general the standard of hurling was poor over the weekend and whilst it may not have looked like it the Down lads say there was quite a lot of sand on the pitch in Portlaoise which probably contributed to the bunching, inability to rise the ball first time etc etc which ensured the game didn't really have any pace to it.

Tipp will be concerned, unsure of the spine of their team, does Maher come out to 6, who goes back in to 3, centre forward is probably where they should be playing Bonnar Maher IMO but they to find a balance in there and lads who can get the most out of Forde and Morris who need the ball in early and in space to cause defences problems.

 Clare content that they've a panel now going into championship but Kelly and O'Donnell need game time and surely the final is the place to get them some. Even Ryan Taylor and David McInerney haven't featured to date and are allegedly back to full fitness.
One concern for Clare is that they don't think John Conlan has 70 minutes in him and a stand in centre back isn't Seadna Morey in all fairness. Conlan has played some hurling in the last year with club and county and he isn't getting any younger but he is their talisman and there's more to replacing him than just for his hurling!
David Fitzgerald is a beast of a hurler, size, speed and skill, Clare need him in the game a lot more, but what a weapon.

Championship is 25% faster than league. Touch and accuracy are far better. A loss like that may be better for Tipp in the long run if they are honest and want to learn from it.
Clare are probably better overall.
The provincial harness is unfair on Munster because there are 5 decent teams and in Leinster there aren't.
 

[johnnycool]

19 wides. 10 frees sent wide.

Clare went up the gears when needed but in general the standard of hurling was poor over the weekend and whilst it may not have looked like it the Down lads say there was quite a lot of sand on the pitch in Portlaoise which probably contributed to the bunching, inability to rise the ball first time etc etc which ensured the game didn't really have any pace to it.

Tipp will be concerned, unsure of the spine of their team, does Maher come out to 6, who goes back in to 3, centre forward is probably where they should be playing Bonnar Maher IMO but they to find a balance in there and lads who can get the most out of Forde and Morris who need the ball in early and in space to cause defences problems.

 Clare content that they've a panel now going into championship but Kelly and O'Donnell need game time and surely the final is the place to get them some. Even Ryan Taylor and David McInerney haven't featured to date and are allegedly back to full fitness.
One concern for Clare is that they don't think John Conlan has 70 minutes in him and a stand in centre back isn't Seadna Morey in all fairness. Conlan has played some hurling in the last year with club and county and he isn't getting any younger but he is their talisman and there's more to replacing him than just for his hurling!
David Fitzgerald is a beast of a hurler, size, speed and skill, Clare need him in the game a lot more, but what a weapon.

Championship is 25% faster than league. Touch and accuracy are far better. A loss like that may be better for Tipp in the long run if they are honest and want to learn from it.
Clare are probably better overall.
The provincial harness is unfair on Munster because there are 5 decent teams and in Leinster there aren't.
 

Yet no one in Munster will ever question the fairness of the current format!