Hurling 2026

[Franko]

Firmly believe that the source of this is twofold.

1. The illegal handpass and 2. the consistent allowing of 6-7 steps in possession

Because the ball carrier can now so easily offload the ball out of a tackle, or carry it through said tackle, the tackling player has very few legitimate means of dispossessing him.  The only way that offers any hope of success is to surround the player and hope that you can force him to overcarry the ball.  The consequence is that the game descends into these situations regularly.

Apply these rules properly and the possession game becomes more risky and teams will evolve into a more territorial approach.

[didlyi]

Firmly believe that the source of this is twofold.

1. The illegal handpass and 2. the consistent allowing of 6-7 steps in possession

Because the ball carrier can now so easily offload the ball out of a tackle, or carry it through said tackle, the tackling player has very few legitimate means of dispossessing him.  The only way that offers any hope of success is to surround the player and hope that you can force him to overcarry the ball.  The consequence is that the game descends into these situations regularly.

Apply these rules properly and the possession game becomes more risky and teams will evolve into a more territorial approach.

Well said. Players are happy to go straight into contact knowing there's a simple offload in the form of a handpass/throw at their disposal and there's little legal ways of defending that. Same with the ruck, the reward for winning one is usually a throw out of the ruck. It really has the look of a rugby match about it, A reset is required in the form of a HRC and as with the FRC no managers or those with vested interests should be allowed decide whats best for the game.

[NAG1]

The handpass has been an issue for a long time now and just seems to be ignored.

I said it a bit tongue in cheek a while back but the back pass to the keeper is becoming a bit of an issue for me. Teams won't press up now at the moment, because the better teams can work the ball out via the keeper even on a good press. So teams are inclined to accept this now and fall back into the defensive structure.

Teams who want to build from the back will find it more difficult to do without that option and gives the other team more incentive to try to win the ball higher up the pitch.

[Milltown Row2]

The handpass has been an issue for a long time now and just seems to be ignored.

I said it a bit tongue in cheek a while back but the back pass to the keeper is becoming a bit of an issue for me. Teams won't press up now at the moment, because the better teams can work the ball out via the keeper even on a good press. So teams are inclined to accept this now and fall back into the defensive structure.

Teams who want to build from the back will find it more difficult to do without that option and gives the other team more incentive to try to win the ball higher up the pitch.

Teams are trained to gain possession the days of lashing the ball out of the ruck are long gone, the arm in has been a thing for plenty years, the simple way out is call it straight away as they ain't tackling the ball or the man. the advantage rule should be used and probably is most cases.

The hand pass is a pain, and it's being coached illegally I feel, as it's right through the juveniles. When it's done right it splits defensives when a player is bottled up, but catching whether it's a throw or legal pass is hard if in the wrong position

Tbf I very rarely hear too many players complaining about the physical side of things, dirt yes but a good challenge is well received

Those viewing it would complain more

[Rossfan]

So yer oul hurling isn't perfect after all!!

[johnnycool]

So yer oul hurling isn't perfect after all!!

I don't think anyone ever said it was.

[Franko]

So yer oul hurling isn't perfect after all!!

Lol, rent free

[Rossfan]

So yer oul hurling isn't perfect after all!!

I don't think anyone ever said it was.

Apart from a few hundred "real hurling men"

[Rossfan]

So yer oul hurling isn't perfect after all!!

Lol, rent free

I've dipped in to this 3 times in 12 months😉

[Franko]

So yer oul hurling isn't perfect after all!!

Lol, rent free

I've dipped in to this 3 times in 12 months😉

   we believe you

[johnnycool]

Some big games across the divisions this weekend.

The biggie will be the manly Cork lads going up to Limerick on Saturday evening and we may just see how manly they really are.

Limerick don't seem to be desperate for a league title at this juncture in their development, but they certainly won't want to lie down and roll over against Cork with the Munster championship a few short weeks away.
It could get interesting.

Galway welcome Kilkenny to Salthill, this could also tell us a bit more about Galways young guns who to this point have been doing rightly.
For me Lawlor is a huge loss for the Cats, he's irreplaceable and they need to find someone in there who can do a job. Carey isn't the answer, so maybe David Blanchfield would be better suited for the high ball situations, I don't know.
Eoin Cody to be the difference yet again. I think he's the best forward in the game at the minute.


Waterford v Tipp.

With a lot of teams on 4 points, it's still to be seen who goes down with Offaly, the winner of this one gives themselves a bit of breathing space, but won't be secure.
This is Waterfords last chance to get a few league points, so the need is greatest with them.
Tipp finish off with a home game v Kilkenny who are also on 4 points going into this weekend.

The big game in 1B is Clare v Wexford, both unbeaten and both favourites for promotion although the Dubs are still in with a shout in that regard.

The relegation battle comes down to the wire in Newbridge, so whoever loses that is likely to join Down in Div2, especially if Carlow lose, they're banjaxed as it's hard to see anything other than an Antrim win in Newry taking Antrim to 4 points and on head to head they'd go above Carlow.
If Carlow do win then we could end up with 3 teams on 4 points and then I think it's a mini league between all 3 making the Newbridge game almost a 4 pointer for Carlow.

   

[ClubScene13]

Some big games across the divisions this weekend.

The biggie will be the manly Cork lads going up to Limerick on Saturday evening and we may just see how manly they really are.

Limerick don't seem to be desperate for a league title at this juncture in their development, but they certainly won't want to lie down and roll over against Cork with the Munster championship a few short weeks away.
It could get interesting.

Galway welcome Kilkenny to Salthill, this could also tell us a bit more about Galways young guns who to this point have been doing rightly.
For me Lawlor is a huge loss for the Cats, he's irreplaceable and they need to find someone in there who can do a job. Carey isn't the answer, so maybe David Blanchfield would be better suited for the high ball situations, I don't know.
Eoin Cody to be the difference yet again. I think he's the best forward in the game at the minute.


Waterford v Tipp.

With a lot of teams on 4 points, it's still to be seen who goes down with Offaly, the winner of this one gives themselves a bit of breathing space, but won't be secure.
This is Waterfords last chance to get a few league points, so the need is greatest with them.
Tipp finish off with a home game v Kilkenny who are also on 4 points going into this weekend.

The big game in 1B is Clare v Wexford, both unbeaten and both favourites for promotion although the Dubs are still in with a shout in that regard.

The relegation battle comes down to the wire in Newbridge, so whoever loses that is likely to join Down in Div2, especially if Carlow lose, they're banjaxed as it's hard to see anything other than an Antrim win in Newry taking Antrim to 4 points and on head to head they'd go above Carlow.
If Carlow do win then we could end up with 3 teams on 4 points and then I think it's a mini league between all 3 making the Newbridge game almost a 4 pointer for Carlow.

   

Have you seen the team Limerick have named? The team you'll see in Croke Park at the end of the year essentially

Cork are already in the league final, they will be in absolute second gear, this wouldn't be the game I'd be pinpointing to have a dig at Cork. They'll not be targeting it in the slightest and Limerick have went strongest possible line up for some reason

[marty34]

Big win for the Treaty men last night in Semple Stadium. Hard to know were Limerick that good or were Tipp that bad? Probably a mixture of both.

Limerick never tested Hogan at all in goals but when you can shoot that number of points, it is some going in them conditions and soft sod. Not sure what it was but Limerick's scoring conversion was high.

Tipp looked flat enough. Connor's sending off sucked the life out of the game and it was like  training game after that. Funny enough that Aidan O'C is on the frees instead of Gillane. I wonder why this is and will it continue on into the season?

Bull O'Brien is so good at ff. Just play him any sort of ball - high or low and he'll not shy away from it. Plus he's so strong. Craig Morgan was literally hanging off him at times but O'Brien just shrugged him off.

Matt F. seems a real good find in defence for Limerick. Showed well last night. Adds a bit of freshness to defence and is similiar to Barry Nash in a way. Byrnes, Tom Morrissey and Reidy all came on in the second half. No Finn or Lynch either. Competition for places is strong.

Strange seeing the Mc Graths playing so early. I thought they'd be doing a 'T.J.' and only playing in last 2 league games - to get ready for championship.

Munster will be another dog fight this year. With O' Connor adding that bit of steel and fire to Cork, the Tipp/Cork game will be savage.

High scoring draw between Dublin and Wexford in Croke Park. Plenty of action there. I thought Dublin would have beaten them but Chin is a solid boost to Wexford. Definately makes a difference.

Kildare just get edged out by Clare. Hard to know if playing in Div. 1A or Div. 1B is more beneficial. Some people say you'll be undercooked in 1B while others say you'll be overcooked in 1A before championship. You could say the two are valid...depending on how your season goes.

But great to see Kildare are pushing on. Maybe a bit over reliant on Naas players. In a year or two, if they bring a few more players on, they'll be moving upwards. They have the population.

It always surprises me that Wicklow aren't doing a 'Kildare' and rising up through the leagues, both in hurling and football. I assume they have a big population bordering south Dublin and Bray is a big town. I think Bray play in the Dublin hurling league - similiar to what Nass did in Kilkenny.

Big day for Antrim and Davy Fitz today. I think it'll be tight but they should edge Carlow. Might be a red card or two as Carlow will not take a backward step and leave thm timber in. Could be their downfall. It's cost them before in crucial games but they're a credit to be so consistent at that level, considering the no. of clubs they have at senior level.

Derry have  50/50 game away in Trim. After a good home win V Mayo, this game will be a good test. Div. 2 is a league of 2 leagues. Monaghan not pushing on in hurling - a bit static but Cavan had a good win over Lancashire. Sligo had a big win over Warickshire...who only acored 3 pts. In saying that I think the NHL needs these 2 English teams in the league as it's an extra game for teams in the third tier. But crtainly they have regressed in recent years. London will always be strong.

I see Andrew La Touche Cosgrave played for Louth yesterday. I remember him playing underage for Limerick. I think it was Limerick? Not sure if it was the minors or their excellent U21 teams. Just that the name stood out.  I wonder did he ever play senior for Limerick? What actually helps these lower level teams is the parent rule, as well as people working/moving to the county. Be good to find the accurate stats for this in the third tier teams.

As an aside, good wins for Antrim and Down camogs yesterday. 

Waterford V Tipp game off tomorrow. Michael Kiely's passed away. RIP.

Kilkenny are very average. Only Kenny doing any damage. Galway look as if they have an extra man every time they have possession. KK can't win anything in their own half-forward line. Hanrahan and Ryan looks likes they're tidy operators in defence. 

As above, Derry had a poor day out V London at home last week.  Just edged out by Meath the week before but didn't do enough in the 2nd half in Celtic Park Up against it V Westmeath tomorrow. Them and Down could both be relegated - after the hope of coming up last year. Disappointing from an Ulster point of view if it happens.

Funny thing is Cork and Limerick  could meet 4 times this year. Will it happen?  It should be a good battle. O'Connor will have Cork spitting fire. Be interesting to see how it goes. Limerick have a strong team out. A good few lads to come back in for Cork also.

[Blowitupref]

Limerick 3-16 Cork 0-15 62 mins played.  FT 3-19 to 0-20

[johnnycool]

Limerick too strong but I wouldn't be overly concerned if I was Cork other Daire O'Leary is now essential at full back with Eoin Downey being a better centre back than his brother .
Alan Walsh also offers a serious aerial threat on the edge of the square.