National Hurling league round 2

[AZOffaly]

Great win for Offaly yesterday, and they certainly bucked a trend whereby there's been umpteen second half fadeouts. 3-19 is a good score against a good team, and hopefully that will give Offaly a bit of confidence that they can compete at this level. Dublin beat Tipp, Tipp beat Kilkenny and Galway, Galway beat Waterford. Obviously it doesn't work like that, but it should at least give them the idea that they deserve to be up in Division 1, and can compete with the teams there.

[cicfada]

 A bitter reality check for Galway hyrlers yesterday in Semple Stadium. Only 1 piont in the second half.....not good enough!!  Portumna lads can't come back quick enough!!Howver a chance to get back on track against an improving Offaly team   at home this week!!I will be at the match next Saturday in Pearse Stadium, fancy meeting up AZ?

[Last Man]

Watched the 1st half on skyplus this morning before heading to work, Aisake impressed with his ball winning ability but his decisions thereafter were ropey to say the least. The potential of a Corcoranesque ffwd in O'Hailpin or Cussen could be deadly if they can get their heads right. Think Cussen deserves a good run next day out.

[imtommygunn]

Reillers Ben O'Connor is a cracking player but for some reason every time he marks JJ Delaney he does nothing. Even with Delaney beign subbed yesterday.

[INDIANA]

Great win for Offaly yesterday, and they certainly bucked a trend whereby there's been umpteen second half fadeouts. 3-19 is a good score against a good team, and hopefully that will give Offaly a bit of confidence that they can compete at this level. Dublin beat Tipp, Tipp beat Kilkenny and Galway, Galway beat Waterford. Obviously it doesn't work like that, but it should at least give them the idea that they deserve to be up in Division 1, and can compete with the teams there.

Good win for Offaly we were crap. After not hurling at all in the first half we were blessed to go in level and then went 3 points up in the 2nd half and collapsed. No excuses better team won. But the inconsistency of Dublin's performances is baffling at the moment. In trouble in the full back line all day. No player should be allowed score 2-11. I can't remember Dooley getting even one decent clip of a shoulder in the entire game. If that was Kilkenny he'd have been put on his arse after the first few scores. Too bloody nice in there. Typical Dublin.

Mc Caffrey is playing his best hurling again thankfully but that was about the only plus. Inconsistent up front all day. Offaly backs were up and strong and outhurled us. Thought Oakley enjoyed dishing out a bit of punishment on Rushe in the 2nd half. Couple of filthy pulls quite frankly. If it was me on the line I'd have sent one of the older lads in to pull low and early to put some manners on him. But thats Dublin hurling all over -too soft and too nice. And yesterday was a case study in being pushed around yet again by Offaly. offaly are a good side and will go quite well this year I'd say. Used their physique well and fair play to them thats the way it should be.

Is it any wonder we can't match Munster sides physically when we allow people to do that to us? Not in my opinion. Until as such time we decide to lower the blades when the ocasion demands it we are going to be continually pushed around by teams. Every team in the country thinks we are soft. And to tell you the truth they are dead right. We are too bloody nice. We've no physicality in our hurling.

Back to another drawing board for Dublin. If we had shares in drawing boards we'd be millionaires.

[INDIANA]

Reillers Ben O'Connor is a cracking player but for some reason every time he marks JJ Delaney he does nothing. Even with Delaney beign subbed yesterday.

JJ Delaney is probably in the top 10 hurlers ever to played the game. Thats the reality. For all the hype about Tommy Walsh I know who'd I want if given a choice.

[johnneycool]

Down were beaten by a far better Carlow outfit yesterday and to be fair to the lads they battled away for the 70 minutes and were in the lead for most of the second half mostly due to a fortuitous goal caused by the Carlow fullback dropping a ball into his own net when it looked to be going wide. Only big Magic can hold his own in the physicality stakes as he was the only Down man in the 14 pairings bigger than his opposite number

Carlow have some very tidy hurlers who all looked on the youngish side so they'll be competitive with most teams in this division. They should have beaten Down by far more than two points but losing the centre back to two yellows early in the second half slowed their progress.

Very dissappointed in Owen Elliotts refereeing as I've seen him do better many's a time. He got a bit slabbery at some players in a belittling kind of way and I think referee's lose a bit of authority by doing that. He blew a few petty fouls then a few minutes later would have missed a wild pull which led to the odd melee that threatened to break out.

The Westmeath and Kildare games are must wins for Down at this stage.

[AZOffaly]

Great win for Offaly yesterday, and they certainly bucked a trend whereby there's been umpteen second half fadeouts. 3-19 is a good score against a good team, and hopefully that will give Offaly a bit of confidence that they can compete at this level. Dublin beat Tipp, Tipp beat Kilkenny and Galway, Galway beat Waterford. Obviously it doesn't work like that, but it should at least give them the idea that they deserve to be up in Division 1, and can compete with the teams there.

Good win for Offaly we were crap. After not hurling at all in the first half we were blessed to go in level and then went 3 points up in the 2nd half and collapsed. No excuses better team won. But the inconsistency of Dublin's performances is baffling at the moment. In trouble in the full back line all day. No player should be allowed score 2-11. I can't remember Dooley getting even one decent clip of a shoulder in the entire game. If that was Kilkenny he'd have been put on his arse after the first few scores. Too bloody nice in there. Typical Dublin.

Mc Caffrey is playing his best hurling again thankfully but that was about the only plus. Inconsistent up front all day. Offaly backs were up and strong and outhurled us. Thought Oakley enjoyed dishing out a bit of punishment on Rushe in the 2nd half. Couple of filthy pulls quite frankly. If it was me on the line I'd have sent one of the older lads in to pull low and early to put some manners on him. But thats Dublin hurling all over -too soft and too nice. And yesterday was a case study in being pushed around yet again by Offaly. offaly are a good side and will go quite well this year I'd say. Used their physique well and fair play to them thats the way it should be.

Is it any wonder we can't match Munster sides physically when we allow people to do that to us? Not in my opinion. Until as such time we decide to lower the blades when the ocasion demands it we are going to be continually pushed around by teams. Every team in the country thinks we are soft. And to tell you the truth they are dead right. We are too bloody nice. We've no physicality in our hurling.

Back to another drawing board for Dublin. If we had shares in drawing boards we'd be millionaires.

Any particular reason INDIANA? Oakley is not a hatchet man normally. He bursts himself trying every day, without the skills to match, but he is usually a wholehearted player without dirt. I'd be surprised if he was pulling badly for no reason. He's no shrinking violet mind you, but it's not really in his hurling nature to skull lads or anything. Wondering what set him off.

[INDIANA]

Great win for Offaly yesterday, and they certainly bucked a trend whereby there's been umpteen second half fadeouts. 3-19 is a good score against a good team, and hopefully that will give Offaly a bit of confidence that they can compete at this level. Dublin beat Tipp, Tipp beat Kilkenny and Galway, Galway beat Waterford. Obviously it doesn't work like that, but it should at least give them the idea that they deserve to be up in Division 1, and can compete with the teams there.

Good win for Offaly we were crap. After not hurling at all in the first half we were blessed to go in level and then went 3 points up in the 2nd half and collapsed. No excuses better team won. But the inconsistency of Dublin's performances is baffling at the moment. In trouble in the full back line all day. No player should be allowed score 2-11. I can't remember Dooley getting even one decent clip of a shoulder in the entire game. If that was Kilkenny he'd have been put on his arse after the first few scores. Too bloody nice in there. Typical Dublin.

Mc Caffrey is playing his best hurling again thankfully but that was about the only plus. Inconsistent up front all day. Offaly backs were up and strong and outhurled us. Thought Oakley enjoyed dishing out a bit of punishment on Rushe in the 2nd half. Couple of filthy pulls quite frankly. If it was me on the line I'd have sent one of the older lads in to pull low and early to put some manners on him. But thats Dublin hurling all over -too soft and too nice. And yesterday was a case study in being pushed around yet again by Offaly. offaly are a good side and will go quite well this year I'd say. Used their physique well and fair play to them thats the way it should be.

Is it any wonder we can't match Munster sides physically when we allow people to do that to us? Not in my opinion. Until as such time we decide to lower the blades when the ocasion demands it we are going to be continually pushed around by teams. Every team in the country thinks we are soft. And to tell you the truth they are dead right. We are too bloody nice. We've no physicality in our hurling.

Back to another drawing board for Dublin. If we had shares in drawing boards we'd be millionaires.

Any particular reason INDIANA? Oakley is not a hatchet man normally. He bursts himself trying every day, without the skills to match, but he is usually a wholehearted player without dirt. I'd be surprised if he was pulling badly for no reason. He's no shrinking violet mind you, but it's not really in his hurling nature to skull lads or anything. Wondering what set him off.

He came right down on Rushe's head twice in the 2nd half. Thought it was dirty myself. Don't think he'd have done it to Henry or Eoin Larkin. Makes no difference these things happen in games and you have to deal with them. As ever we didn't. Offaly are Dublin's complete nemesis. We have an appalling record against them. Dooley doing a decent job there.

[Bord na Mona man]

He came right down on Rushe's head twice in the 2nd half. Thought it was dirty myself. Don't think he'd have done it to Henry or Eoin Larkin.

Oakley wouldn't spare anyone from any county. Though his pulling at the ball is often wild by accident and exuberance  rather than intention.
He was definitely what Offaly needed as Dublin had been on top around the middle third. Once Dublin weren't able to catch the ball cleanly and distribute it through the hands, Offaly had the beating of them on the deck. Dublin players bending down trying to rise it yielded rich pickings for Offaly players flicking it away.
I think Dublin may depend too much on the tightness of Parnell Park where the ball doesn't go to ground as much.

The trick now for Anthony Daly is to prepare for teams who will look to test Dublin physically.
The Munster teams will definitely do it in championship. In last year's Leinster final Kilkenny beat Dublin in a shooting contest without much bite. However that could be the end of the honeymoon and they next time they face the Cats, there may be a can of whup-ass unleashed.

[awfulynice]

Offaly had a good win, to be honest Offaly hurlers would have been focusing on this game and the one against Limerick to keep us in Division 1. Started well, didnt have the lead we deserved at half time, Dublin took some great scores from midfield, 7 points i think came from the two midfielders which is something Joe Dooley will have to look at. Dublin sounded a bit cocky before the game (looking at the rushe interview in the papers etc) and im not sure why dublin would be so confident?? To me Offaly, Dublin, Wexford, Clare & Limerick (With the exiled 29!!) are nearly on a par, all are about 5 - 6 points off Tipp, Cork & KK at the moment imo.

On Dublin beating Tipp, I know from someone on the Panel that they done seriously hard training the thursday and friday before the game, a lot of core and muscle building stuff and they really werent able to run about on the day.  So not trying to put Dublin hurling down, but I think ye may have slipped back a little from last year, but alll dublin supporters have to know, its going to take time, a genuine achievement for dublin over the next 4 - 5 years will be to stay in division 1 and perhaps win a leinster or at least get to another leinster final. Last year was a giant leap forward, you cant expect to take them every year, there is an unbelievable amount of interest in underage hurling in dublin, but its doubtful you will strike success with your first batch of competitive senior hurlers, the hardest thing to do in hurling is to bring a good minor / under 21 team up to senior level, be that at club or county level.

Back to Offaly, we can definately stay in division 1 which willl be a good start to the year, on the championship we could hope of a leinster final as the draw has been a lot kinder to us this year than last. After that either the qualifiers or the quarter finals will be a nice step forward. Lets hope that second half fade outs are a thing of the past from the faithful

[AZOffaly]

Offaly had a good win, to be honest Offaly hurlers would have been focusing on this game and the one against Limerick to keep us in Division 1. Started well, didnt have the lead we deserved at half time, Dublin took some great scores from midfield, 7 points i think came from the two midfielders which is something Joe Dooley will have to look at. Dublin sounded a bit cocky before the game (looking at the rushe interview in the papers etc) and im not sure why dublin would be so confident?? To me Offaly, Dublin, Wexford, Clare & Limerick (With the exiled 29!!) are nearly on a par, all are about 5 - 6 points off Tipp, Cork & KK at the moment imo.

On Dublin beating Tipp, I know from someone on the Panel that they done seriously hard training the thursday and friday before the game, a lot of core and muscle building stuff and they really werent able to run about on the day.  So not trying to put Dublin hurling down, but I think ye may have slipped back a little from last year, but alll dublin supporters have to know, its going to take time, a genuine achievement for dublin over the next 4 - 5 years will be to stay in division 1 and perhaps win a leinster or at least get to another leinster final. Last year was a giant leap forward, you cant expect to take them every year, there is an unbelievable amount of interest in underage hurling in dublin, but its doubtful you will strike success with your first batch of competitive senior hurlers, the hardest thing to do in hurling is to bring a good minor / under 21 team up to senior level, be that at club or county level.

Back to Offaly, we can definately stay in division 1 which willl be a good start to the year, on the championship we could hope of a leinster final as the draw has been a lot kinder to us this year than last. After that either the qualifiers or the quarter finals will be a nice step forward. Lets hope that second half fade outs are a thing of the past from the faithful

More like 9 or 10 points really, if you're talking about Championship. If the likes of Tipp, Cork or Kilkenny (even Waterford or Galway) hit their straps in a Championship game against Offaly, Wexford, CLare, Dublin or Limerick, then 10 points would not be a surprising margin of defeat.

That said, games are played on the field, and if those teams have an off day, and you stick into them, there's no reason why those teams can't pull off a shock.

The problem with the qualifiers is that if that happens in Leinster or Munster, you'll end up facing them again in the 1/4 finals or something and it's hard to catch lightning in a bottle twice.

[awfulynice]

I think 5 - 6 points is more like it to be honest, although we (offaly) have a tendancy to be beat around 10 - 12 points by these teams its generally because we give up with 10 - 15 mins to go, whether that be because of belief or heart i dont know. If you look at the cork game (2 points down with ten minutes to go) the KK game (8 points away but missed some chances) i think the players believe they are 10 - 15 points away, and give it a go for 50 mins but as soon as a team get 5 - 6 points on them, theres a kind of "here we go again" attitude which thankfully didnt happen against dublin.

[seafoid]

The problem with the qualifiers is that if that happens in Leinster or Munster, you'll end up facing them again in the 1/4 finals or something and it's hard to catch lightning in a bottle twice.

Kilkenny should only get one chance. It would sharpen them up  Otherwise other counties should be allowed to do an exorcism once every 5 years.