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Clare vs Limerick (Hurling)

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Frustrating kind of game to watch. Some decent bits of play, but some really poor stuff as well, especially from Limerick. If I was a Limerick supporter, I'd have lost my mind at the amount of times a Limerick player won clean ball, and then just ran into traffic, trying to barge through 3 Clare players rather than play the ball upfield. But that was married then to the almost inverse, with overpassing that was bizarre at times. Prime example, I think it was around the 70th minute, Limerick were 3/4 points down after their second goal and going for another; Limerick back wins the ball in space, and instead of pumping it back up the pitch, 3 backs start handpassing it back and forth around the half back line until they are dispossessed. Hard to watch.

But on the upside, it is Kielys first year I think, and there were alot of very young players on the pitch. Kyle Hayes was having a nightmare for the first 20 mins, I thought he might be taken off. But after a switch, he came into it in a big way as the game went on, he'll be better the next day. Sean Finn also had a decent game. Hard to see Limerick beating any of the top teams this year though, on today's performance at least, too many things to address in a short amount if time.

Clare were great in spells, but inconsistent. I think going so far ahead early on lead them to turn off a bit, but I could see them getting better and better as the championship goes on.

Marlon_JD (Tipperary) - Posts: 1823 - 04/06/2017 18:45:30    1994569

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turgid.bar some excitement towards the end of the first half,it as awful.
how did limerick leave conor mc grath on the edge of the square 3 on 2?richie mccarthy is a man who loves the big roar but who i thought was cleaned out today.
i thought finn i think his name is in the corner was by a mile limericks best player.
only 19k at this today?is this really the best the munster championship has to offer?

perfect10 (Wexford) - Posts: 3929 - 04/06/2017 18:45:57    1994571

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We have become a shadow of a team... Offer nothing where it counts and seem incapable of doing the basics properly... Dear God it was an awful game to be at.
I haven't felt this despondent in a long time coming away from a Limerick match and that's saying something..
After the 2014 semi final against Kilkenny I really thought something might happen and as a side we'd kick on but it's shocking how much we've regressed. The soul destroying shots to nowhere.. Delayed passes, running up blind alleys,
Dowling, our no. 12 in the full backline for the 3rd Clare goal while our no3 had wandered up the pitch and was nowhere to be seen. FFS!
I genuinely am beginning to fear for hurling in Limerick. One AI win since 1940 and looks like another 70years could go by before we win one again....
We're in danger of going the same route as Offaly, but at least they've won something in living memory..
Today was soul destroying.. We have a few decent lads coming through but that's always the way in Limerick. We're building, be patient and another generation drifts by with nothing to show for it....It can be miserable being a Limerick supporter,but shur we're building for 2018 I suppose. :(

skillet (Limerick) - Posts: 1065 - 04/06/2017 19:57:52    1994626

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Well done to Clare today and hard luck to Limerick.

I think if Waterford win the other semi final it could be the start of another great Munster championship rivalry.

Killarney.87 (Tipperary) - Posts: 2513 - 04/06/2017 20:16:51    1994641

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There were a lot of mistakes by Limerick today but this was their first step on the road back to the hurling top table.
We are still a year or two away from it but we now have the players and management to get there. The only things that may prevent it are our so called supporters and a fickle county board.

Westfester (Limerick) - Posts: 944 - 04/06/2017 20:54:01    1994668

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skillet, I didn't see the game but can assure you that Limerick are a long way ahead of Offaly!
Listened on the radio to some of it and sounds like the game was a poor affair and bad defending, especially for Conor McGrath goal, cost Limerick.
For some reason, Limerick struggle to step up from underage success, I can't put my finger on why.
Keep the faith, I know all about these sort of days!

Pinkie (Wexford) - Posts: 4100 - 04/06/2017 21:03:12    1994675

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Replying To Westfester:  "There were a lot of mistakes by Limerick today but this was their first step on the road back to the hurling top table.
We are still a year or two away from it but we now have the players and management to get there. The only things that may prevent it are our so called supporters and a fickle county board."
Ye will be on the way back when ye finally drop 5 players that everyone knows needs to be dropped. Ye need a fullback ASAP but everyone buried the head in the sand all winter saying his a championship hurler. Christ what will it take for G Mulcahy to be dropped from panel never mind team, it's unreal I never seen a player find it so hard to get off a team.

therealtmo (Tipperary) - Posts: 1292 - 04/06/2017 21:11:13    1994682

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Even though Clare were not convincing winners it would have been worse if we won by 10 plus points on that performance. Im sure Tony Kelly could not be ever as bad again and the rest of the forwards ranged from ok to good. Problems still at the back. No real standout performances and half back line in some trouble. Plenty to work on including some woeful puckouts. Fahy took more than his share of tIme to decide where to puck the ball and then sent it straight out over the line on numerous occasions. That said his options of aerial ball winners is not great either.
Hard luck Limerick. Yes, ye need to change the full back asap.

ZUL10 (Clare) - Posts: 693 - 04/06/2017 21:45:31    1994702

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Replying To therealtmo:  "Ye will be on the way back when ye finally drop 5 players that everyone knows needs to be dropped. Ye need a fullback ASAP but everyone buried the head in the sand all winter saying his a championship hurler. Christ what will it take for G Mulcahy to be dropped from panel never mind team, it's unreal I never seen a player find it so hard to get off a team."
Would nos 1,3,9,10 and 15 be the ones you have in mind and possibly no 5. With men like Byrnes, Hegarty, O'Donoghue and McNamara hanging about or due to return after injury and possibly K Downes t is possible improvements could be made.

Oldtourman (Limerick) - Posts: 4340 - 05/06/2017 00:20:45    1994812

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Replying To therealtmo:  "Ye will be on the way back when ye finally drop 5 players that everyone knows needs to be dropped. Ye need a fullback ASAP but everyone buried the head in the sand all winter saying his a championship hurler. Christ what will it take for G Mulcahy to be dropped from panel never mind team, it's unreal I never seen a player find it so hard to get off a team."
Injuries dictated the line out yesterday to a certain extent. The options at full back are limited in the county and have been for a long time. There is a new team being put together but you have to keep some experience in the squad during this process. The current Clare panel is much more experienced with most having won an All Ireland. They just needed a change of management to refocus the players. Limerick are in a totally different place.

Westfester (Limerick) - Posts: 944 - 05/06/2017 01:35:07    1994823

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Replying To Westfester:  "Injuries dictated the line out yesterday to a certain extent. The options at full back are limited in the county and have been for a long time. There is a new team being put together but you have to keep some experience in the squad during this process. The current Clare panel is much more experienced with most having won an All Ireland. They just needed a change of management to refocus the players. Limerick are in a totally different place."
You can't build a team around a fullback that is not good enough, he is 30 years of age and won't be playing in two or three years so why not play English now and let him gain the experience and be ready for two years time. He can't be any worse. If McCarthy is so experience how did he end up at the wrong end of the field for one of the goals. Kiely needs to fully bite the bullet and play the young lads fact is the older experienced lads are not up to it anymore, that older team peaked at 2014 semi and have being on the slide since.

therealtmo (Tipperary) - Posts: 1292 - 05/06/2017 09:55:09    1994871

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I know it's become a cliche to reference the Clare-Limerick classics of the 90s, but compared to 20 years ago, that match yesterday was more reminiscent of a pre-season challenge than a Munster championship match between so-called local rivals. The crowd, the atmosphere, the hurling, everything was very muted. Perhaps the muted atmosphere can be attributed to the fact that Limerick, in my opinion, were very poor and Clare had a comfortable lead for most of the match. Perhaps provincial championship games need to be held in one of the competing counties rather than a neutral venue, neutral venues tend to dilute the crowd and the atmosphere for some reason. Compared to Cork-Tipp a few weeks back it was very tame, but Clare look a lot better prospect than Limerick on that showing.

ballydalane (Kilkenny) - Posts: 1246 - 05/06/2017 12:07:42    1994934

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Replying To Westfester:  "There were a lot of mistakes by Limerick today but this was their first step on the road back to the hurling top table.
We are still a year or two away from it but we now have the players and management to get there. The only things that may prevent it are our so called supporters and a fickle county board."
Not wishing to put the boot in Westfester, but are you satisfied that the players and management are indeed there?

Dirk (Wexford) - Posts: 65 - 05/06/2017 12:20:25    1994943

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Replying To ballydalane:  "I know it's become a cliche to reference the Clare-Limerick classics of the 90s, but compared to 20 years ago, that match yesterday was more reminiscent of a pre-season challenge than a Munster championship match between so-called local rivals. The crowd, the atmosphere, the hurling, everything was very muted. Perhaps the muted atmosphere can be attributed to the fact that Limerick, in my opinion, were very poor and Clare had a comfortable lead for most of the match. Perhaps provincial championship games need to be held in one of the competing counties rather than a neutral venue, neutral venues tend to dilute the crowd and the atmosphere for some reason. Compared to Cork-Tipp a few weeks back it was very tame, but Clare look a lot better prospect than Limerick on that showing."
TBH I cant recall one really good game between Clare and Limerick. They have always failed to deliver. Even the 96 game which was a classic in many respects could not be remembered for quality hurling. It was tough and tense with a fantastic finish. Its possibly to do with the similarity in styles or heightened expectations but more often than not one team fails to turn up.

ZUL10 (Clare) - Posts: 693 - 05/06/2017 13:35:41    1994994

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Replying To Dirk:  "Not wishing to put the boot in Westfester, but are you satisfied that the players and management are indeed there?"
Yes and Yes.
IF given the time.

Westfester (Limerick) - Posts: 944 - 05/06/2017 16:03:18    1995080

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Replying To ZUL10:  "Even though Clare were not convincing winners it would have been worse if we won by 10 plus points on that performance. Im sure Tony Kelly could not be ever as bad again and the rest of the forwards ranged from ok to good. Problems still at the back. No real standout performances and half back line in some trouble. Plenty to work on including some woeful puckouts. Fahy took more than his share of tIme to decide where to puck the ball and then sent it straight out over the line on numerous occasions. That said his options of aerial ball winners is not great either.
Hard luck Limerick. Yes, ye need to change the full back asap."
Well as regards Tony Kelly's quiet day yesterday your manager, Mr O'Connor, said very generously, but I think factually, that this was due to the fact that Seamus Hickey was simply very good on the day. I found this comment ironic as your fellow county man LRH said recently on this forum that Hickey was past it and should be dropped

Oldtourman (Limerick) - Posts: 4340 - 05/06/2017 16:45:37    1995101

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Replying To ZUL10:  "TBH I cant recall one really good game between Clare and Limerick. They have always failed to deliver. Even the 96 game which was a classic in many respects could not be remembered for quality hurling. It was tough and tense with a fantastic finish. Its possibly to do with the similarity in styles or heightened expectations but more often than not one team fails to turn up."
Your probably right from what I can remember in Limerick v Clare clashes there is always one team lagging and they both were never top of their game at same time for example Cork Waterford era in Munster where every game ebbed and flowed intensity was supreme and goals and points unbelievable.
From sources though I hear 1993 in Ennis was a good game with a heap of goals!! Clare dissapointed in 94 and Limerick 95 in Munster finals.
Even when they met in qualifier games both recorded land slide wins and of course 2013 Limerick never turned up.

WildPundit (Tipperary) - Posts: 1709 - 05/06/2017 17:42:35    1995134

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Aside from excellent displays from SOD, McGrath , Mcinnerney and the Limerick corner back Finn it was poor fare yesterday.

Condorman (Dublin) - Posts: 983 - 05/06/2017 17:54:54    1995142

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Aside from excellent displays from SOD, McGrath , Mcinnerney and the Limerick corner back Finn it was poor fare yesterday.

Condorman (Dublin) - Posts: 983 - 05/06/2017 17:54:54    1995143

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Replying To WildPundit:  "Your probably right from what I can remember in Limerick v Clare clashes there is always one team lagging and they both were never top of their game at same time for example Cork Waterford era in Munster where every game ebbed and flowed intensity was supreme and goals and points unbelievable.
From sources though I hear 1993 in Ennis was a good game with a heap of goals!! Clare dissapointed in 94 and Limerick 95 in Munster finals.
Even when they met in qualifier games both recorded land slide wins and of course 2013 Limerick never turned up."
From what I remember the 93 game in Ennis was a game of 2 halves with one team dominating each half..but was a decent contest. I had to google the score. Clare won by 4 points. The attendance was 12800. Back then the capacity of Cusack Park was 22k. So the selective memories of packed stadiums for knockout championship games in the past is just that. Selective.

ZUL10 (Clare) - Posts: 693 - 05/06/2017 21:53:12    1995283

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