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The Greatest Groundhurlers

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The art of ground hurling or doubling on the ball in the air seems to be an almost lost art nowadays, bar a few guys who are very good at sideline cuts. Who are the best ground hurlers you've seen? From my own county Declan Ruth was a genius at hurling without putting the ball in his hand and Adrian Fenlon too was excellent. Rory McCarthy and Jimmy Holohan were also guys I saw several times who were outstanding stickmen. The best I ever saw though was John Troy who was just genius at pulling, doubling, flicking first time. Plenty of that Offaly team too: Pilkington, Whelehan, the Dooleys, Rigney. And that great Cork team of the 80's with Fenton and JBM. Who were the best you saw? icehonesty (Wexford) - Posts: 2550 - 16/03/2019 13:35:33 2172597 Link
Replying To icehonesty: "The art of ground hurling or doubling on the ball in the air seems to be an almost lost art nowadays, bar a few guys who are very good at sideline cuts. Who are the best ground hurlers you've seen? From my own county Declan Ruth was a genius at hurling without putting the ball in his hand and Adrian Fenlon too was excellent. Rory McCarthy and Jimmy Holohan were also guys I saw several times who were outstanding stickmen. The best I ever saw though was John Troy who was just genius at pulling, doubling, flicking first time. Plenty of that Offaly team too: Pilkington, Whelehan, the Dooleys, Rigney. And that great Cork team of the 80's with Fenton and JBM. Who were the best you saw?" Sylvie Lenan. Even in his twilight years he could do more with a ball standing still, than most of his peers could at full tilt with an acre of space. His team-mate the late Joe McDonagh trained us in secondary and all he was interested in was ground hurling. We'd go entire training sessions without been let lift the ball and if you did it was laps for you my boy! festinog (Galway) - Posts: 3097 - 17/03/2019 17:27:46 2173132 Link
A bit like catch & kick football, ground hurling is gone, and won't come back, because possession is king these days, and would have been in the old days too, if lads could have afforded video analysis etc. The top ground hurling exponents are usually the top hurling exponents too. Joe Canning & David Burke would be among the Galway nominees imo. Pope_Benedict (Galway) - Posts: 3410 - 18/03/2019 16:13:45 2173433 Link
When ground hurling works it can be breathtaking but sadly the percentages are just not there for it to be an option. I was watching a Juvenile match last summer and a young lad was scoring lovely points from the ground. He was missing half the chances too and the manger screaming at him to pick it up. A bit sad really. liam500 (Wicklow) - Posts: 175 - 18/03/2019 20:55:13 2173510 Link
Replying To liam500: "When ground hurling works it can be breathtaking but sadly the percentages are just not there for it to be an option. I was watching a Juvenile match last summer and a young lad was scoring lovely points from the ground. He was missing half the chances too and the manger screaming at him to pick it up. A bit sad really." Its a shame to see it go but understandably so. There is a still a time and place for a ground stroke and one is in front of goal when I see so many trying to lift it when theres a free ground shot on goal. We will never see a John Fenton like goal again unless maybe some incentive is added like extra points for such a score. ZUL10 (Clare) - Posts: 693 - 19/03/2019 18:10:08 2173767 Link
The man from Midleton John Fenton sin é. katser (Galway) - Posts: 2192 - 19/03/2019 22:03:08 2173818 Link
The fact that it's a dying art was highlighted in the All ireland final when Galway keeper Skehill got injured. Cian Lynch sent a lovely ball across to an unmarked Séamus flanagan on the edge of the square. One quick flick on the ground and it was in the back of the net. He didn't have the time but Flanagans natural instinct was to rise it before striking, hitting the onrushing keeper in the process.. skillet (Limerick) - Posts: 1057 - 19/03/2019 23:03:59 2173828 Link
Replying To ZUL10: "Its a shame to see it go but understandably so. There is a still a time and place for a ground stroke and one is in front of goal when I see so many trying to lift it when theres a free ground shot on goal. We will never see a John Fenton like goal again unless maybe some incentive is added like extra points for such a score." Couldn't agree more! I'm left roaring "just hit the clucking ball!" Drives me nuts!! festinog (Galway) - Posts: 3097 - 20/03/2019 04:36:45 2173843 Link
This is the most irrelevant thread! Next up: - Who was the best team/player to play with the older skinny/hockey style hurls? - Who was the greatest ever footballer to kick the older 10k medicine ball-type footballs? - The greatest footballer without football boots? - The greatest hurler to never wear a helmet? The_DOC (Galway) - Posts: 705 - 20/03/2019 09:09:47 2173857 Link
I played full forward a few times and I would always try and double on it when it came in, if marked. Missed most of them but I did get a goal once and the full back never caught it. I would love to see it more but as you are saying all coaches want you to get it in the hand. Suas Sios (None) - Posts: 1550 - 20/03/2019 09:50:32 2173866 Link
Replying To The_DOC: "This is the most irrelevant thread! Next up: - Who was the best team/player to play with the older skinny/hockey style hurls? - Who was the greatest ever footballer to kick the older 10k medicine ball-type footballs? - The greatest footballer without football boots? - The greatest hurler to never wear a helmet?" The greatest hurler to never wear a helmet? Probably Ciarán Carey. But then, I'm biased. skillet (Limerick) - Posts: 1057 - 20/03/2019 11:31:55 2173893 Link
Replying To skillet: "The greatest hurler to never wear a helmet? Probably Ciarán Carey. But then, I'm biased." I dont know whether to laugh or cry!! My point being its a silly thread - but yes, I agree re Carey! The_DOC (Galway) - Posts: 705 - 20/03/2019 12:07:13 2173907 Link
Replying To The_DOC: "I dont know whether to laugh or cry!! My point being its a silly thread - but yes, I agree re Carey!" You should laugh to be honest. Some lads take these threads way too seriously :) skillet (Limerick) - Posts: 1057 - 20/03/2019 13:58:45 2173943 Link
Replying To The_DOC: "This is the most irrelevant thread! Next up: - Who was the best team/player to play with the older skinny/hockey style hurls? - Who was the greatest ever footballer to kick the older 10k medicine ball-type footballs? - The greatest footballer without football boots? - The greatest hurler to never wear a helmet?" How is it an irrelevant thread? The ability to strike the ball well off the ground or in the air is one of the glories of the game of hurling.Personally I think its a shame that its all but disappeared from the game. Great exponents I have seen are, Sylvie Linnane, John Fenton, Joe Hennessy, Ger Farragher, just to name a few. Barnowl94 (Galway) - Posts: 3150 - 20/03/2019 14:26:23 2173950 Link
Up next we'll have " the greatest umpires " . Tis about time somebody got fired. catch22 (USA) - Posts: 2148 - 20/03/2019 14:59:03 2173960 Link
Replying To Barnowl94: "How is it an irrelevant thread? The ability to strike the ball well off the ground or in the air is one of the glories of the game of hurling.Personally I think its a shame that its all but disappeared from the game. Great exponents I have seen are, Sylvie Linnane, John Fenton, Joe Hennessy, Ger Farragher, just to name a few." There were games where Sylvie did more pulling on the opposition than he did on the ball ! KildareKelly (Kildare) - Posts: 593 - 20/03/2019 15:41:42 2173981 Link
I had forgotten about Ger Farragher, serious player to take line balls. What happened to him lads, seemed to be pretty much finished with Galway when he was still in his 20's? Jimmy Barry Murphy probably doesn't get enough credit as a first time hurler. The greatest goal of all time https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MZIATug2wF4 ? icehonesty (Wexford) - Posts: 2550 - 22/03/2019 09:00:02 2174314 Link
Replying To The_DOC: "I dont know whether to laugh or cry!! My point being its a silly thread - but yes, I agree re Carey!" Colin Lynch for me, not being a bit biased at all. Dec82 (Clare) - Posts: 242 - 22/03/2019 11:53:45 2174339 Link
Anyone remember Mick Moroney from Clare. He had a unique style with splitting the posts from sideline cuts. We are blessed with so many payers now that can do what he did back in the 70's. The ground hurling maybe gone but the skill levels have not. It takes a special player to do this. ZUL10 (Clare) - Posts: 693 - 22/03/2019 22:49:10 2174462 Link
Replying To ZUL10: "Anyone remember Mick Moroney from Clare. He had a unique style with splitting the posts from sideline cuts. We are blessed with so many payers now that can do what he did back in the 70's. The ground hurling maybe gone but the skill levels have not. It takes a special player to do this." The skill levels are there for sure, some brilliant sideline cut men around. Canning, Gleeson, etc. Just so rare to see anyone pull, flick, double first time in game play icehonesty (Wexford) - Posts: 2550 - 23/03/2019 11:50:50 2174500 Link