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Is This The Golden Age Of Hurling?

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Replying To Hitnhurl:  "You really think this is golden age ?? How old u ??? Do u rember the Lohans Corcoran daly the sparrow dj tommy Walsh jj joe dean Carey Gardiner finerty Nicky English and I could keep naming great players and character that roll off your tongue......Yes there few great players around now but give this golden era nonsense a rest please"
Ah but did any of those players get on the Centenary or Millennium teams? Men whom I saw like Eamon Cregan, Jimmy Doyle, Michael Babs Keating, Mick Roche Ned Wheeler, Jimmy Brohan, Sean Clohessy, and Eddie Keher were even better players than those you mention. Anyway how could you exclude Joe Cooney and above all Brian Whelahan, men of your time

Oldtourman (Limerick) - Posts: 4316 - 16/08/2019 09:32:42    2226265

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Many years ago in Thurles someone from a Munster county told me that when Cork lost a hurling match the stock answer from some of their supporters was, 'two poor teams'! Now we're being told by a Corkman that hurling has regressed in the past decade or more, definitely, since Cork won the last All Ireland!

baire (Galway) - Posts: 1785 - 16/08/2019 12:11:27    2226354

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Replying To baire:  "Many years ago in Thurles someone from a Munster county told me that when Cork lost a hurling match the stock answer from some of their supporters was, 'two poor teams'! Now we're being told by a Corkman that hurling has regressed in the past decade or more, definitely, since Cork won the last All Ireland!"
Yes. I worked and lived for over three decades in Cork and was reared in a townland beside the county bounds. The man you met in Thurles was telling you the truth

Oldtourman (Limerick) - Posts: 4316 - 16/08/2019 13:21:48    2226391

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Replying To Oldtourman:  "Yes. I worked and lived for over three decades in Cork and was reared in a townland beside the county bounds. The man you met in Thurles was telling you the truth"
This is so true.
Every time Cork lost its "Oh it was a bad Cork team".

StoreysTash (Wexford) - Posts: 1732 - 16/08/2019 13:31:56    2226396

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Replying To skillet:  "Canning was and is a once in a generation player though.
You can't take him as a barometer for the club player with hopes of playing inter County. Point is I think, that to make it now, college gives you a profile that wasn't needed 20 yrs ago."
More visibility? Yeah I guess you're right. In the USA the NFL have "walk ons" that come out of almost nowhere and make the team in some rare cases. I wonder if that could work in Hurling or Football or does it already happen?

Trump2020 (Galway) - Posts: 2113 - 16/08/2019 14:20:00    2226413

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Replying To Oldtourman:  "There is one big factor in relation to Cork. For many years now Cork have been involved in building a huge pitch. I often think County Boards take their eye off the ball as regards Youth development when such huge Capital Investment Projects are been undertaken.
Also, much is made of smaller counties been out of the limelight for lengthy periods. However the bigger counties have their hiatuses as well. Cork from 1904 to 1919 and from 1954 to 1966 went without an All Ireland. Kilkenny won no All Ireland until 1904 (or was it 03) and won one All Ireland, in 47, luckily by single point, from 1939 to 1957. In fact their all Irelands in '35', '39, '47 and '57 were all won by a point. After that 47 victory they were beaten in three of the next four years by Laois. Tipperary, the Premier County. had eighteen years of a famine between 71 and 89. So it not that amazing that a side like Cork would have such a break. No doubt it will do them good and teach them to take themselves less seriously."
Good points. I guess the thing "bothering" me about Cork and their dry spell is that it's on every level. At least in the case of the Galway and Limerick dry spells there was plenty of underage and club successes. In Cork though the dry spell seems to be at all levels.

Trump2020 (Galway) - Posts: 2113 - 16/08/2019 14:36:35    2226426

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Replying To baire:  "Many years ago in Thurles someone from a Munster county told me that when Cork lost a hurling match the stock answer from some of their supporters was, 'two poor teams'! Now we're being told by a Corkman that hurling has regressed in the past decade or more, definitely, since Cork won the last All Ireland!"
It must be a Cork thing though. Donal óg Cusack is so bitter towards Kilkenny because we had the audacity to beat his perfect Cork team with our simple country ways of playing hurling. I read Cusack's autobiography and he talked about guys disgust at being beaten by Tipp in a Munster game (can't remember if it was a final or not) because they were a "team they didn't rate".

Has a Cork player or fan from the era ever lost a game where they said "fair dues, they were a better team than us"!? Very rarely!

ballydalane (Kilkenny) - Posts: 1246 - 17/08/2019 00:40:49    2226660

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A tad harsh on Cork here folks?

At the Limerick v Cork drawn game last year Cork lads around me were telling me we would win the All Ireland. At the semi final they wished us well.

Perhaps the Cork hurlers lost the run of themselves with back to back titles in 04/05 which culminated in an ugly spat with the county board in 09, but other counties have learned from them with more player engagement in decision making, higher standards and coaching.

We certainly benefited from John Allen's time with us. Cork ain't all bad surely?

slayer (Limerick) - Posts: 6480 - 17/08/2019 09:27:21    2226682

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Replying To ballydalane:  "It must be a Cork thing though. Donal óg Cusack is so bitter towards Kilkenny because we had the audacity to beat his perfect Cork team with our simple country ways of playing hurling. I read Cusack's autobiography and he talked about guys disgust at being beaten by Tipp in a Munster game (can't remember if it was a final or not) because they were a "team they didn't rate".

Has a Cork player or fan from the era ever lost a game where they said "fair dues, they were a better team than us"!? Very rarely!"
Ah it is not just a Cork think. And I am a Limerick man who was reared in the a townland right next to County Cork and lived and worked in Cork for over three decades so I have heard enough from Cork hurling people over the years. However did you ever hear what Churchill said about Montgomery. 'In defeat he was unbeaten, in victory he was unbearable' There are Montgomerys in every county.

Oldtourman (Limerick) - Posts: 4316 - 17/08/2019 09:30:06    2226686

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Replying To ballydalane:  "It must be a Cork thing though. Donal óg Cusack is so bitter towards Kilkenny because we had the audacity to beat his perfect Cork team with our simple country ways of playing hurling. I read Cusack's autobiography and he talked about guys disgust at being beaten by Tipp in a Munster game (can't remember if it was a final or not) because they were a "team they didn't rate".

Has a Cork player or fan from the era ever lost a game where they said "fair dues, they were a better team than us"!? Very rarely!"
In addition to what I have said above I have met several people over the years, far more that you have I am sure and I the vast majority are well able to take their beating. Pepole who subscribe to Hoganstand are not representative of the community at large for that we should thank God.

Oldtourman (Limerick) - Posts: 4316 - 17/08/2019 09:33:26    2226689

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Replying To ballydalane:  "It must be a Cork thing though. Donal óg Cusack is so bitter towards Kilkenny because we had the audacity to beat his perfect Cork team with our simple country ways of playing hurling. I read Cusack's autobiography and he talked about guys disgust at being beaten by Tipp in a Munster game (can't remember if it was a final or not) because they were a "team they didn't rate".

Has a Cork player or fan from the era ever lost a game where they said "fair dues, they were a better team than us"!? Very rarely!"
Yea but is he not entitled to his opinion? He's got a bee in his bonnet with Kilkenny maybe because Andy Comerford was the only one that showed solidarity with them when they were looking for support.
I've met plenty of GAA people that can't stand the sight of certain other counties, that's life , it happens.
Also I think its only natural to be disgusted to be beaten by a team you don't rate.

Bon (Kildare) - Posts: 1898 - 17/08/2019 10:02:31    2226698

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Replying To bottletopbill:  "Typo there lad. Wex won Leinster in 2004"
Sorry about that I was conflating all Ireland and Leinster championship wins into one.

Killarney.87 (Tipperary) - Posts: 2513 - 17/08/2019 10:16:30    2226701

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Replying To Oldtourman:  "In addition to what I have said above I have met several people over the years, far more that you have I am sure and I the vast majority are well able to take their beating. Pepole who subscribe to Hoganstand are not representative of the community at large for that we should thank God."
Sorry, above should have said 'Cork people'.

Oldtourman (Limerick) - Posts: 4316 - 17/08/2019 10:18:56    2226702

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Replying To slayer:  "A tad harsh on Cork here folks?

At the Limerick v Cork drawn game last year Cork lads around me were telling me we would win the All Ireland. At the semi final they wished us well.

Perhaps the Cork hurlers lost the run of themselves with back to back titles in 04/05 which culminated in an ugly spat with the county board in 09, but other counties have learned from them with more player engagement in decision making, higher standards and coaching.

We certainly benefited from John Allen's time with us. Cork ain't all bad surely?"
Well, I'm basing it on the Kilkenny rivalry with Cork this century. Up to the turn of the millennium I would say (maybe wrongly, who knows) that the rivalry was quite friendly and respectful. Kilkenny hurling folk would have had huge respect for the Cork style of play and players like Christy Ring, Jack Lynch, JBM, John Fenton.

The rivalry soured with the generation of Cork hurlers that emerged at the turn of the millennium, particularly Cusack. These guys thought they invented hurling and had zero respect for any teams and players that went before them, or any of their opponents, especially any opponent who, as I said, had the audacity to beat them.

Cusack also managed to drag Kilkenny into an internal dispute they were having with the Cork County Board, under the ruse that Kilkenny players weren't doing enough to support the GPA, hence the "stepford wives" insult. Other players of that era like John Gardiner said that Kilkenny's success was only down to the internal disputes in Cork.

A lot of the Cork public were brainwashed by that group of players, and they've never given Kilkenny any credit for our success this century.

ballydalane (Kilkenny) - Posts: 1246 - 17/08/2019 10:42:49    2226711

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Replying To ballydalane:  "Well, I'm basing it on the Kilkenny rivalry with Cork this century. Up to the turn of the millennium I would say (maybe wrongly, who knows) that the rivalry was quite friendly and respectful. Kilkenny hurling folk would have had huge respect for the Cork style of play and players like Christy Ring, Jack Lynch, JBM, John Fenton.

The rivalry soured with the generation of Cork hurlers that emerged at the turn of the millennium, particularly Cusack. These guys thought they invented hurling and had zero respect for any teams and players that went before them, or any of their opponents, especially any opponent who, as I said, had the audacity to beat them.

Cusack also managed to drag Kilkenny into an internal dispute they were having with the Cork County Board, under the ruse that Kilkenny players weren't doing enough to support the GPA, hence the "stepford wives" insult. Other players of that era like John Gardiner said that Kilkenny's success was only down to the internal disputes in Cork.

A lot of the Cork public were brainwashed by that group of players, and they've never given Kilkenny any credit for our success this century."
Why does it matter what Cork think of Kilkennys success?
Any begrudgery is based on jealousy, nothing else.
Having a superiority complex is one thing but it's necessary to be able to back it up.

skillet (Limerick) - Posts: 1056 - 17/08/2019 14:09:16    2226758

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Replying To ballydalane:  "It must be a Cork thing though. Donal óg Cusack is so bitter towards Kilkenny because we had the audacity to beat his perfect Cork team with our simple country ways of playing hurling. I read Cusack's autobiography and he talked about guys disgust at being beaten by Tipp in a Munster game (can't remember if it was a final or not) because they were a "team they didn't rate".

Has a Cork player or fan from the era ever lost a game where they said "fair dues, they were a better team than us"!? Very rarely!"
That was a unique Cork hurling team with supreme confidence which probably bordered on arrogance. All the best teams have that in them but aren't probably as vocal about it.
Regarding Cork supporters, despite the cork-tipp rivalry I can honestly say you always get great banter with them and for me they're the humblest whether in defeat or victory.
Not a dig at one particular county but there's plenty of counties who could do with aspiring to be as nice as them.
The abuse from fans is sickening at times when they win. Granted a lot of counties wouldn't be tipps biggest fans but its shocking at times. You won't see that tomorrow thankfully.

tiobraid (Tipperary) - Posts: 4119 - 17/08/2019 15:22:54    2226772

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Replying To tiobraid:  "That was a unique Cork hurling team with supreme confidence which probably bordered on arrogance. All the best teams have that in them but aren't probably as vocal about it.
Regarding Cork supporters, despite the cork-tipp rivalry I can honestly say you always get great banter with them and for me they're the humblest whether in defeat or victory.
Not a dig at one particular county but there's plenty of counties who could do with aspiring to be as nice as them.
The abuse from fans is sickening at times when they win. Granted a lot of counties wouldn't be tipps biggest fans but its shocking at times. You won't see that tomorrow thankfully."
BORDERED on arrogance? Ah stop, the most arrogant shower that ever played the game. There were very few players from that team who were likeable - Joe Deane, maybe the Newtownshandrum contingent, struggling after that.

ballydalane (Kilkenny) - Posts: 1246 - 17/08/2019 18:13:13    2226801

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Replying To slayer:  "A tad harsh on Cork here folks?

At the Limerick v Cork drawn game last year Cork lads around me were telling me we would win the All Ireland. At the semi final they wished us well.

Perhaps the Cork hurlers lost the run of themselves with back to back titles in 04/05 which culminated in an ugly spat with the county board in 09, but other counties have learned from them with more player engagement in decision making, higher standards and coaching.

We certainly benefited from John Allen's time with us. Cork ain't all bad surely?"
Had the very same experience with Cork fans last year nothing but good to say about them and any boasting over the years I always took as funny banter rather than arrogance and find that the Cork support for all things Cork be it GAA or soccer or local shops and produce admirable.

As for the team of the 00s they took things too far and were arrogant and quite open to cheating which made them hard to like but like You slayer I believe We did benefit hugely from Allen. He brought a confidence and modern professionalism which brought us on big time abd was the building blocks for 2018

Breezy (Limerick) - Posts: 1236 - 17/08/2019 18:31:57    2226805

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Replying To ballydalane:  "BORDERED on arrogance? Ah stop, the most arrogant shower that ever played the game. There were very few players from that team who were likeable - Joe Deane, maybe the Newtownshandrum contingent, struggling after that."
Ah come on. I am half Cork, reared in a townland literally on the Cork/Limerick bounds and seemed to spent half my youth on either of that border. The slagging coming up to matches between Ruby Red and the Emerald Green is always something wicked, but at the back of it all there is huge respect between the hurling people of both counties. To say that I'M a staunch Limerick supporter and will always back them against Cork is put it very mildly. I worked and lived in Cork for over thirty years and often found Cork Flags hanging off my front gate mornings after rebels lowered my own beloved green. However I was always a big ugly boy and was able to give it back. Walking out of Pairc Ui Caoimh after Barry Foley split the posts from the right hand side of the field and won the game at the death in 2001, I came face to face with a Cork work colleague- 'Oh Christ' he said ' Right now You, of all people, is the last person I want to meet' Needless to say it made what was already a good day an even better one. After our football team beat Cork at home by ten points two years later I was also a difficult hoor to have around the place. But it was all taken in good parts and I never saw any Cork supporter get genuinely nasty either in victory- which was often- or in defeat and in fact Cork friends went out of their way to convey their best wishes before the finals of '80, '94, '06 and '07 and went out of their way to get tickets for me whenever I wanted them. After our victories we were freely congratulated by our Cork neighbours and work colleagues.
Overall I think you cannot judge any county on the actions of a few. My own county had a strike as well and I never see or hear people from other counties going on about it. And you know when they won the All Ireland nobody commented on the strike or its possible cause or effect on that happy outcome either.
Ballydallane you will get arrogant and indeed downright bad sports people from every county, mine and yours included.

Oldtourman (Limerick) - Posts: 4316 - 17/08/2019 20:40:36    2226832

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Replying To ballydalane:  "BORDERED on arrogance? Ah stop, the most arrogant shower that ever played the game. There were very few players from that team who were likeable - Joe Deane, maybe the Newtownshandrum contingent, struggling after that."
Ah come on. I am half Cork, reared in a townland literally on the Cork/Limerick bounds and seemed to spent half my youth on either of that border. The slagging coming up to matches between Ruby Red and the Emerald Green is always something wicked, but at the back of it all there is huge respect between the hurling people of both counties. To say that I'M a staunch Limerick supporter and will always back them against Cork is put it very mildly. I worked and lived in Cork for over thirty years and often found Cork Flags hanging off my front gate mornings after rebels lowered my own beloved green. However I was always a big ugly boy and was able to give it back. Walking out of Pairc Ui Caoimh after Barry Foley split the posts from the right hand side of the field and won the game at the death in 2001, I came face to face with a Cork work colleague- 'Oh Christ' he said ' Right now You, of all people, is the last person I want to meet' Needless to say it made what was already a good day an even better one. After our football team beat Cork at home by ten points two years later I was also a difficult hoor to have around the place. But it was all taken in good parts and I never saw any Cork supporter get genuinely nasty either in victory- which was often- or in defeat and in fact Cork friends went out of their way to convey their best wishes before the finals of '80, '94, '06 and '07 and went out of their way to get tickets for me whenever I wanted them. After our victories we were freely congratulated by our Cork neighbours and work colleagues.
Overall I think you cannot judge any county on the actions of a few. My own county had a strike as well and I never see or hear people from other counties going on about it. And you know when they won the All Ireland nobody commented on the strike or its possible cause or effect on that happy outcome either.
Ballydallane you will get arrogant and indeed downright bad sports people from every county, mine and yours included. BTW How many of that Cork team have you ever had a coffee or a drink or indeed any dealings whatsoever with.

Oldtourman (Limerick) - Posts: 4316 - 17/08/2019 20:42:22    2226833

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