National Forum

National Hurling League 2023

(Oldest Posts First) - Go To The Latest Post


Replying To daveboy:  "Limerick v Kilkenny is an interesting league final and for me the 2 best teams in the country over the last few years. Both will want to win it but both will also want to look at fringe players from the start. I like the look of kilkenny this year. They're integrating a new style of play but doing it in small stages which is wise. Hard to break the habit of several generations. Slowly the Nolan Park faithful will come on board. Switching padraig Walsh to the "Barry nash" role is a smart move. Lawlor can now interchange between 3 and 6 with Tommy walsh being tried at 3 whos a tight aggressive marker. Butler then will mark the key opposition forward. Blanchfield gives an aerial ability on the HB line. Conor fogarty looks back to his best in the middle. Switching Deegan to the HF line again is smart. He's physical, quick and can take a score. Hego led him on a bit of a dance last year so maybe the move might be good for him. With John Donnelly and Deegan they've huge workrate there. Drennans free taking ability is top drawer and with TJ, Cody, Mullen, Ryan, Richie Hogan, Walter Walsh, Keoghan they have plenty of options up top.

Lyng is a smart guy and he might just push them to another level. They'll be a serious force this year."
We are probably all guilty of comparing any KK team to their late 00's and early 2010's team but championship from last year certainly has them in second place. When you compare the KK team on paper to the Limerick team theyre miles off them - in my opinion. Kk possess something no one else does though and are very hard beaten regardless of the personnel that plays.
I think Walsh moving back is a good thing and he may have found his place in that role. I think Donnelly is arguably the most under rated hurler in KK if not in Ireland. His scores per min played cant be bettered by two many player particularly half forwards. Struggle to see how he doesnt start day in day out. Deegan is a strange one - he has to play but hard to know where he's suited to best. Keoghan is another one who seems to rack up 1-3 every day and is probably someone that most of us dont rate as really top forward, yet delivers all the time.
However, I may have the opposite view of you as regards Kk. I think they havent set the world alight at all this year in what was a weak enough group. They'll be a different team by the All Ireland series comes around but I expect Limerick to win the league final quite comfortably even if they go with only 9-10 regulars. I'll be surprised if they dont go even less than full strength than they did against Tipp. Too many big games ahead.

tiobraid (Tipperary) - Posts: 4119 - 28/03/2023 14:26:59    2467340

Link

Replying To Fitzy01:  "Do you actually like hurling at all? Any positive or constructive contributions to make?"
He has an unhealthy obsession with Munster. Probably best to not engage...

tiobraid (Tipperary) - Posts: 4119 - 28/03/2023 14:28:21    2467343

Link

Replying To Fitzy01:  "Do you actually like hurling at all? Any positive or constructive contributions to make?"
It's not a question of being positive or constructive but of being accurate. When someone claims the Tipp v Limerick game was good old Munster hurling, that simply is not the case, far from it in fact. Whether a person prefers the modern possession based style to the old one is a matter of personal choice.

baire (Galway) - Posts: 1849 - 28/03/2023 14:32:54    2467346

Link

Replying To ExiledInWex:  "Tipp threw everything at Limerick and still came up short. Ominious for the chasing pack. They are streets ahead.

Re Kilkenny Cork, without a VAR style approach how can the referee be sure he is getting the decision right if he is asking Seamus and Paddy on the posts what they saw? Why not have a video ref to help him get that decision right?
It doesn't need to be for every decision but do we want a guess decision or the right decision for serious foul play? The row was handbags but again, why not let the ref have a look?"
I think he did okay and handled the big melee well. I'd imagine it was the grab of the helmet that decided the sending off. Rest was all pushing and shoving and shoulders. Harmless. Anything head high going to be jumped on if spotted.

BarneyGrant (Dublin) - Posts: 3487 - 28/03/2023 15:08:45    2467355

Link

Any news on the fixture arrangements for the League final? Croke Park are dragging their heels it seems.

bruffgael (Limerick) - Posts: 209 - 28/03/2023 15:21:07    2467360

Link

Replying To Fitzy01:  "Do you actually like hurling at all? Any positive or constructive contributions to make?"
That chap is just a moaner, simple as.

Shocs07 (Limerick) - Posts: 374 - 28/03/2023 15:25:05    2467363

Link

Replying To Fitzy01:  "I made the original comment and feel like its growing legs and going out of context.
He has nothing to prove and is an exceptional player. I just felt, in my humble opinion, that if he wants to go down as one of the true marquee modern day forwards like Callinan or Corbett that a little bit more from play is needed if Tipp and going to contend for titles, No doubting as things stand he is one of the games top forwards."
Difference is though Lar and Callinan got supplied with alot of good ball. Forde to me is a standout wing forward.

Shocs07 (Limerick) - Posts: 374 - 28/03/2023 15:26:54    2467364

Link

Replying To ExiledInWex:  "Tipp threw everything at Limerick and still came up short. Ominious for the chasing pack. They are streets ahead.

Re Kilkenny Cork, without a VAR style approach how can the referee be sure he is getting the decision right if he is asking Seamus and Paddy on the posts what they saw? Why not have a video ref to help him get that decision right?
It doesn't need to be for every decision but do we want a guess decision or the right decision for serious foul play? The row was handbags but again, why not let the ref have a look?"
'Video ref' systems cost thousands. They are not viable, financially, for use in GAA grounds.

Cockney_Cat (UK) - Posts: 2741 - 28/03/2023 15:29:27    2467365

Link

Replying To bruffgael:  "Any news on the fixture arrangements for the League final? Croke Park are dragging their heels it seems."
I would have thought Semple Stadium would be the obvious choice. Tipp are playing Waterford there on Sunday 9th April in the MFC QF. Couldn't they make it a double-header? If not, play there on Saturday 8th.

Cockney_Cat (UK) - Posts: 2741 - 28/03/2023 15:40:19    2467372

Link

Replying To baire:  "It's not a question of being positive or constructive but of being accurate. When someone claims the Tipp v Limerick game was good old Munster hurling, that simply is not the case, far from it in fact. Whether a person prefers the modern possession based style to the old one is a matter of personal choice."
Fair enough but in my opinion you are not accurate in what you say either. The Tipp v Limerick game had more intensity than most of the games we've seen to date in the league and there was plenty of skill and good hurling on display and a decent crowd with a good atmosphere and a competitive game. It was an enjoyable watch, no one is saying it was a classic but i would say it is fair to call it good old Munster hurling.

Fitzy01 (Limerick) - Posts: 433 - 28/03/2023 16:00:16    2467378

Link

Replying To tiobraid:  "We are probably all guilty of comparing any KK team to their late 00's and early 2010's team but championship from last year certainly has them in second place. When you compare the KK team on paper to the Limerick team theyre miles off them - in my opinion. Kk possess something no one else does though and are very hard beaten regardless of the personnel that plays.
I think Walsh moving back is a good thing and he may have found his place in that role. I think Donnelly is arguably the most under rated hurler in KK if not in Ireland. His scores per min played cant be bettered by two many player particularly half forwards. Struggle to see how he doesnt start day in day out. Deegan is a strange one - he has to play but hard to know where he's suited to best. Keoghan is another one who seems to rack up 1-3 every day and is probably someone that most of us dont rate as really top forward, yet delivers all the time.
However, I may have the opposite view of you as regards Kk. I think they havent set the world alight at all this year in what was a weak enough group. They'll be a different team by the All Ireland series comes around but I expect Limerick to win the league final quite comfortably even if they go with only 9-10 regulars. I'll be surprised if they dont go even less than full strength than they did against Tipp. Too many big games ahead."
Kilkenny can go all out,no offense to Westmeath but they can go full strength against Limerick and not have as much worry about the first round of the lenister championship.

cityman73 (Limerick) - Posts: 783 - 28/03/2023 16:24:56    2467393

Link

Replying To cityman73:  "Kilkenny can go all out,no offense to Westmeath but they can go full strength against Limerick and not have as much worry about the first round of the lenister championship."
Kilkenny won't be full strength against Limerick.

Cockney_Cat (UK) - Posts: 2741 - 28/03/2023 17:41:58    2467435

Link

What is taking league final to cork??surely thurles is the obvious venue,so much easier get in and out of and definitely a more central venue for supporters but of course why worry about supporters..

CTGAA10 (Limerick) - Posts: 2504 - 28/03/2023 20:30:59    2467468

Link

Replying To Cockney_Cat:  "I would have thought Semple Stadium would be the obvious choice. Tipp are playing Waterford there on Sunday 9th April in the MFC QF. Couldn't they make it a double-header? If not, play there on Saturday 8th."
Its Pairc Ui Caoimh. This is utterly insane. The vast majority of Limerick Fans would prefer to go to Thurles and surely nobody from Kilkenny wants to travel to Cork. Are the GAA Management intent on hunting away the fans altogether?

Oldtourman (Limerick) - Posts: 4490 - 28/03/2023 20:31:02    2467469

Link

Surprised to hear that the final is on Pairc Ui Chaoimh, I can't imagine either fans would be happy with that when thurles is ideal for both

DuhallowRed (Cork) - Posts: 310 - 28/03/2023 21:34:02    2467476

Link

Bloody cork that rules out a lot of neutrals going.

Wexfordgaa (Wexford) - Posts: 361 - 29/03/2023 07:14:24    2467479

Link

I mean no offence to the people of Cork, but the GAA supporters of other counties are being forced to pay for the incompetence of the Cork County Board, through the ridiculous selection of venues by the GAA Central Council.

Cockney_Cat (UK) - Posts: 2741 - 29/03/2023 09:01:38    2467486

Link

Replying To Cockney_Cat:  "Kilkenny won't be full strength against Limerick."
I could be wrong. It looks like TJ Reid and Adrian Mullen will be available for the final, though whether both start the game is another thing.

Cockney_Cat (UK) - Posts: 2741 - 29/03/2023 09:19:05    2467490

Link

Replying To Oldtourman:  "Its Pairc Ui Caoimh. This is utterly insane. The vast majority of Limerick Fans would prefer to go to Thurles and surely nobody from Kilkenny wants to travel to Cork. Are the GAA Management intent on hunting away the fans altogether?"
The GAA constantly surprise and rarely in a good way. PUC is a Lovely stadium but so inaccessible.
Unless Thurles isn't available that weekend this makes no sense.

skillet (Limerick) - Posts: 1106 - 29/03/2023 09:25:26    2467492

Link

Replying To Cockney_Cat:  "Kilkenny won't be full strength against Limerick."
Nor will Limerick be either. A number of what I would call next Level players players like Colm Coughland, Donnacha O'Dalaigh and Barry Murphy played well the last night. It will not surprise me if they start those three again.

Oldtourman (Limerick) - Posts: 4490 - 29/03/2023 09:30:56    2467495

Link