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Munster Hurling Championship 2025

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Replying To Ryanteam:  "It was good that "Johnny red card"didn't send off the Cork defender for a strike. It was of a trivial nature, much like the Waterford strike on Shane Barrett. Red cards destroy games, and in fact, the Dublin/Galway game could easily have had 3 or 4 red cards, but the referee brandished a few yellows. The Cork/Waterford game didn't warrant red cards, the black card in hurling is rarely enforced, and Johnny refereed the game well!"
A strike with the hurley is a sending off offence, and several players have been dismissed for what is termed "striking with minimal force". I agree that red cards destroy games, like the recent Cork-Tipp match, but if rules are not enforced we could end up with chaos. Yes, the Galway-Dublin game should have had a few red cards, and I think that referees have a duty of care towards players. For instance, when you compare the red cards shown to Alan Tynan and James Mahon in the latter stages of the league (both of which were, amazingly, upheld on appeal) you have to wonder how Daithi Burke got away with a yellow card yesterday for a far more dangerous challenge. Of course, he wasn't the only player who was lucky yesterday.

midlands (Westmeath) - Posts: 610 - 26/05/2025 14:16:45    2612763

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They could easily tweak the current format to retain the provincial championships and make it more equitable
11 (or 12) teams in Championship. Everybody plays everybody - that's ten games.
Each team gets five home games - Galway go to Ennis to play Clare; Cork go to Kilkenny.
Tables divided by province and top two in each province play off for provincial championship
The top six on points then qualify for AI series
Or top two in each province plus the two teams with the next best points tallies. It could be three from each or 2 from one, 4 from other, depending on the results
Joe McDonagh winners come up bottom team go down.
More games but you could play the league faster, and league would become less important as with 10 group games teams would have more latitude to try new players and combos since losing a single game wouldn't be the end of the world
County hurlers want more games, fans want more games, we want to keep the provincials but make it more equitable and avoid a situation where top teams never play each other. When was the last time Limerick played Wexford in the Championship or Cork played Kilkenny?

Yadse (Limerick) - Posts: 126 - 26/05/2025 15:00:45    2612778

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Replying To midlands:  "A strike with the hurley is a sending off offence, and several players have been dismissed for what is termed "striking with minimal force". I agree that red cards destroy games, like the recent Cork-Tipp match, but if rules are not enforced we could end up with chaos. Yes, the Galway-Dublin game should have had a few red cards, and I think that referees have a duty of care towards players. For instance, when you compare the red cards shown to Alan Tynan and James Mahon in the latter stages of the league (both of which were, amazingly, upheld on appeal) you have to wonder how Daithi Burke got away with a yellow card yesterday for a far more dangerous challenge. Of course, he wasn't the only player who was lucky yesterday."
If the rules were stringently enforced there would be mass red cards in every game. Calum Lyons for a strike on Barrett, and Sean O' Donoghue would have seen the line. However both strikes were trivial and referee used discretion. Byrnes of Limerick could have seen red against Cork, for pulling Connolly back by face guard, but referees are given discretion. Cork have suffered from red cards recently.. Barrett against Clare for what I would call a trivial offense, 2 sent off against Waterford last year, and one against Clare last year. Unless we want to go down the road of mass red cards, let the referee decide, and hopefully we'll have a good all Ireland series

Ryanteam (Cork) - Posts: 547 - 26/05/2025 15:03:12    2612779

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Replying To Yadse:  "They could easily tweak the current format to retain the provincial championships and make it more equitable
11 (or 12) teams in Championship. Everybody plays everybody - that's ten games.
Each team gets five home games - Galway go to Ennis to play Clare; Cork go to Kilkenny.
Tables divided by province and top two in each province play off for provincial championship
The top six on points then qualify for AI series
Or top two in each province plus the two teams with the next best points tallies. It could be three from each or 2 from one, 4 from other, depending on the results
Joe McDonagh winners come up bottom team go down.
More games but you could play the league faster, and league would become less important as with 10 group games teams would have more latitude to try new players and combos since losing a single game wouldn't be the end of the world
County hurlers want more games, fans want more games, we want to keep the provincials but make it more equitable and avoid a situation where top teams never play each other. When was the last time Limerick played Wexford in the Championship or Cork played Kilkenny?"
We haven't played Limerick in Championship since 2014 I think. We haven't played Cork in Championship since 2016. Nearly sure we have only played Tipp once in Championship since the AIQF in 2007.

Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 16029 - 26/05/2025 15:17:58    2612787

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I see Peter Queally wants change to the structure so Waterford have a chance to hurl into the summer. They already have that, it's called the Munster Championship round robin. It's their own fault if they can't get out of it, the only Munster county who haven't done so.

Antrim & Offaly had to cope with playing 4 better teams in Leinster this year. Waterford should just be glad they can't get relegated.

M Lyster (Antrim) - Posts: 467 - 26/05/2025 15:46:01    2612794

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Replying To midlands:  "A strike with the hurley is a sending off offence, and several players have been dismissed for what is termed "striking with minimal force". I agree that red cards destroy games, like the recent Cork-Tipp match, but if rules are not enforced we could end up with chaos. Yes, the Galway-Dublin game should have had a few red cards, and I think that referees have a duty of care towards players. For instance, when you compare the red cards shown to Alan Tynan and James Mahon in the latter stages of the league (both of which were, amazingly, upheld on appeal) you have to wonder how Daithi Burke got away with a yellow card yesterday for a far more dangerous challenge. Of course, he wasn't the only player who was lucky yesterday."
For Daithí's tackle, the ref could be seen explaining that he saw it as a shoulder to the chest. That's why he didn't give a red, as a shoulder to the chest isn't an automatic red.
A shoulder to the head is of course a straight red. Looking at the replays, it looks like it was a hit to the chest first, but with the force of it could easily have followed through to the head.
I just want to make the point that it wasn't the ref not applying the rules in that case, but simply going on what he had seen it as.

WanPintWin (Galway) - Posts: 2336 - 26/05/2025 15:49:48    2612795

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Replying To Viking66:  "We haven't played Limerick in Championship since 2014 I think. We haven't played Cork in Championship since 2016. Nearly sure we have only played Tipp once in Championship since the AIQF in 2007."
Tipp absolutely battered us in 2010 (I think).
Highlight of the game was Stephen Banville getting in a scrap.

Obviously 2019 then.

Played Cork in 12, 15 and 16 I think.

Limerick 09, 14 and possibly 2011?

Waterford 14 and again in 17/18

Clare then nearly every year....

Doylerwex (Wexford) - Posts: 3669 - 26/05/2025 15:53:05    2612797

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Clare got more points than Waterford but their campaign is over, same for Wexford. 6 points in Leinster would get you through most years. Are they asking for change? No

M Lyster (Antrim) - Posts: 467 - 26/05/2025 15:53:28    2612798

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Replying To M Lyster:  "I see Peter Queally wants change to the structure so Waterford have a chance to hurl into the summer. They already have that, it's called the Munster Championship round robin. It's their own fault if they can't get out of it, the only Munster county who haven't done so.

Antrim & Offaly had to cope with playing 4 better teams in Leinster this year. Waterford should just be glad they can't get relegated."
It's hard on Waterford this year. They've had a good enough season but still finish bottom on 2 points.

Even harder on Antrim who did so well to stay up last year.

At this stage you'd nearly rather an all Ireland competition separate from provincial other than seeding.

Heartbroken our summer is over now but we are where we are and that's on us.

Doylerwex (Wexford) - Posts: 3669 - 26/05/2025 15:56:39    2612799

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Replying To Ryanteam:  "If the rules were stringently enforced there would be mass red cards in every game. Calum Lyons for a strike on Barrett, and Sean O' Donoghue would have seen the line. However both strikes were trivial and referee used discretion. Byrnes of Limerick could have seen red against Cork, for pulling Connolly back by face guard, but referees are given discretion. Cork have suffered from red cards recently.. Barrett against Clare for what I would call a trivial offense, 2 sent off against Waterford last year, and one against Clare last year. Unless we want to go down the road of mass red cards, let the referee decide, and hopefully we'll have a good all Ireland series"
The problem is that there is so much inconsistency. It must be disheartening for a player who is sent off to see someone given a yellow for a much more serious offence.

midlands (Westmeath) - Posts: 610 - 26/05/2025 16:01:13    2612801

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Replying To Ryanteam:  "If the rules were stringently enforced there would be mass red cards in every game. Calum Lyons for a strike on Barrett, and Sean O' Donoghue would have seen the line. However both strikes were trivial and referee used discretion. Byrnes of Limerick could have seen red against Cork, for pulling Connolly back by face guard, but referees are given discretion. Cork have suffered from red cards recently.. Barrett against Clare for what I would call a trivial offense, 2 sent off against Waterford last year, and one against Clare last year. Unless we want to go down the road of mass red cards, let the referee decide, and hopefully we'll have a good all Ireland series"
1.Callum Lyons is in Australia.
2. The Cork player should have got carded for what he did to Daragh Lyons to cause the retaliation and faking injury.
3. That is the craziest suggestion I have ever heard on
this forum. The refs should ignore the rules as laid out and make up his own on the day. This would be at the whim of the individual ref.
So when you play Limerick and Connolly or one of your forwards is dragged down as he is about to score a goal you will be okay with that. Good luck for the rest of the season. You beat us and that's that but Cork should send flowers to Johnnie today.

Canuck (Waterford) - Posts: 3072 - 26/05/2025 16:28:23    2612807

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Replying To M Lyster:  "I see Peter Queally wants change to the structure so Waterford have a chance to hurl into the summer. They already have that, it's called the Munster Championship round robin. It's their own fault if they can't get out of it, the only Munster county who haven't done so.

Antrim & Offaly had to cope with playing 4 better teams in Leinster this year. Waterford should just be glad they can't get relegated."
Not sure about that. However the system is badly flawed. There are teams in the All-Ireland serious if pitted against Waterford or Wexford would not be close to them. That is no disrespect and there needs to be a path for these teams to advance. The best teams should be contesting the National competition no matter how you slice it or dice it. Right now you get into by winning a lesser level competition. Maybe that is Davy's plan as he will have a much better chance of qualifying for the McCarthy cup than Waterford in 2026. It's a joke. A sick one.

Canuck (Waterford) - Posts: 3072 - 26/05/2025 16:46:23    2612813

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Replying To Canuck:  "1.Callum Lyons is in Australia.
2. The Cork player should have got carded for what he did to Daragh Lyons to cause the retaliation and faking injury.
3. That is the craziest suggestion I have ever heard on
this forum. The refs should ignore the rules as laid out and make up his own on the day. This would be at the whim of the individual ref.
So when you play Limerick and Connolly or one of your forwards is dragged down as he is about to score a goal you will be okay with that. Good luck for the rest of the season. You beat us and that's that but Cork should send flowers to Johnnie today."
I thought Cir/Waterford was an excellent game, devoid of red cards, and the better team won on the day. Waterford unfortunately have never emerged from Munster, but blaming referees won't fix that. There are controversial referee decisions in every game, Cork have been on wrong end of several but it's best to accept referee decisions…. Nothing would be done about it anyway!

Ryanteam (Cork) - Posts: 547 - 26/05/2025 17:26:49    2612832

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Ah the annual argument that you should survive in the champonship despite coming last in a 5 team group is upon us. Always very enjoyable.

Overdahill (Galway) - Posts: 58 - 26/05/2025 17:30:15    2612834

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Replying To WanPintWin:  "For Daithí's tackle, the ref could be seen explaining that he saw it as a shoulder to the chest. That's why he didn't give a red, as a shoulder to the chest isn't an automatic red.
A shoulder to the head is of course a straight red. Looking at the replays, it looks like it was a hit to the chest first, but with the force of it could easily have followed through to the head.
I just want to make the point that it wasn't the ref not applying the rules in that case, but simply going on what he had seen it as."
I take your point. It's the old problem of lack of consistency. Clearly the red cards to Alan Tynan and James Mahon were extremely harsh, Neither player made contact with the head, and in Mahon's case it was hardly even a foul. As far as I can recall, the referee in both cases indicated that there was contact with the opponent's head, but I understand that when appeals were submitted, it turned out that the referee's report had simply stated something like "behaving in a manner that is dangerous to an opponent". Of course it's impossible to win an appeal when that that type of vague language is used. I suspect that referees are being advised to use this kind of language, which can cover a multitude of "offences".

midlands (Westmeath) - Posts: 610 - 26/05/2025 17:47:06    2612845

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Replying To Canuck:  "Not sure about that. However the system is badly flawed. There are teams in the All-Ireland serious if pitted against Waterford or Wexford would not be close to them. That is no disrespect and there needs to be a path for these teams to advance. The best teams should be contesting the National competition no matter how you slice it or dice it. Right now you get into by winning a lesser level competition. Maybe that is Davy's plan as he will have a much better chance of qualifying for the McCarthy cup than Waterford in 2026. It's a joke. A sick one."
Waterford lost 3 games in a fantastic championship which gives every young lad in Munster encouragement to play the game at the highest level they can.Give the Joe Mcdonagh teams a break we are desperately trying to reach that level with no glamour championship to attract the youth.

jobber (Westmeath) - Posts: 1718 - 26/05/2025 17:48:08    2612846

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Replying To Yadse:  "They could easily tweak the current format to retain the provincial championships and make it more equitable
11 (or 12) teams in Championship. Everybody plays everybody - that's ten games.
Each team gets five home games - Galway go to Ennis to play Clare; Cork go to Kilkenny.
Tables divided by province and top two in each province play off for provincial championship
The top six on points then qualify for AI series
Or top two in each province plus the two teams with the next best points tallies. It could be three from each or 2 from one, 4 from other, depending on the results
Joe McDonagh winners come up bottom team go down.
More games but you could play the league faster, and league would become less important as with 10 group games teams would have more latitude to try new players and combos since losing a single game wouldn't be the end of the world
County hurlers want more games, fans want more games, we want to keep the provincials but make it more equitable and avoid a situation where top teams never play each other. When was the last time Limerick played Wexford in the Championship or Cork played Kilkenny?"
Cork beat Kilkenny after extra time in 2021 semifinal. I don't mind missing them, as we've played them enough in our history. Munster will be a minefield for years to come…, all 5 counties look to be strong for foreseeable future. It's a cash cow for GAA, and unlikely to be changed…, an open draw is last thing on their minds!

Ryanteam (Cork) - Posts: 547 - 26/05/2025 17:57:07    2612849

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Replying To Doylerwex:  "Tipp absolutely battered us in 2010 (I think).
Highlight of the game was Stephen Banville getting in a scrap.

Obviously 2019 then.

Played Cork in 12, 15 and 16 I think.

Limerick 09, 14 and possibly 2011?

Waterford 14 and again in 17/18

Clare then nearly every year...."
That's right I remember now, a home game for Tipp, it was right at the start of the game. We never played Tipp in a Championship game in the Park. Or Waterford. Our Championship record in Wexford Park and Nowlan Park against Munster counties isn't too bad, we have only lost to Cork once and Limerick once I think, and we have beaten Clare once and Cork once and Waterford twice in those venues. Semple Stadium is a graveyard for us. I can't remember us winning a Championship game there, if we did I missed it. I can't remember our minors or u20s playing a Championship game against a Munster county in the Park either. They always seem to be played in Munster also.

Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 16029 - 26/05/2025 18:15:12    2612858

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The big 3 are still alive in the all Ireland series. I would view the big 3 of this century as Limerick, Kilkenny and Tipperary. It's hard not to see one of them winning it, although would be nice seeing an underdog like Cork taking it!

Ryanteam (Cork) - Posts: 547 - 26/05/2025 18:18:26    2612861

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Replying To Viking66:  "That's right I remember now, a home game for Tipp, it was right at the start of the game. We never played Tipp in a Championship game in the Park. Or Waterford. Our Championship record in Wexford Park and Nowlan Park against Munster counties isn't too bad, we have only lost to Cork once and Limerick once I think, and we have beaten Clare once and Cork once and Waterford twice in those venues. Semple Stadium is a graveyard for us. I can't remember us winning a Championship game there, if we did I missed it. I can't remember our minors or u20s playing a Championship game against a Munster county in the Park either. They always seem to be played in Munster also."
We beat siblings in thurles in a Leinster semi final when they were doing up croke park. I want to say 2002??

Didn't we beat Cork there in 16 ?

Doylerwex (Wexford) - Posts: 3669 - 26/05/2025 18:41:03    2612868

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