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National Hurling League 2022

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Replying To BarneyGrant:  "Having seen the Champion hurdle and the Hatton and looking at the opposition, I could nearly steer her home myself!"
Was thinking that too! Do you think Tiger Roll was held back to get favourable weight for the National again? I made a nice few bob on the X country last year!

Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 20659 - 16/02/2022 13:33:23    2400686

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Replying To munsterchamps:  "limerick looked very ordinary in the 2021 league too when tipperary drew with them waterford and galway beat them .....move the clock forward 2/3 months and limerick hammered every team that came there way. cork by 8 in munster semi. came from 10 down against tipp to win by 5 ....beat waterford by 11 in the all ireland semi final and cork by 16 in the final so rockies dont be too excited just yet."
That's it. Limerick are not under the same pressures as the rest to find out who's going to be on the panel come April.

There's a few fellas they've tried in pre season and in last two games that won't be in any programme, The rest are under much greater constraints and not much time to get it right.

It's difficult to imagine that they will be suffering from any psychological stuff as defending champions. If anything, that is going to an obstacle to the other Munster contenders.

BarneyGrant (Dublin) - Posts: 4550 - 16/02/2022 13:33:31    2400687

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Replying To Trump2020:  "I agree. Limerick should be firm favorites for the All Ireland. The main battle is for second place. Limerick don't NEED the league other than for fitness reasons. A lot of the other teams such as Galway don't even know who will start for them so the league is extremely valuable to them. I guess Cork and Waterford would be the biggest threats to Limerick but even they are light years behind. Barring major injuries of course."
I think Galway and Waterford are Limericks biggest threats. Cork are miles off at the moment. Just dont have the physicality in their style of play at the moment. Might change between now and April but I doubt it.

Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 20659 - 16/02/2022 13:49:46    2400690

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Replying To Trump2020:  "I agree. Limerick should be firm favorites for the All Ireland. The main battle is for second place. Limerick don't NEED the league other than for fitness reasons. A lot of the other teams such as Galway don't even know who will start for them so the league is extremely valuable to them. I guess Cork and Waterford would be the biggest threats to Limerick but even they are light years behind. Barring major injuries of course."
Waterford,Galway and KK the biggest threats. Cork look a bit off the standard for the moment

Shocs07 (Limerick) - Posts: 374 - 16/02/2022 13:52:28    2400692

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Replying To Trump2020:  "I agree. Limerick should be firm favorites for the All Ireland. The main battle is for second place. Limerick don't NEED the league other than for fitness reasons. A lot of the other teams such as Galway don't even know who will start for them so the league is extremely valuable to them. I guess Cork and Waterford would be the biggest threats to Limerick but even they are light years behind. Barring major injuries of course."
Waterford,Galway and KK the biggest threats. Cork look a bit off the standard for the moment

Shocs07 (Limerick) - Posts: 374 - 16/02/2022 13:52:28    2400693

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Replying To Rockies:  "Time will tell. Limerick are beatable and the chasing pack are getting closer. This Limerick team is no Kilkenny ."
Limerick are in 2nd gear right now. Hard to compare teams from different eras but they are definitely in the conversation. If they go on and win again this year i think they surpass that 08 team. That kk team was very changed from 06 to 12 people forget. That Limerick team is pretty much the same. It's great that one of the countys outside the former big 3 is in the conversation for the greatest ever. Time will tell but with the age profile of the Limerick panel they have it within their grasp to win a few more.

daveboy (Limerick) - Posts: 1198 - 16/02/2022 14:04:09    2400695

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Replying To BarneyGrant:  "Dublin's dominance came to an end just as Kilkenny's did and Limerick's will.

Not this year I think. The only teams I could possibly see beating Limerick are Tipp and the Cats; the former if they've learned anything from the Munster final and the latter purely on the basis that if they were to meet Limerick in a semi final or final they would not be beaten before they left the dressing room."
I think Dublin will come out of leinster. They're building nicely and have big players in the right positions now at 3 HB line HF line 14. I think even though people are lauding Galway right now they need to be v careful that leinster is no cake walk. They have to go to wexford Park first and kk in the 3rd match. They had a terrible year last year and lost their main man since. Shefflin can't hurl a ball for them and I don't get this argument he'll have them motivated. No one motivates you like your own county men.

daveboy (Limerick) - Posts: 1198 - 16/02/2022 14:13:01    2400697

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Replying To Rockies:  "I think Shefflin will instill self belief into this Galway team. Shefflin is a battler and doesn't play second fiddle to anyone. Galway will go out expecting to win! Match Limerick in the physical stakes and you have a winner!"
A lot easier said than done to match Limerick in the physical stakes, as the little Cork boys found out last year. But it wasn't just in the physicality that Limk blew Cork away. It was in every aspect of the game of hurling.

I think Waterford can match Limk physically, and can also match Limerick on the scoreboard. I predict 2022 to be the year that Waterford finally do it.

Galway should do better than last year, and could physically match Limk man to man, but I don't see them having the scoring power to go all the way. They need to learn how to score goals.

foreveryoung (USA) - Posts: 2635 - 16/02/2022 14:49:50    2400706

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Replying To Rockies:  "Time will tell. Limerick are beatable and the chasing pack are getting closer. This Limerick team is no Kilkenny ."
You're right Limerick is beatable and the gap is closing. That's there for all to see. And Limerick has a fair bit to go to be considered on the same level as that great KK team. No one is that team, arguably the greatest team of all time (but I didn't see the Tipp teams of the 60's or the Limerick teams of the 30's).

However, two teams I did see, were Cork of the 1970's and Donal Og's tippy-tappy team. I'd rate this Limerick team far higher than either of those Cork sides. Very few hurling people took to that style of Cork hurling, circa 1999-2005. It's easy to understand why.

And hurling was very poor overall in the latter half of the 1970's: greats such as Eddie Keher, Jimmy Doyle, The Babs and Frances Loughnane had all left the scene at that stage. Cork capitalized on that and managed to pick up three in a row.

foreveryoung (USA) - Posts: 2635 - 16/02/2022 15:15:41    2400712

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Replying To foreveryoung:  "A lot easier said than done to match Limerick in the physical stakes, as the little Cork boys found out last year. But it wasn't just in the physicality that Limk blew Cork away. It was in every aspect of the game of hurling.

I think Waterford can match Limk physically, and can also match Limerick on the scoreboard. I predict 2022 to be the year that Waterford finally do it.

Galway should do better than last year, and could physically match Limk man to man, but I don't see them having the scoring power to go all the way. They need to learn how to score goals."
Hope Waterford do manage it. I was at the all Ireland final of 1963. Waterford vs Kilkenny 6-8 to 4-17. Great team then with Tom Cheasty, Larry Guinan and Philly Grimes but Seamus Cleere and company were too strong! Hope Cork are working on the physical side of their game. They have speed to burn but not much good if you can't use it on the big day!

Rockies (Cork) - Posts: 947 - 16/02/2022 15:29:08    2400715

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Replying To foreveryoung:  "A lot easier said than done to match Limerick in the physical stakes, as the little Cork boys found out last year. But it wasn't just in the physicality that Limk blew Cork away. It was in every aspect of the game of hurling.

I think Waterford can match Limk physically, and can also match Limerick on the scoreboard. I predict 2022 to be the year that Waterford finally do it.

Galway should do better than last year, and could physically match Limk man to man, but I don't see them having the scoring power to go all the way. They need to learn how to score goals."
Hope Waterford do manage it. I was at the all Ireland final of 1963. Waterford vs Kilkenny 6-8 to 4-17. Great team then with Tom Cheasty, Larry Guinan and Philly Grimes but Seamus Cleere and company were too strong! Hope Cork are working on the physical side of their game. They have speed to burn but not much good if you can't use it on the big day!

Rockies (Cork) - Posts: 947 - 16/02/2022 15:37:56    2400721

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Replying To Viking66:  "I think Galway and Waterford are Limericks biggest threats. Cork are miles off at the moment. Just dont have the physicality in their style of play at the moment. Might change between now and April but I doubt it."
i think Waterford are well ahead of the chasing pack. Galway have an awful lot to prove. They've struggled massively at 1, 3 and 6 the last two seasons in my opinion and dont have one settled corner back either. One league win doesnt put them as joint second favs for me. There are question marks over a number of their forwards also. Whelan is arguably their best forward and I think he has been below par also and none of the managers have trusted C Cooney or Flynn in the past. Niland looks class but still unproven. Waterford for me have continued on an upward curve where as the rest includng Galway and my own county have flattered to deceive over the last couple of years. There are big question marks also over Cork, Clare, Wexford and Dublin. League form is well proven to mean very little. For me Limierck will win Munster and all Ireland at a canter and KK will win Leinster again.

tiobraid (Tipperary) - Posts: 4119 - 16/02/2022 15:58:37    2400729

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Replying To foreveryoung:  "You're right Limerick is beatable and the gap is closing. That's there for all to see. And Limerick has a fair bit to go to be considered on the same level as that great KK team. No one is that team, arguably the greatest team of all time (but I didn't see the Tipp teams of the 60's or the Limerick teams of the 30's).

However, two teams I did see, were Cork of the 1970's and Donal Og's tippy-tappy team. I'd rate this Limerick team far higher than either of those Cork sides. Very few hurling people took to that style of Cork hurling, circa 1999-2005. It's easy to understand why.

And hurling was very poor overall in the latter half of the 1970's: greats such as Eddie Keher, Jimmy Doyle, The Babs and Frances Loughnane had all left the scene at that stage. Cork capitalized on that and managed to pick up three in a row."
Cork and Wexford were 2 good teams at that time unfortunately they were better than us. Kilkenny still had a very good team they competed in 7, I think from memory, finals between 71 and 79. Tipp didnt have a good team between the late 60s and the late 80s. Just because Tipp werent great it doesnt mean that hurling wasnt great. If so hurling hasnt been great since the 50s and 60s. And the great Cork team of the early noughties were the founders of today's modern style of play. You are the only hurling fan I ever heard describe the Rock as tippy tappy!!!!! Tbh the best decade of hurling in my lifetime was the 90s. No big 3 dominance and the opportunity to dream big at the start of every season for nearly everyone!

Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 20659 - 16/02/2022 16:36:48    2400740

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Replying To Viking66:  "Cork and Wexford were 2 good teams at that time unfortunately they were better than us. Kilkenny still had a very good team they competed in 7, I think from memory, finals between 71 and 79. Tipp didnt have a good team between the late 60s and the late 80s. Just because Tipp werent great it doesnt mean that hurling wasnt great. If so hurling hasnt been great since the 50s and 60s. And the great Cork team of the early noughties were the founders of today's modern style of play. You are the only hurling fan I ever heard describe the Rock as tippy tappy!!!!! Tbh the best decade of hurling in my lifetime was the 90s. No big 3 dominance and the opportunity to dream big at the start of every season for nearly everyone!"
Well there are exceptions to everything, and I most certainly wouldn't equate The Rock with tippy-tappy (a sterling, stalwart defender in fact), and of all me, it must grate with him to be associated with the phrase 'tippy-tappy'.

However, tippy-tappy, short puck-out hurling is what comes to mind when you think of that Cork team.

And of course, Stepford wives! Donal Og in trying to have a sly dig at the KK lads, only succeeded in reversing the identification onto himself and his own team.

So, whenever I see Donal Pg do punditry, "Stepford wives" and "tippy-tappy" always come to mind.

foreveryoung (USA) - Posts: 2635 - 16/02/2022 16:49:14    2400742

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Replying To tiobraid:  "i think Waterford are well ahead of the chasing pack. Galway have an awful lot to prove. They've struggled massively at 1, 3 and 6 the last two seasons in my opinion and dont have one settled corner back either. One league win doesnt put them as joint second favs for me. There are question marks over a number of their forwards also. Whelan is arguably their best forward and I think he has been below par also and none of the managers have trusted C Cooney or Flynn in the past. Niland looks class but still unproven. Waterford for me have continued on an upward curve where as the rest includng Galway and my own county have flattered to deceive over the last couple of years. There are big question marks also over Cork, Clare, Wexford and Dublin. League form is well proven to mean very little. For me Limierck will win Munster and all Ireland at a canter and KK will win Leinster again."
These points are all well made but I don't see any AI won at a canter. I think the round Robin will have a couple of surprises but I do see limerick and Waterford as two that should get out. They are the two most settled panels and management in the province. Tipp and clare have a few issues on and off the field and cork have only one home match in the series which immediately puts them at a disadvantage. Cork play limerick first and it would take something huge to reverse last August's result followed by three matches out of cork. They are also blooding young lads, experimenting at 3,6,8,10 and 14. Clare will go into the championship with lack of game time to kelly, Duggan, mccarthy and o donnell still to decide on playing. Tipp I still feel will have a big say but they've issues in defense and possibly up top.

In leinster I think Dublin are coming. I agree I think the likely leinster champions will be kk. I rate darragh Egan hugely and Galway still imo too have a lot to prove. Their tackle count was huge last Saturday evening but we've been here before. I think the shefflin thing is being overplayed but it's a good story in fairness. There are just a lot of lads in there thar consistency remains the issue.

I think this year will be tighter as limerick were lucky injury wise the last couple of years when they did suffer injuries to richie English, Mike casey Peter casey etc there were replacements brought in that performed v well. Like any team limerick have one or two lads that are v important to the flow of their style quaid, hannon, wod, lynch etc that if they were to be missing opens things up.

It's just great to be looking forward to both provincial round Robins as they are excellent formats.

daveboy (Limerick) - Posts: 1198 - 16/02/2022 16:57:03    2400745

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Replying To tiobraid:  "i think Waterford are well ahead of the chasing pack. Galway have an awful lot to prove. They've struggled massively at 1, 3 and 6 the last two seasons in my opinion and dont have one settled corner back either. One league win doesnt put them as joint second favs for me. There are question marks over a number of their forwards also. Whelan is arguably their best forward and I think he has been below par also and none of the managers have trusted C Cooney or Flynn in the past. Niland looks class but still unproven. Waterford for me have continued on an upward curve where as the rest includng Galway and my own county have flattered to deceive over the last couple of years. There are big question marks also over Cork, Clare, Wexford and Dublin. League form is well proven to mean very little. For me Limierck will win Munster and all Ireland at a canter and KK will win Leinster again."
Agree totally about Galway no guarantee they will even get out of Leinster. But they are still, along with Waterford, Limericks biggest threat. For them to play Limerick at all they will have to get out of Leinster. They have away trips to here and Kilkenny and have struggled against Dublin the last few years. They will have to have all the issues you mention sorted out or they wont even get to play Limerick. Kilkenny might win Leinster again but I'd only give them a 1 in 4 chance at the minute. Some of their younger players are very good and Cody will have them very well motivated. They wont lie down. But Adrian Mullen still doesnt seem back to his best. TJ is another year older and just got married. Cody and Reid are both good prospects but not yet the finished article. Corcoran is ok. That's most of what they have to come in from Ballyhale. And while the League is only the League friends of mine up there are worried enough. Which is very unusual for Kilkenny men let me tell you! I was only basing the threat on the physicality and skill of the hurlers they have. So that's why I was saying Waterford and Galway are the biggest threats. Agree after typing all that Waterford are the biggest threat!!!!! And I definitely wouldn't want to predict which 5 counties will make the AI series along with Limerick. Waterford are the most likely though.

Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 20659 - 16/02/2022 16:57:38    2400746

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Replying To tiobraid:  "i think Waterford are well ahead of the chasing pack. Galway have an awful lot to prove. They've struggled massively at 1, 3 and 6 the last two seasons in my opinion and dont have one settled corner back either. One league win doesnt put them as joint second favs for me. There are question marks over a number of their forwards also. Whelan is arguably their best forward and I think he has been below par also and none of the managers have trusted C Cooney or Flynn in the past. Niland looks class but still unproven. Waterford for me have continued on an upward curve where as the rest includng Galway and my own county have flattered to deceive over the last couple of years. There are big question marks also over Cork, Clare, Wexford and Dublin. League form is well proven to mean very little. For me Limierck will win Munster and all Ireland at a canter and KK will win Leinster again."
Hard to see anyone being able to close the gap on Limerick (which was a chasm last year) enough to beat them. Tipp were the only team to ask serious questions of them and they got their answer in the second half .
At the moment I think Limerick Waterford will come out of Munster. Can't predict the third with any degree of confidence. As for Leinster anything could happen. Think the big 4 could end up beating each other and score difference might be the deciding factor again.
I take cork to win the league

HurlingBuzz (Wexford) - Posts: 556 - 16/02/2022 17:02:36    2400748

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Replying To PatKeyes73:  "It's gas seeing Galway getting so excited after a league win in February shows how far back they've gone in the last 5 years"
Stupid post.

Greengrass (Louth) - Posts: 6213 - 16/02/2022 17:05:29    2400749

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Replying To foreveryoung:  "A lot easier said than done to match Limerick in the physical stakes, as the little Cork boys found out last year. But it wasn't just in the physicality that Limk blew Cork away. It was in every aspect of the game of hurling.

I think Waterford can match Limk physically, and can also match Limerick on the scoreboard. I predict 2022 to be the year that Waterford finally do it.

Galway should do better than last year, and could physically match Limk man to man, but I don't see them having the scoring power to go all the way. They need to learn how to score goals."
We won the all Ireland in 2017 and never hit the back of the net once. Not all about scoring goals.

Waveitwide (Galway) - Posts: 137 - 16/02/2022 18:07:55    2400761

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Replying To HurlingBuzz:  "Hard to see anyone being able to close the gap on Limerick (which was a chasm last year) enough to beat them. Tipp were the only team to ask serious questions of them and they got their answer in the second half .
At the moment I think Limerick Waterford will come out of Munster. Can't predict the third with any degree of confidence. As for Leinster anything could happen. Think the big 4 could end up beating each other and score difference might be the deciding factor again.
I take cork to win the league"
"Tipp were the only team to ask serious questions of them"
Tipp were one of only 3 teams to play Limerick last year.

Cockney_Cat (UK) - Posts: 2961 - 16/02/2022 18:09:00    2400762

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