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National Hurling League 2023

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On the playing front, Clare not scoring a point from play until 50+ minutes must be somewhat of a senior inter county landmark? Think it happened for entire game during one of the inter or junior all Ireland club series.

Tribute to the Limerick defence which was not conceding anything, other than the odd free, until they began to throw on subs and the game was well won. Their ability to turn players over and work the ball out under pressure more often than not to a scorer is a template that is going to be hard to overcome, especially when you consider that last night's team was relatively inexperienced.

BarneyGrant (Dublin) - Posts: 2521 - 12/02/2023 09:09:16    2457886

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Replying To Midleton:  "The booing was not for Lynch, but for Hegarty, who was coming off.

Supporters are, I suppose, able to show their disapproval of the unsporting actions of players on the pitch.

It's not a regular thing, but it happens for a reason."
Such complete tripe on many levels. Seemed to me the booing was aimed at Lynch who in no way deserved it after all he has achieved and the fact he was coming back from a serious injury. Then you suggest it was Hegarty and it "….happens for a reason" what was that reason, the nonsense he has to put up with is just off the chart, if people didn't see the mans true character delivering one of the all time great performances in last years all Ireland then they shouldn't follow hurling. How many fouls and punishment does he have to take, I'd like to see stats but I'd say he'd be up there as one of the most fouled players in the championship.
God help the poor guy when he inevitably mistimes or is late on a tackle or involved in a scuffle and it get blown out of all proportion but credit to the man himself he just rises above the nonsense and drives on. Conor Cleary fouled Gillane consistently for about 50 mins in the Munster final but that gets no attention but if Hego commits an offence then he's always at it. Complete and utter nonsense.

Fitzy01 (Limerick) - Posts: 384 - 12/02/2023 09:52:52    2457891

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Replying To BarneyGrant:  "On the playing front, Clare not scoring a point from play until 50+ minutes must be somewhat of a senior inter county landmark? Think it happened for entire game during one of the inter or junior all Ireland club series.

Tribute to the Limerick defence which was not conceding anything, other than the odd free, until they began to throw on subs and the game was well won. Their ability to turn players over and work the ball out under pressure more often than not to a scorer is a template that is going to be hard to overcome, especially when you consider that last night's team was relatively inexperienced."
I'd agree with that. Clare have been accused of being over reliant on kelly over the years and when you look at last night it's hard not to see some truth to it. They had a lot of potential starters on last night and I know it's only the league but there was a gulf in class between the sides. Limerick look to be adding to their depth but I'm not sure clare are. Quilligan Hayes Cleary Ryan Mcinerney Malone Fitzgerald Mccarthy Rodgers Duggan would all be starting you'd imagine. They seemed to be very one dimensional onto Duggan and bar the goal the reward just wasn't there .

daveboy (Limerick) - Posts: 1123 - 12/02/2023 10:54:55    2457895

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Replying To daveboy:  "I'd agree with that. Clare have been accused of being over reliant on kelly over the years and when you look at last night it's hard not to see some truth to it. They had a lot of potential starters on last night and I know it's only the league but there was a gulf in class between the sides. Limerick look to be adding to their depth but I'm not sure clare are. Quilligan Hayes Cleary Ryan Mcinerney Malone Fitzgerald Mccarthy Rodgers Duggan would all be starting you'd imagine. They seemed to be very one dimensional onto Duggan and bar the goal the reward just wasn't there ."
That lumping the ball into the full forward was low return last night and its not going to be become any more effective by April.

I suppose at least Lohan is attempting something different, and obviously not showing his hand but he didn't look like a man who was pleased with any part of last night.

Poor old Anthony sounded quite depressed !

BarneyGrant (Dublin) - Posts: 2521 - 12/02/2023 11:55:46    2457902

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Tipp winning well here but Kilkenny are terrible and very disorganised.

updwell (Limerick) - Posts: 816 - 12/02/2023 14:38:02    2457922

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Surprised with killkenny,they usually go for these matches..today they looked totally disinterested during first half..a lot of players looked very heavy legged,as if they have a lot of physical work done in last week..tipp will be happy,over reliance on forde for scores..breen is settling in at full back..mc Graths worked very hard and Morris was flying..can anyone explain to steps rule or has it been completely forgotten??in all matches I've seen this weekend fellas taking seven and eight and not being blown..every county now guilty of it..

CTGAA10 (Limerick) - Posts: 2206 - 12/02/2023 15:24:19    2457924

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Offaly, Kerry and Kildare have 2 wins from 2 in Division 2A. A very positive start for Kildare who are back in the McDonagh Cup this year.

legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 7821 - 12/02/2023 16:31:49    2457936

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Replying To CTGAA10:  "Surprised with killkenny,they usually go for these matches..today they looked totally disinterested during first half..a lot of players looked very heavy legged,as if they have a lot of physical work done in last week..tipp will be happy,over reliance on forde for scores..breen is settling in at full back..mc Graths worked very hard and Morris was flying..can anyone explain to steps rule or has it been completely forgotten??in all matches I've seen this weekend fellas taking seven and eight and not being blown..every county now guilty of it.."
Sure hurling Refs have to "let the game flow" which is done by ignoring about 75% of personal fouls and 95% of technical fouls.
There were over 50 scores in Salthill today, add that to any wides and the puckouts... can't have been any time for actual play between the reams.

Seanfanbocht (Roscommon) - Posts: 1399 - 12/02/2023 17:04:02    2457943

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Antrim are very frustrating. We've made a lot of strides in the past few years but the same old failings are rearing their heads. We switch off and allow teams to build leads then realise we can actually play but by then it's too late. Today was a prime example. In the first half we gave Dublin too much room and they punished us. In the second half we woke up, cut through Dublin and should have scored 5 or 6 goals. We need to toughen up mentally and start to believe.

Ulsterman (Antrim) - Posts: 9697 - 12/02/2023 17:11:52    2457947

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Replying To Ulsterman:  "Antrim are very frustrating. We've made a lot of strides in the past few years but the same old failings are rearing their heads. We switch off and allow teams to build leads then realise we can actually play but by then it's too late. Today was a prime example. In the first half we gave Dublin too much room and they punished us. In the second half we woke up, cut through Dublin and should have scored 5 or 6 goals. We need to toughen up mentally and start to believe."
Laois are -32 and Westmeath are -36 after two rounds. Antrim are -9. Antrim for the second league season in a row are not too far behind their top 9 opponents.

legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 7821 - 12/02/2023 17:38:20    2457951

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Replying To legendzxix:  "Offaly, Kerry and Kildare have 2 wins from 2 in Division 2A. A very positive start for Kildare who are back in the McDonagh Cup this year."
The Kerry v Offaly game will be important for the two sides unbeaten to date. Kerry and Kildare had narrow wins today.

thelongridge (Offaly) - Posts: 1735 - 12/02/2023 17:42:48    2457952

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A shout out to Cavan for securing a rare back to back win yesterday. Stick at it lads!!

Calving4Sam (Cavan) - Posts: 69 - 12/02/2023 18:04:47    2457954

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Replying To thelongridge:  "The Kerry v Offaly game will be important for the two sides unbeaten to date. Kerry and Kildare had narrow wins today."
Kerry v Offaly will be in Killarney. Not sure of the reason for that.

legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 7821 - 12/02/2023 19:42:34    2457967

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Replying To Calving4Sam:  "A shout out to Cavan for securing a rare back to back win yesterday. Stick at it lads!!"
If Cavan can beat Lancashire next, they should make the 3B semi-finals at least.

legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 7821 - 12/02/2023 19:45:51    2457970

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Replying To legendzxix:  "Offaly, Kerry and Kildare have 2 wins from 2 in Division 2A. A very positive start for Kildare who are back in the McDonagh Cup this year."
Ridiculous decision by Galway ref denied Down a deserved point away to Kildare right at end
. Nothing between teams. 2A as competitive as ever!

HurlingObserver (Down) - Posts: 60 - 12/02/2023 19:48:27    2457971

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Replying To updwell:  "Tipp winning well here but Kilkenny are terrible and very disorganised."
It's about time Cody moved on..

Ban (Westmeath) - Posts: 1415 - 12/02/2023 19:56:06    2457975

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Replying To legendzxix:  "Kerry v Offaly will be in Killarney. Not sure of the reason for that."
Possibly as part of a double header with Kerry footballers.

thelongridge (Offaly) - Posts: 1735 - 13/02/2023 10:33:18    2458020

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Dublin and Antrim was strange game. Dublin looked to be cruising at several stages, only to be perhaps fortunate that the clock ran out, and that Antrim did not take one of their other goal chances.

Backs were generally good but tiredness and some poor substitutions made them lose their shape late on. 28 points was a good enough score to put up on a day when the starting full forward line only scored four points!

Badly need to have O'Sullivan, Considine and Hayes in there, and injuries do not look good on that front.

Some of the newer lads are impressive. Conor Donoghue of Isles in the half backs was outstanding again and posted three points I think, maybe four. Antrim definitely much better than they have been for a while and could be a force in Leinster. Nice to meet a few of the oldtimers who recalled the days when Dublin/Antrim was always a dogged affair and usually a fight for either survival in the top division or promotion from the second.

BarneyGrant (Dublin) - Posts: 2521 - 13/02/2023 10:48:09    2458025

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Clare were brutal against Limerick on Saturday night the work rate and aggression needed to rattle Limerick totally absent
Limerick created space at will and one passage where about 6 of them were flinging to ball to each other on there own half back line was like a training drill not one Clare player tries to put in a shoulder or tacke. K Hayes sauntered out twice his marker P Duggan diden't put in a shadow of tracking him not good enough.

Our big players in half back line not in it nor Hayes & S Morey, David Fitzgerald is an all star got to expect more from him only player that did himself justice was Aidan McCarthy and sub David Reidy.

Trying to run through or work the ball through the middle third will not work against Limerick they are too physical and have intense workrate they are also incredibly skilled.

Both sides missing big players but Clare feel the loss a lot more with Flanagan R Taylor JC TF & SOD and D Reidy not starting.
B Lohan was fierce disappointed only positive was that they kept trying scored 2.18 (albeit when Limerick seemed to have downed tools) and scored 2 goals & should have got 2 more.

I hope that B Lohan continues to give lads game time and come championship time we will be a different team need to bring last years Munster final form to have a hope.

John Kiely is very skilled in killing any rumours diden't get rattled when asked a few hard questions about players been absent ect

clooney (Clare) - Posts: 878 - 13/02/2023 10:54:32    2458029

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Replying To thelongridge:  "Possibly as part of a double header with Kerry footballers."
No actually would you believe. The Kerry footballers are playing in Tralee on that Saturday evening at 5pm. Kerry v Offaly is in Killarney at 2pm on that Saturday afternoon.

legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 7821 - 13/02/2023 12:12:53    2458042

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