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National Hurling League 2023

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I agree kiely won't rise to those questions. Who knows he gets the league to find out options. Hard to see a player like that not being involved but anyone knows. Very hard to base much off the Limerick Clare performance. Clare looked like they'd a heavy week in the gym and obviously they're going to miss the likes of Kelly and o Donnell a lot….probably more than any county will miss their top stars given their pick. From a Limerick point of vie Good to see Micheal Houlihan so prolific. He moved exceptionally well in concert with lynch and Hegarty, found space and took his chances. Being an unflustered free taker means he could easily slip in as an impact sub. All the Limerick stars seem to be moving well fresh and more importantly hurling well. I was very impressed with English at midfield. Hurled a world of ball,wasn't shy of the dirty ball and has a frightening burst of pace. Playing corner forward in limericks system is a tricky position. You're always outnumbered and ability to recycle is perhaps the most important skill. English looked more at home in space. And used the all very well. Backs definitely susceptible to the high ball. But that's a recurring theme. Felt it was more poor play by Clare not to punish us further. Hopefully young o Connor is ok. Nasty bang. Ref didn't help things with a fussy approach considering most of those won't be frees come championship. But then if that's what the powers that be in croker want from the refs you can't lay blame at the individual. You'd just like that a free in the league is a free in championship. Cork looked excellent yesterday they seem to have found a few big lads who aren't afraid of the donkey work. Galway looked very loose tho so hard to know. Tipp refinding their mojo. Great to have league back. Sugary_tae (Limerick) - Posts: 70 - 13/02/2023 12:44:10 2458054 Link
Replying To clooney: "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" Clare just can't shake the tag of being a one man team. It's partly their own doing as the game plan does always seem to be to work the ball to Tony in space and if that's not on its route one onto Duggan. When Tony is well marshalled I don't think the belief is there for plan B. It happened last year again as it has in the past and watching Saturday i saw no leadership at all on the clare team and no belief too. It's very early days but that wasn't a great sign of where they might be. daveboy (Limerick) - Posts: 1125 - 13/02/2023 14:34:25 2458088 Link
Replying To daveboy: "Clare just can't shake the tag of being a one man team. It's partly their own doing as the game plan does always seem to be to work the ball to Tony in space and if that's not on its route one onto Duggan. When Tony is well marshalled I don't think the belief is there for plan B. It happened last year again as it has in the past and watching Saturday i saw no leadership at all on the clare team and no belief too. It's very early days but that wasn't a great sign of where they might be." I always liked Duggan as a hurler but I think he has become far too slow and laboured in possession. I'm not sure he will be on their championship 15 tiobraid (Tipperary) - Posts: 4119 - 13/02/2023 15:31:34 2458109 Link
Replying To tiobraid: "I always liked Duggan as a hurler but I think he has become far too slow and laboured in possession. I'm not sure he will be on their championship 15" I thought he was one of Clares better players against Limerick tbh Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 11736 - 13/02/2023 15:37:22 2458113 Link
Decent effort from Tipp but slightly worried we wont learn enough from the league given the group we are in and given Kk were far from full throttle yesterday. Breen is unlikely to meet the real top opposition before the championship but I think he needs to be left there either way to play every game. A whole host of changes yesterday and at the min its impossible to pick a starting 15, particularly from midfield up. A lot of players on the same level and maybe a few not up to the level needed for intercounty. Forde again unreal...never gets the credit he deserves in Tipp and certainly not outside of it. His scores per game betters everyone the last few years. Unfortunately one or two are past their sell by date which is sad to see but time now for the likes of Kehoe, Morris and Bowe to really push on. Hopefully the likes of Tynan and O'Connor can continue to progress and we might become competitive in Munster again. tiobraid (Tipperary) - Posts: 4119 - 13/02/2023 15:38:09 2458114 Link
Replying To daveboy: "Clare just can't shake the tag of being a one man team. It's partly their own doing as the game plan does always seem to be to work the ball to Tony in space and if that's not on its route one onto Duggan. When Tony is well marshalled I don't think the belief is there for plan B. It happened last year again as it has in the past and watching Saturday i saw no leadership at all on the clare team and no belief too. It's very early days but that wasn't a great sign of where they might be." Hard to take anything from the Clare match, they clearly were not up for it and winning this or even competing was not a priority for them, looks like they are keeping their powder dry. There was zero intensity at this game. Nice run out for Limerick, getting game time into Lynch and Houlihan stepping up to hit the frees and having a big impact on the game. Great to see him putting his hand up. Hayes and Hegarty looking very good and i thought Darragh O'Donovan has been motoring very well on both games to date, he's such an accurate and effortless stick passer. Mccarthy was the big plus for Clare on the night. Shane O'Brien did well for himself too and was looking to make things happen and take on his man, great to see Peter Casey on the comeback trail too. Things didn't go Seamus Flanagan way but i liked that he kept showing for the ball the whole way through and kept trying to make things happen. Its only a matter of time before he finds some form. Looking at the games to date, the one thing that jumps out to me is that Limerick are comfortable in the way they are going to play in terms of style whereas other teams like Tipp, KK and Cork etc. seem to be finding their feet in terms of playing out from the back and playing through the lines vs traditional ball into the forwards and seem to flip flop between the two. Fitzy01 (Limerick) - Posts: 384 - 13/02/2023 15:48:43 2458116 Link
Replying To legendzxix: "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." Thanks. I thought a double header makes more sense, than play two matches at separate venues. I recall Offaly hurlers playing in Birr, followed by a football game later in the day in Tullamore. We had to drive back on the N52 for the football game. Hard to understand. Tough game for Offaly. thelongridge (Offaly) - Posts: 1735 - 13/02/2023 15:53:15 2458119 Link
Replying To daveboy: "Clare just can't shake the tag of being a one man team. It's partly their own doing as the game plan does always seem to be to work the ball to Tony in space and if that's not on its route one onto Duggan. When Tony is well marshalled I don't think the belief is there for plan B. It happened last year again as it has in the past and watching Saturday i saw no leadership at all on the clare team and no belief too. It's very early days but that wasn't a great sign of where they might be." I honestly don't think much of this one man team, thing there are still a number of players playing for Clare that have 3 u21 a senior AI and a League title who should have the pedigree to compete at top level. I always think that Clare/Limerick games are best when there's a bit of fire between them as Ger Loughnane would say Saturdays nights game at least from Clare was "excuse me hurling" the pundits were right it was boring and a 6 point hammering. I am not too concerned yet in February but Limerick area serious Team may well become one of the best teams ever and you simply cannot allow them set the terms. Its pointless reflections now but what a loss Paul Kinnerk and indeed Alan Cunningham are to Clare Hurling weren't given the roles they deserved in Clare so no blame to them but collectively Limerick management are practically on a par with Top Championship Soccer teams they are so professional. Respect also to both sets of supporters for the warm and genuine round of applause for the moment silence clooney (Clare) - Posts: 880 - 13/02/2023 16:35:26 2458136 Link
Replying To clooney: "I honestly don't think much of this one man team, thing there are still a number of players playing for Clare that have 3 u21 a senior AI and a League title who should have the pedigree to compete at top level. I always think that Clare/Limerick games are best when there's a bit of fire between them as Ger Loughnane would say Saturdays nights game at least from Clare was "excuse me hurling" the pundits were right it was boring and a 6 point hammering. I am not too concerned yet in February but Limerick area serious Team may well become one of the best teams ever and you simply cannot allow them set the terms. Its pointless reflections now but what a loss Paul Kinnerk and indeed Alan Cunningham are to Clare Hurling weren't given the roles they deserved in Clare so no blame to them but collectively Limerick management are practically on a par with Top Championship Soccer teams they are so professional. Respect also to both sets of supporters for the warm and genuine round of applause for the moment silence" Well said Clooney . daveboy (Limerick) - Posts: 1125 - 13/02/2023 17:44:55 2458150 Link
Replying To Viking66: "I thought he was one of Clares better players against Limerick tbh" He got a rating of 5/10 on the Independent and failed to score again. He was a serious threat before he went travelling but for me hes on the team on past performances and reputation. That seems awful harsh but I think Clare probably have better talent/ in form players available to them at the min. tiobraid (Tipperary) - Posts: 4119 - 14/02/2023 08:31:38 2458193 Link
Replying To tiobraid: "He got a rating of 5/10 on the Independent and failed to score again. He was a serious threat before he went travelling but for me hes on the team on past performances and reputation. That seems awful harsh but I think Clare probably have better talent/ in form players available to them at the min." I watched the whole game. If he only got a 5 all the other Clare players bar Mccarthy and Reidy must've got 3s! Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 11736 - 14/02/2023 09:51:24 2458203 Link
Replying To tiobraid: "He got a rating of 5/10 on the Independent and failed to score again. He was a serious threat before he went travelling but for me hes on the team on past performances and reputation. That seems awful harsh but I think Clare probably have better talent/ in form players available to them at the min." I watched the whole game. If he only got a 5 all the other Clare players bar Mccarthy and Reidy must've got 3s! Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 11736 - 14/02/2023 09:52:32 2458204 Link
Replying To tiobraid: "He got a rating of 5/10 on the Independent and failed to score again. He was a serious threat before he went travelling but for me hes on the team on past performances and reputation. That seems awful harsh but I think Clare probably have better talent/ in form players available to them at the min." I'd imagine Lohan wants to give him as much hurling as possible to see if he can get him somewhere close to the level he was at pre-travelling.. Ban (Westmeath) - Posts: 1415 - 14/02/2023 11:29:29 2458226 Link
Replying To Ban: "I'd imagine Lohan wants to give him as much hurling as possible to see if he can get him somewhere close to the level he was at pre-travelling.." Thats a fair point tiobraid (Tipperary) - Posts: 4119 - 14/02/2023 12:11:13 2458239 Link
Limerick went up to Galway in 2018 and put them in their place. Cork did likewise at the weekend (albeit with the help of deserved but silly red for Galway player). Could 2023 be Cork's year after all…? foreveryoung (USA) - Posts: 1903 - 14/02/2023 14:55:59 2458282 Link
Replying To foreveryoung: "Limerick went up to Galway in 2018 and put them in their place. Cork did likewise at the weekend (albeit with the help of deserved but silly red for Galway player). Could 2023 be Cork's year after all…?" Any year could be Corks year. But last weekend will have absolutely no bearing on it. Cork beat Limerick and Galway this time last year too. Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 11736 - 14/02/2023 16:07:35 2458300 Link
Replying To foreveryoung: "Limerick went up to Galway in 2018 and put them in their place. Cork did likewise at the weekend (albeit with the help of deserved but silly red for Galway player). Could 2023 be Cork's year after all…?" Cork beat Limerick and Galway comfortably in last years league so wouldn't read too much into it, I do think with the age profile in their squad there's serious potential in Cork, I can't see them beating Limerick in championship this year but think there's a potential all ireland in them under Pat Ryan in the coming few years. TerribleFootwork (Wexford) - Posts: 1676 - 14/02/2023 16:11:20 2458302 Link
Replying To foreveryoung: "Limerick went up to Galway in 2018 and put them in their place. Cork did likewise at the weekend (albeit with the help of deserved but silly red for Galway player). Could 2023 be Cork's year after all…?" "and put them in their place", what place would that be, goss? baire (Galway) - Posts: 1785 - 15/02/2023 09:02:10 2458353 Link
Replying To foreveryoung: "Limerick went up to Galway in 2018 and put them in their place. Cork did likewise at the weekend (albeit with the help of deserved but silly red for Galway player). Could 2023 be Cork's year after all…?" We will have no idea where Cork are at until the first match of the championship. They were blown away by a Limerick team just back from their holidays at times in the first half and didn't get a foot hold in the match until some of the key figures, namely Declan Hannon and Gearoid Hegarty left the field who were both completely dominant. Limerick were very inexperienced down one side with both Coughlan and Costello playing and Cork exploited that, Different story if its Kyle Hayes and Barry Nash playing there. They are improving but a bit to go yet I would say. Joyce and Downey may give them a bit of stability at the back but unless the likes of the Cork midfield and half forward line can also give them protection and find a way to deal with roaming attackers it won't matter how good they are as they will be left exposed. Although in players like Tim O'Mahony they have people who might be able to play these roles. Exciting times for Cork but way too early to judge yet. Fitzy01 (Limerick) - Posts: 384 - 15/02/2023 11:39:26 2458373 Link
Replying To baire: ""and put them in their place", what place would that be, goss?" On the flat of their ass boy! Remember they were AI champs at the time too, and clearly fancied themselves for the 2-in-a-row at least. Never happened laddeen baire! foreveryoung (USA) - Posts: 1903 - 15/02/2023 13:10:51 2458393 Link