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All Ireland Senior Hurling Championship 2023

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Replying To endgame:  "I'm not having a pop at Wexford but they're poor at the moment. So are Offaly and Galway are mediocre. That's led to an ordinary Kilkenny team reaching the last two All Ireland finals and getting hammered by 9 points yesterday. The provincial championship is distorting the All Ireland series. Cork nearly knocked Limerick out yet Cork themselves were out and gone home. I don't know what Cork would have thought yesterday watching that final. Perhaps the answer is to have the provincial championships separate from the All Ireland championship. Nobody wants to see the end of the Munster championship but having Leinster on a par with Munster at the moment for qualification for the All Ireland series is nonsense and nobody, yellow belly or whatever will convince me otherwise."
Clare and Cork are behind Kilkenny in terms of skill and physicality.

Clare and Cork thrive in the tippy tappy environment of the Munster round robin earlier rounds, Clare couldn't get over Kilkenny twice when the heat was turned up in Croke Park this year and last year.

Tony Kelly loves the loose hurling matches v Cork & Waterford but can't handle the likes of a Mikey Butler in Croke Park.

In my eyes Limericks season only really starts the week of the Munster final, they ramp everything up then and gradually get better from the Munster final onwards.

The top 4 in Ireland are in pecking order

1. Limerick
2. Kilkenny
3. Galway
4. Clare

Past hurler (None) - Posts: 835 - 25/07/2023 08:01:16    2496699

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Replying To endgame:  "Don't agree. Limerick can't afford to be at half pace in the Munster championship. They were nearly knocked out of the All Ireland series in the Cork match. They lost Finn and Hannon to injury. Munster is intense. Kilkenny did beat Clare the last two years but Clare struggle to win big matches and have a tactically inept Manager and that's costing them. I think Cork are a coming team and I think it will be Cork who will beat Limerick when the Treaty are eventually beaten in the All Ireland series."
They were nearly knocked out only because they were at half pace.

Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 14123 - 25/07/2023 11:49:24    2496756

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Replying To Greengrass:  "I've been to 52 All Ireland senior hurling finals. Limerick's performance in the second half yesterday is the greatest that I have ever seen. It was a privilege to have been there to see it."
KK performance against Waterford in 08 in the first half was also great. Scored 2-16

Newyorkkat (Kilkenny) - Posts: 157 - 25/07/2023 12:08:56    2496764

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Replying To Viking66:  "They were nearly knocked out only because they were at half pace."
Complete nonsense. You clearly weren't at the game, and from what I've read of your posts to date, it's fairly obvious you don't have much time for Cork.
It's funny reading some of the Leinster posters (mainly Wexford) telling us all how Limerick were only half cocked during their Munster campaign, as if that's the only explanation plausible for both KK and Galway being well beaten, and the Munster games being close. They may have started Munster slowly, yes, but I'd say from the second half of the Tipp match onwards they found their mojo.
Anyway, huge congrats to Limerick, I've always admired them as a hurling county and wouldn't begrudge them any success.

bloodandbandage (Cork) - Posts: 353 - 25/07/2023 13:00:47    2496777

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Replying To bloodandbandage:  "Complete nonsense. You clearly weren't at the game, and from what I've read of your posts to date, it's fairly obvious you don't have much time for Cork.
It's funny reading some of the Leinster posters (mainly Wexford) telling us all how Limerick were only half cocked during their Munster campaign, as if that's the only explanation plausible for both KK and Galway being well beaten, and the Munster games being close. They may have started Munster slowly, yes, but I'd say from the second half of the Tipp match onwards they found their mojo.
Anyway, huge congrats to Limerick, I've always admired them as a hurling county and wouldn't begrudge them any success."
I agree they weren't half paced in Munster but they weren't playing well by their high standards, whatever they did in the 4 week gap between the Munster Final and AI semi final worked a treat.

TerribleFootwork (Wexford) - Posts: 1760 - 25/07/2023 13:04:07    2496780

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Replying To Viking66:  "They were nearly knocked out only because they were at half pace."
Its such fine margins, they know they can't hold their peak from the early stages of Munster right through to the all Ireland as there are so many games to negotiate. They need to be good enough to get out of Munster and beat the teams who usually preserve their best performance of the year against them and then still be fresh to go up another gear when it comes to the AI Series. Its high risk stuff but they planned it perfectly. The likes of Clare, Tipp and Waterford are flat out for the opening stages on Munster. Limerick are only building up, its a fine line and it was a very close thing this year but they timed it perfectly again. Clare got their tactics wrong in the semi final but also did they leave enough in the tank after getting out of Munster. Tipp also seemed to run completely out of steam.
Cork eemed to be getting stronger but jsut missed out by the smallest of margins. Big advantage to be playing Limerick last in Munster

Fitzy01 (Limerick) - Posts: 411 - 25/07/2023 13:04:57    2496781

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Replying To suckvalleypaddy:  "Congrats Limerick, best team ever
The 5 is on
Never saw 30 point games before this team
Lk don't do wides
The chasing pack are all similar"
Rubbish. Come on Galway, stop the Limerick team.

galwayford (Galway) - Posts: 2578 - 25/07/2023 13:11:00    2496784

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Replying To galwayford:  "Rubbish. Come on Galway, stop the Limerick team."
You're very needy pal...

skillet (Limerick) - Posts: 1103 - 25/07/2023 13:45:00    2496790

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Replying To bloodandbandage:  "Complete nonsense. You clearly weren't at the game, and from what I've read of your posts to date, it's fairly obvious you don't have much time for Cork.
It's funny reading some of the Leinster posters (mainly Wexford) telling us all how Limerick were only half cocked during their Munster campaign, as if that's the only explanation plausible for both KK and Galway being well beaten, and the Munster games being close. They may have started Munster slowly, yes, but I'd say from the second half of the Tipp match onwards they found their mojo.
Anyway, huge congrats to Limerick, I've always admired them as a hurling county and wouldn't begrudge them any success."
That's an interesting theory, but how do you rationalise the Galway Tipp game evaluation then?

Pope_Benedict (Galway) - Posts: 3906 - 25/07/2023 13:54:24    2496793

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Congratulations to limerick. Poor enough match the first half which is understandable. Limerick fantastic second half. Got better and better each match. Deserved champions. Limerick were doubted and answered all the questions thrown at them. Good luck to yee

Buachaillbui (Clare) - Posts: 124 - 25/07/2023 13:57:42    2496795

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Replying To Fitzy01:  "Its such fine margins, they know they can't hold their peak from the early stages of Munster right through to the all Ireland as there are so many games to negotiate. They need to be good enough to get out of Munster and beat the teams who usually preserve their best performance of the year against them and then still be fresh to go up another gear when it comes to the AI Series. Its high risk stuff but they planned it perfectly. The likes of Clare, Tipp and Waterford are flat out for the opening stages on Munster. Limerick are only building up, its a fine line and it was a very close thing this year but they timed it perfectly again. Clare got their tactics wrong in the semi final but also did they leave enough in the tank after getting out of Munster. Tipp also seemed to run completely out of steam.
Cork eemed to be getting stronger but jsut missed out by the smallest of margins. Big advantage to be playing Limerick last in Munster"
Think Clare had plenty in the tank this year. Dublin without Donal Burke were never going to trouble them as they were troubled last year. They seem to have a bit of a mental hang up about Kilkenny though.

Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 14123 - 25/07/2023 14:22:33    2496803

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Replying To bloodandbandage:  "Complete nonsense. You clearly weren't at the game, and from what I've read of your posts to date, it's fairly obvious you don't have much time for Cork.
It's funny reading some of the Leinster posters (mainly Wexford) telling us all how Limerick were only half cocked during their Munster campaign, as if that's the only explanation plausible for both KK and Galway being well beaten, and the Munster games being close. They may have started Munster slowly, yes, but I'd say from the second half of the Tipp match onwards they found their mojo.
Anyway, huge congrats to Limerick, I've always admired them as a hurling county and wouldn't begrudge them any success."
I actually I spend alot of time down there the last 30 years. My eldest sons godfather is in West Cork. Some Cork hurling fans are a little full of themselves ok though. And obviously if I'm a neutral watching a game I'd usually support the underdog which usually isn't one of the big 3. Is sometimes though. For example if the AI final next year is Cork v Tipp I'd be supporting Cork, although I supported Tipp in the AI finals in 2009 and 2010 for example.
In Munster I've supported Limerick since the 90s as I've very good friends from up there too.
I've friends who have and have had sons and nephews on Limerick underage teams in the recent past. As someone who has seen Limerick play numerous times, both live and on TV, I know the last 2 years they have been preparing for, and aiming for, the AI series from the start of the year.
As regards Cork you have had good recent u20 success. And I'd include 2018 in that, as although you lost the final to Tipp I thought you were the better team over the year.
Physically, and perhaps mentally, though, I don't feel your lads are quite there yet. I have posted on this forum several times that I think Cork will likely be Limerick's next main challengers, and maybe will take up the mantle of best in Ireland in years to come. I don't see it happening next year though.
The explanation I'd have of Galway and Kilkenny being well beaten is that Limerick are just better right now. Alot better than the rest. I suspect if Limerick had played Tipp in the semi and Clare in the final the outcomes would've been similar. Of course we will never know as Tipp were way off Galway, and Clare lost narrowly to Kilkenny.

Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 14123 - 25/07/2023 14:35:56    2496809

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Replying To Viking66:  "I actually I spend alot of time down there the last 30 years. My eldest sons godfather is in West Cork. Some Cork hurling fans are a little full of themselves ok though. And obviously if I'm a neutral watching a game I'd usually support the underdog which usually isn't one of the big 3. Is sometimes though. For example if the AI final next year is Cork v Tipp I'd be supporting Cork, although I supported Tipp in the AI finals in 2009 and 2010 for example.
In Munster I've supported Limerick since the 90s as I've very good friends from up there too.
I've friends who have and have had sons and nephews on Limerick underage teams in the recent past. As someone who has seen Limerick play numerous times, both live and on TV, I know the last 2 years they have been preparing for, and aiming for, the AI series from the start of the year.
As regards Cork you have had good recent u20 success. And I'd include 2018 in that, as although you lost the final to Tipp I thought you were the better team over the year.
Physically, and perhaps mentally, though, I don't feel your lads are quite there yet. I have posted on this forum several times that I think Cork will likely be Limerick's next main challengers, and maybe will take up the mantle of best in Ireland in years to come. I don't see it happening next year though.
The explanation I'd have of Galway and Kilkenny being well beaten is that Limerick are just better right now. Alot better than the rest. I suspect if Limerick had played Tipp in the semi and Clare in the final the outcomes would've been similar. Of course we will never know as Tipp were way off Galway, and Clare lost narrowly to Kilkenny."
That's a new philosophy! Supporting Limerick in Munster since the 90's? And you always support the underdog (Limerick are top dog),and hate the Big 3? ( which is nonsense anyway). I just support Cork, and am ambivalent to whoever comes out of Leinster. I do believe that Cork will be best equipped to challenge Limerick in the next few years, and as regards physicality and commitment, this is already improving under Pat Ryan's management. Alan Connolly, Mark Coleman, and Robbie Flynn hopefully will be back next year.Finally , the second half that Limerick produced was top drawer, and points scored were breathtaking stuff. Great hurling and the Cats had no answer! Munster should be another cauldron next year, and we as supporters should be thankful we have committed amateur sportsmen to cheer on every year! Personally, I think the provincials have run their course, but there isn't a chance of any change, as the Munster Championship is a goldmine for GAA!

Ryanteam (Cork) - Posts: 410 - 25/07/2023 15:02:11    2496828

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Replying To LohansRedHelmet:  "Tipperary wouldn't have beaten eggs as their energy was gone after the Limerick RR game."
Only Waterford were able to beat Tipperary this year in Munster, all the others struggled badly against them.

katser (Galway) - Posts: 2481 - 25/07/2023 15:11:00    2496829

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Replying To Buachaillbui:  "Congratulations to limerick. Poor enough match the first half which is understandable. Limerick fantastic second half. Got better and better each match. Deserved champions. Limerick were doubted and answered all the questions thrown at them. Good luck to yee"
Who doubted Limerick? Can you point to 1 article by any reputable media outlet (i.e. not some blogger) who doubted them?
I did not read one this year.

ExiledInWex (Dublin) - Posts: 1264 - 25/07/2023 15:27:58    2496837

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Replying To Viking66:  "I actually I spend alot of time down there the last 30 years. My eldest sons godfather is in West Cork. Some Cork hurling fans are a little full of themselves ok though. And obviously if I'm a neutral watching a game I'd usually support the underdog which usually isn't one of the big 3. Is sometimes though. For example if the AI final next year is Cork v Tipp I'd be supporting Cork, although I supported Tipp in the AI finals in 2009 and 2010 for example.
In Munster I've supported Limerick since the 90s as I've very good friends from up there too.
I've friends who have and have had sons and nephews on Limerick underage teams in the recent past. As someone who has seen Limerick play numerous times, both live and on TV, I know the last 2 years they have been preparing for, and aiming for, the AI series from the start of the year.
As regards Cork you have had good recent u20 success. And I'd include 2018 in that, as although you lost the final to Tipp I thought you were the better team over the year.
Physically, and perhaps mentally, though, I don't feel your lads are quite there yet. I have posted on this forum several times that I think Cork will likely be Limerick's next main challengers, and maybe will take up the mantle of best in Ireland in years to come. I don't see it happening next year though.
The explanation I'd have of Galway and Kilkenny being well beaten is that Limerick are just better right now. Alot better than the rest. I suspect if Limerick had played Tipp in the semi and Clare in the final the outcomes would've been similar. Of course we will never know as Tipp were way off Galway, and Clare lost narrowly to Kilkenny."
That's fair enough, and apologies if my post was a bit sharp, but I can't accept that LK were only at 'half pace' for a game that was do or die. Lose and they were gone.
Re Cork, you are correct, and this year was hugely disappointing, especially when you consider one more point against either Clare, LK or Tipp would have seen us through. I firmly believe if we had Mark Coleman, Alan Connolly and Robbie O'Flynn available we would have qualified. Those 3 were a huge loss to us.

bloodandbandage (Cork) - Posts: 353 - 25/07/2023 15:29:28    2496840

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Replying To bloodandbandage:  "That's fair enough, and apologies if my post was a bit sharp, but I can't accept that LK were only at 'half pace' for a game that was do or die. Lose and they were gone.
Re Cork, you are correct, and this year was hugely disappointing, especially when you consider one more point against either Clare, LK or Tipp would have seen us through. I firmly believe if we had Mark Coleman, Alan Connolly and Robbie O'Flynn available we would have qualified. Those 3 were a huge loss to us."
Just wondering is Alan Cadogan still part of Pat Ryan's plans going foward, I rate this lad very highly & especially when a strong panel is required to compete at the highest level.

St.Mologga (Cork) - Posts: 121 - 25/07/2023 15:47:16    2496848

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Munster was a bear pit this year. I don't buy into this talk about Limerick only half trying in Munster etc. etc.

In our first Game, Waterford brought a level of physicality and chaos that Limerick struggled with, and our "normal" third quarter charge didn't materialise as we had a man sent off and the game became a dogfight.

Second game against Clare, I believe that Limerick were actually feeling the effects of the Waterford Match and playing with a man down from the week before and came up against a hungrier Clare Team who basically had to win as they were turned over by Tipperary the week before. Clare were the better team on the night no complaints.

Third game against Tipp was a tight affair and it was intense, as we could have potentially been eliminated that weekend. Again Tipperary brought physicality and and the game turned into an arm wrestle. Limerick though we had done enough to win the arm wrestle but Tipperary dogged it out and got an equaliser.

Fourth Game against Cork was a must win just to survive, Kiely had to make some tough calls in dropping players who were carrying injuries or not performing to the levels required. There really was nothing between the teams in this match . I think Limerick's experience and home advantage just about told and I think Cork with another year of experience and a few more U20's to add to their panel can become the next force in hurling. We should all be worried.

The Munster Final was a pure bonus. Firstly we didn't expect to be in it, but Waterford did us a massive favour by beating Tipperary. Clare also agreeing to play the Final in Limerick meant we had a free shot regardless of the outcome. Its well documented that we could have been beaten in the that game if, Clare were more efficient however Gillane was phenomenal that day, and how Clare didn't change the man marking him was the winning and loosing of the match.

The four week brake to the Semi Final allowed Limerick a week off the freshen up followed by a Training camp in Kerry to get set of the rest of the Year. Cian Lynch getting the chance to recover and do his work in the 4 week break was a game changer. Limerick are simply a different team when his is in it. Limerick performed in the Semi Final and Final at level that they haven't reached since the 2021 All Ireland Final.

Looking to next year Limerick have to travel to Cork and Ennis in Munster and based on what Cork and Clare are capable of in their own back yard , even qualifying out of Munster could be difficult so any talk of 5 in a row is premature.

We will however continue to live in the moment and enjoy these days. Growing up this was beyond our wildest dreams and we are acutely aware how quickly things can change

LimerickandProud (Limerick) - Posts: 94 - 25/07/2023 16:10:13    2496856

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Replying To St.Mologga:  "Just wondering is Alan Cadogan still part of Pat Ryan's plans going foward, I rate this lad very highly & especially when a strong panel is required to compete at the highest level."
I never could get my head around why he (Alan Cadogan)wasn't used more. He was brought on against Galway in 2022 quarter final, scored 3 points, but didn't figure much this year. At this point, Cadogan is pushing 30, focus will be on introducing players from U20's teams, so it doesn't look like he's in Ryan's plans.There will be extreme competition for places from Ben Cunningham, Brian Hayes and Padraig Power amongst others . Cadogan is also a fine footballer and could have easily made the county team in the past! Ryan has an army of players to choose from and we'll be looking forward to a rocking PUC next year in round robin,when Limerick visit!

Ryanteam (Cork) - Posts: 410 - 25/07/2023 16:33:06    2496863

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everyone is NOT mentioning that Limerick also put a fancied Kilkenny set up to the sword in the league final only a few short months ago after Kilkenny had a great finish to the league beating Cork in the semi final...very few seem to remember that..Limerick were laying out their stall to Kilkenny in that league final in no uncertain manner, there seems to be this unspoken that Kilkenny just collapsed in the second half on Sunday, they were out classed more than collapsed..few teams will look back in years to come and (for now anyway) say they beat Kilkenny in 3 finals (2 All Irelands and one NHL) in the space of 10 months...it is a rare achievement against a team of Kilkennys pedigree...

Fairplayalways (Offaly) - Posts: 1037 - 25/07/2023 16:40:01    2496865

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