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All Ireland Senior Hurling Championship 2023

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Replying To Shocs07:  "In fairness LRH, how could we possibly be heavy favourites. Clare are flying, probably better than last year. We're struggling for form. Realistically speaking, Clare are marginal favourites"
Absolutely agree with that. Tony Kelly could well be the difference the next. If we had Cian Lynch at full flow it negavste his contribution, but with Cian not fully recovered, advantage the Banner.

Oldtourman (Limerick) - Posts: 4490 - 29/05/2023 05:56:09    2482420

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Replying To Canuck:  "I was and still worried about our future. However Cork and Wexford are exactly where we are tonight and Tipp by a hair despite the doom and gloom. Half of what would be first team players not available and Tipp a few less also. Mark Fitzgearld (20) should be considered young player of the year. Played in every back position including full back. Patrick Fitzgearld a rare talent and maybe the next Paul Flynn. The two Fitzgerald Padraig and Seamus from KIllrossanty on their way. Not still sure Davy will allow Dessie play the way he can.
One think for sure these amateurs can not play at this hectic pace every week and Tipps energy was down like ours after the Limerick game. Wexford were able to turn over Kilkenny today after getting beat by Westmeath. Clare are the only ones who see to have that weekly energy as Limerick did last year. There has to be a mandatory two week break between games. This system has flaws that need tweaking to have a better chance of the best teams progressing. Not disrespecting who is going ahead.
I predicted in my posts after the league game with Tipp that we would be out and cause them advancement. Bye how close that came. Cahill made a mistake in that game with his tactics and not going in to it again. Other than he would have been better showing some respect to the players he had just managed in an old league match. They were always going to be up for this one and I believe they announced that after the league match.
Good luck to all the teams going on including Tipp and all you posters with a horse in the race."
Thanks Canuck. When we go out I would love to see win it out. Great hurling people.

Oldtourman (Limerick) - Posts: 4490 - 29/05/2023 06:04:18    2482421

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Replying To Shocs07:  "In fairness LRH, how could we possibly be heavy favourites. Clare are flying, probably better than last year. We're struggling for form. Realistically speaking, Clare are marginal favourites"
Going for your 5th in a row makes you heavy favourites full stop. The mental burden of trying to win your 1st after 25 years is a real cross to bear for Clare.

That being said, there is a bit of steel to this Clare team that has arguably been missing in recent times. Many times in the past we would have wilted when Limerick scored that goal to make in a 1 point game in the GGs. Same in the Cork game, to score the winner 3 United into injury time shows the mentality these players have now.

This game should be a cracker and I am delighted to go after being in Spain for last years Munster final.

LohansRedHelmet (Clare) - Posts: 2697 - 29/05/2023 07:38:31    2482429

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There is a lot of lazy comments from pundits around relegation. Westmeath are relegated after two years in the Leinster championship. Antrim have survived for a second season. Antrim 2020 were the last McDonagh winners to get relegated in the following year 2021.
Investing money in Westmeath to get straight back up doesn't help Offaly and Laois.

legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 8787 - 29/05/2023 08:17:17    2482434

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Replying To daveboy:  "Limerick are steadily improving. I felt the scoreline flattered cork a bit today and Limerick were a bit better than a 1 point win. Mike casey better, byrnes huge jump in performance. Hayes powered into the 2nd half. Our Midfield dominated and showing good signs today. O neill coughed up a lot of poor ball that was punished. Our inside line could have got 6 goals minimum and only 1 real shot on Quaid for cork.

I think the munster final is the route now that will suit Limerick. They're going for 5 in a row. Unheard of.

I thought Tipp would be vulnerable today. They gave it all last week. Extra motivation for them was there last week too.

Cork have added a bit of steel no doubt and the Horgan goal kept them in it when Limerick were moving away. They slotted all their frees in fairness and know Pat Ryan will bringbthem forward.

Leinster is just very hard to gauge right now. Kilkenny still for me will be the biggest threat. Delighted for Wexford. They're a great hurling county and I personally am glad they got the win.

Roll on the munster final"
Each of the games Cork havent won it has been suggested that the scoreline flattered them. I think thats probably unfair and they have shown plenty of bottle this year and a real consistency apart from one league game. Very unlucky to go out in my opinion

tiobraid (Tipperary) - Posts: 4119 - 29/05/2023 09:26:29    2482454

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Replying To legendzxix:  "There is a lot of lazy comments from pundits around relegation. Westmeath are relegated after two years in the Leinster championship. Antrim have survived for a second season. Antrim 2020 were the last McDonagh winners to get relegated in the following year 2021.
Investing money in Westmeath to get straight back up doesn't help Offaly and Laois."
Agree 100% there should be central investment in hurling in all the counties except the top 9.

Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 15731 - 29/05/2023 10:25:34    2482469

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Replying To Oldtourman:  "Absolutely agree with that. Tony Kelly could well be the difference the next. If we had Cian Lynch at full flow it negavste his contribution, but with Cian not fully recovered, advantage the Banner."
Most if not all Clare people would have wanted to avoid Limerick again In Munster hard enough to beat once but twice with a very improving Limerick is a tall order indeed but we have to give it a lash.
Clare do have more balance now with McCarthy & Morey back hurling but if C Cleary missing who will be put on Gillane who is practically unmarkable on a good ball.

It was a SUPER SUNDAY of hurling all the matches thrilling really not forgetting the thriller either on Saturday might.

Limerick got a bit of a scare yesterday hard to see it happening again strong favourites now for Münster & AI no matter how anyone tries to spin it

clooney (Clare) - Posts: 985 - 29/05/2023 10:33:16    2482476

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Replying To Medals:  "Anyone think it complete nonsense that Waterford , Cork and Wexford are out and that the Joe McDonsgh finalists Offaly and Caflow only come into the competition now.

The Joe McDonagh finalists should play the teams who come fourth in their provinces.

Very unfair on the munster teams who would probably all come through an equal qualifying system to loose two top teams without playing anyone from the weaker Leinster province"
Not really because the rules were known at the start of the year. I'm disappointed we won't see our lads again til next year, we only just started to come right after some horrendous back luck with injuries. The injuries completely derailed our preparation and we don't have a deep panel. Disappointed but there's nothing unfair about it. The Joe McDonagh teams need a carrot too.

Fulgrim (Wexford) - Posts: 267 - 29/05/2023 10:45:03    2482483

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Think Kilkenny will win the All Ireland if they can get their best team out on the field. They looked very good yesterday in my opinion. Great shout at about 7/1 for anyone sceptic of Munster quality.

LarryOBrother (Wexford) - Posts: 412 - 29/05/2023 10:57:47    2482487

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Replying To WildPundit:  "I think Clare would have beaten us anyway and look we have time now to regroup and get back a few key players for a crack at Offaly. They won't fear us coming to town either and we'll expect a right aul battle with them. Limerick went this route in 2018 to winning AI so if that's an indicator to go by I'll take where we finished today."
We will never know. With a fit Forde, Morris and Barrett and Clare without Cleary i'd have given us a 50/50 chance. Think we are a better team than we showed yesterday.
Yes, I'd agree we face a battle against Offaly but the break will suit us to get the above and O' Meara back fit. If we did come through we'd be out the following week against Kk or Galway so its def a tough route if we are to advance very far

tiobraid (Tipperary) - Posts: 4119 - 29/05/2023 11:04:49    2482490

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Replying To legendzxix:  "There is a lot of lazy comments from pundits around relegation. Westmeath are relegated after two years in the Leinster championship. Antrim have survived for a second season. Antrim 2020 were the last McDonagh winners to get relegated in the following year 2021.
Investing money in Westmeath to get straight back up doesn't help Offaly and Laois."
I you had 12 in the competition it'd be perfect but I agree with you the relegation comments are weird. Some team has to go down to allow another team up and it's the nature of sport that it's most likely going to be the team coming up.

Whammo86 (Antrim) - Posts: 4524 - 29/05/2023 11:09:40    2482491

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Replying To Whammo86:  "I you had 12 in the competition it'd be perfect but I agree with you the relegation comments are weird. Some team has to go down to allow another team up and it's the nature of sport that it's most likely going to be the team coming up."
If the All-Ireland did expand to 12, it is possible to have knockout provincial championships for those 12 counties between league and All-Ireland championship.
Taking on your point last week, the McDonagh and Christy Ring could both expand to 8. The remaining 7 in the Rackard with the Meagher being axed. The top 4 in the McDonagh, Ring and Rackard into semi-finals, with the top 2 given home advantage.
The Ring and Rackard finals can be played on the Saturday of the first All-Ireland semi-final. The McDonagh final can be played on the Sunday of the second All-Ireland semi-final.
The McDonagh would have to offer promotion only. The bottom teams in both All-Ireland groups of 6 contesting a relegation final. Anyone losing a relegation final can have no complaints. 12-8-8-7 is a good long-term fair solution. The Tailteann final is curtain raiser to an All-Ireland football semi-final.

legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 8787 - 29/05/2023 12:17:08    2482515

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There's nothing wrong with hurling. Look at yesterday, Three tight incredible games, with everyone of the 5 games important and turning points in most of those teams fortunes for the year. Watched by over 100,000 people, and hundreds of thousand more on TV.

People are not interested in watching some Pollyanna "equality" scenario. You live or die what you do on the hurling pitch. If teams coming up are good enough, then they'll survive. Leave well enough alone.

BarneyGrant (Dublin) - Posts: 3524 - 29/05/2023 12:39:24    2482523

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Replying To Whammo86:  "I you had 12 in the competition it'd be perfect but I agree with you the relegation comments are weird. Some team has to go down to allow another team up and it's the nature of sport that it's most likely going to be the team coming up."
Theres an obviosu problem for me with this. Antrim clearly targetting their last game to stay up and its happening every year whereby the so called weaker teams are targetting one win. For me its far better with 5 in each province.

tiobraid (Tipperary) - Posts: 4119 - 29/05/2023 13:50:36    2482560

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Replying To Medals:  "Anyone think it complete nonsense that Waterford , Cork and Wexford are out and that the Joe McDonsgh finalists Offaly and Caflow only come into the competition now.

The Joe McDonagh finalists should play the teams who come fourth in their provinces.

Very unfair on the munster teams who would probably all come through an equal qualifying system to loose two top teams without playing anyone from the weaker Leinster province"
Cork are definitely unlucky to be gone after losing two games by just a point. However, before yesterday, how many people would have argued that Waterford or Wexford deserved to be still in the McCarthy Cup? Unfortunately for both counties, they didn't show their real potential until they had already been eliminated, which must be hugely frustrating for their followers. But if they can build on yesterday's performances, I would expect both counties to have a big say in their provincial championships next year

midlands (Westmeath) - Posts: 603 - 29/05/2023 14:29:20    2482586

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Replying To tiobraid:  "Theres an obviosu problem for me with this. Antrim clearly targetting their last game to stay up and its happening every year whereby the so called weaker teams are targetting one win. For me its far better with 5 in each province."
Then the same team just goes up and down? Except in Munster.

Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 15731 - 29/05/2023 14:33:24    2482594

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Replying To tiobraid:  "Theres an obviosu problem for me with this. Antrim clearly targetting their last game to stay up and its happening every year whereby the so called weaker teams are targetting one win. For me its far better with 5 in each province."
Then the same team just goes up and down? Except in Munster.

Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 15731 - 29/05/2023 14:43:17    2482598

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Replying To tiobraid:  "Theres an obviosu problem for me with this. Antrim clearly targetting their last game to stay up and its happening every year whereby the so called weaker teams are targetting one win. For me its far better with 5 in each province."
Also Antrim played fairly well against Dublin, ourselves and Kilkenny.

Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 15731 - 29/05/2023 14:44:28    2482601

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Replying To tiobraid:  "Theres an obviosu problem for me with this. Antrim clearly targetting their last game to stay up and its happening every year whereby the so called weaker teams are targetting one win. For me its far better with 5 in each province."
It was our most winnable game and we knew we needed to win going into. I think it's wrong though to say we only targeted that one game. We went for it versus Dublin and Wexford also. This was a tough round robin for us with 3 away games and we got 3 points out of it. That's decent going.

I also don't believe that the gap from Antrim to Wexford, Dublin, Waterford is as big as some would make out. If we are to maintain a tier 1 level for a bit I could see us starting to look up the table and aiming to make playoffs when we have a good crop coming through.

Whammo86 (Antrim) - Posts: 4524 - 29/05/2023 14:57:14    2482608

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Replying To Fulgrim:  "Not really because the rules were known at the start of the year. I'm disappointed we won't see our lads again til next year, we only just started to come right after some horrendous back luck with injuries. The injuries completely derailed our preparation and we don't have a deep panel. Disappointed but there's nothing unfair about it. The Joe McDonagh teams need a carrot too."
Fulgrim when it comes to injuries I dont think anyone could come close to our woes. So we had to take the criticism on the chin from all sides and commentators. So be it, some was deserved. The intensity of preparation and games back to back is response for a lot of these injuries with all teams. Two things here. The welfare of the players so touted by the GAA and having the best players in games not on the injured list. A mandatory two game space between games.

Canuck (Waterford) - Posts: 3044 - 29/05/2023 14:57:53    2482610

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