National Forum

All Ireland Senior Hurling Championship 2023

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There's definitely a top 4 in Ireland atm based off this year and last year, I think Limerick and Kilkenny justifiably the top 2 (with Limerick top dog) and then take your pick of Clare or Galway to make 3rd and 4th. Don't get me wrong Tipp, Cork, Wexford, Waterford, Dublin can give any of those 4 a game or even Beat them but I don't think any of them can beat 2 or 3 of those top 4 in a few back to back games in either provincal finals/knockout championships. Odds would favor Limerick v Kilkenny again but I wouldnt rule out an all Leinster/Munster final or Galway v Clare. Signs are on that they're also the 4 panels with the most depth to them as well, all 4 have had big losses throughout the year and dealt with them well (or better than the rest) Limerick and Kilkenny probably slightly ahead of the other two (winning provincal finals down some of the best players in Ireland) Galway probably slight edge on Clare in panel depth. But realistically there's only 1 score between these 4 teams atm. It's a very competitive championship even with a team going for 4 in a row. Good to see 4 equal teams in the semi finals, I thought after 2021 when Limerick just demolished Waterford and Cork that it would be in for some boring years but infairness Limerick are just about getting over the line in 22 and this year (says some amount about Limericks clutch nature and mental strength to win these games and tbh winning last year was way more impressive than hammering some poor enough teams in 21. Great Great team, one of the all time best)
Can't wait for the semi finals. Would love to see a Galway v Clare final, think it would be a great game, those games in 2018 in the semis were unbelievable, be nice to see the two (very slight) underdogs get over the line.

Throughthemidfieldhewasstormin (Wexford) - Posts: 332 - 28/06/2023 20:58:54    2490525

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Was at the games in Limerick as a neutral. One thing I cannot understand is how you would take off Seamus Callanan at HT. Ok he had a poor half but his sidestep and run through on goal was a glimpse of the danger he posed. Surely that last 10 mins was made for the man

97Cavans (Cavan) - Posts: 411 - 28/06/2023 22:27:56    2490536

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Replying To LohansRedHelmet:  "Not bad considering there was 11k at KK v Galway in Leinster this year. The premier RR game"
What was that you were saying about the cost of coming to Dublin for an AISF? Imagine if ye had to come 3-5 times in a couple of months!

baire (Galway) - Posts: 1849 - 29/06/2023 07:16:25    2490552

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Replying To Throughthemidfieldhewasstormin:  "There's definitely a top 4 in Ireland atm based off this year and last year, I think Limerick and Kilkenny justifiably the top 2 (with Limerick top dog) and then take your pick of Clare or Galway to make 3rd and 4th. Don't get me wrong Tipp, Cork, Wexford, Waterford, Dublin can give any of those 4 a game or even Beat them but I don't think any of them can beat 2 or 3 of those top 4 in a few back to back games in either provincal finals/knockout championships. Odds would favor Limerick v Kilkenny again but I wouldnt rule out an all Leinster/Munster final or Galway v Clare. Signs are on that they're also the 4 panels with the most depth to them as well, all 4 have had big losses throughout the year and dealt with them well (or better than the rest) Limerick and Kilkenny probably slightly ahead of the other two (winning provincal finals down some of the best players in Ireland) Galway probably slight edge on Clare in panel depth. But realistically there's only 1 score between these 4 teams atm. It's a very competitive championship even with a team going for 4 in a row. Good to see 4 equal teams in the semi finals, I thought after 2021 when Limerick just demolished Waterford and Cork that it would be in for some boring years but infairness Limerick are just about getting over the line in 22 and this year (says some amount about Limericks clutch nature and mental strength to win these games and tbh winning last year was way more impressive than hammering some poor enough teams in 21. Great Great team, one of the all time best)
Can't wait for the semi finals. Would love to see a Galway v Clare final, think it would be a great game, those games in 2018 in the semis were unbelievable, be nice to see the two (very slight) underdogs get over the line."
I think that's fair and accurate. It'll just come down to who performs on the day, there is nothing between the teams. If i had a free bet i would say it'll be a KK Limerick final but the margins are too tight to call in reality. Clare have consistently produced high quality hurling in every game so far the question is can they raise it that bit again against the cats and keep trending upwards. Its like turning the final bend in the race now and you have to kick with everything you got to be in the running to cross the line first. Last year the ran out of puff and were flat but this year could well be different. I hope Conlon is back and flying for them after missing out last year.
Nothing between Galway and Limerick either but i'm hoping our experience of just getting over the line in tight games will count again.

Not having a fit Cian Lynch is for almost two seasons now has made us a 4 to 5 point worse off team. His genius and creativity mixed with his huge work rate is simply irreplaceable. In 2021 AI Final he scored 6 and assisted 2 5 i hope he can get back to his best again, if not this year hopefully the next even if he is at 80% next week he'll make a big impact imo.

Fitzy01 (Limerick) - Posts: 453 - 29/06/2023 10:25:32    2490569

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Replying To baire:  "What was that you were saying about the cost of coming to Dublin for an AISF? Imagine if ye had to come 3-5 times in a couple of months!"
That was Nowlan Park and as a Galway fan if you can only afford 1 RR match you go to that one.

Also it's more a dig at the terrible KK support to be honest. Imagine Galway coming to your County town/city for a championship match and only 11k turn up.

LohansRedHelmet (Clare) - Posts: 2697 - 29/06/2023 10:46:29    2490572

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Replying To LohansRedHelmet:  "That was Nowlan Park and as a Galway fan if you can only afford 1 RR match you go to that one.

Also it's more a dig at the terrible KK support to be honest. Imagine Galway coming to your County town/city for a championship match and only 11k turn up."
I see what you mean although anytime I went to KP they weren't short of vociferous support!

baire (Galway) - Posts: 1849 - 29/06/2023 12:12:14    2490604

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Replying To LohansRedHelmet:  "That was Nowlan Park and as a Galway fan if you can only afford 1 RR match you go to that one.

Also it's more a dig at the terrible KK support to be honest. Imagine Galway coming to your County town/city for a championship match and only 11k turn up."
NP

baire (Galway) - Posts: 1849 - 29/06/2023 12:16:17    2490608

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Replying To Fitzy01:  "I think that's fair and accurate. It'll just come down to who performs on the day, there is nothing between the teams. If i had a free bet i would say it'll be a KK Limerick final but the margins are too tight to call in reality. Clare have consistently produced high quality hurling in every game so far the question is can they raise it that bit again against the cats and keep trending upwards. Its like turning the final bend in the race now and you have to kick with everything you got to be in the running to cross the line first. Last year the ran out of puff and were flat but this year could well be different. I hope Conlon is back and flying for them after missing out last year.
Nothing between Galway and Limerick either but i'm hoping our experience of just getting over the line in tight games will count again.

Not having a fit Cian Lynch is for almost two seasons now has made us a 4 to 5 point worse off team. His genius and creativity mixed with his huge work rate is simply irreplaceable. In 2021 AI Final he scored 6 and assisted 2 5 i hope he can get back to his best again, if not this year hopefully the next even if he is at 80% next week he'll make a big impact imo."
Genuinely hope Cian Lynch can play you always want to see best hurlers on field Limerick now without D Hnnon & S Finn no matter the resources they are practically irreplaceable when Hannon was moved to 6 it transformed Limerick IMO

I would love a Clare/Limerick Final for all the local banter but KK & Galway are huge teams all on the day id say

clooney (Clare) - Posts: 996 - 29/06/2023 12:33:01    2490611

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If Clare beat Kilkenny I think they will win the All Ireland. Its a huge monkey off their back.

WildPundit (Tipperary) - Posts: 1709 - 29/06/2023 15:26:23    2490676

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Replying To 97Cavans:  "Was at the games in Limerick as a neutral. One thing I cannot understand is how you would take off Seamus Callanan at HT. Ok he had a poor half but his sidestep and run through on goal was a glimpse of the danger he posed. Surely that last 10 mins was made for the man"
I wouldn't have started Callinan I think we played into Galways hands. Last 10 mins would have been a wise option.

WildPundit (Tipperary) - Posts: 1709 - 29/06/2023 15:29:01    2490677

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Replying To WildPundit:  "If Clare beat Kilkenny I think they will win the All Ireland. Its a huge monkey off their back."
Would beating Limerick in a final not be another one to get off the back?

countyman2022 (Wexford) - Posts: 843 - 29/06/2023 16:07:47    2490691

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Replying To countyman2022:  "Would beating Limerick in a final not be another one to get off the back?"
Clare are the only county to beat Limerick in a Championship game since Kilkenny did it in 2019. Agreed it wasn't a final though. They also drew twice, though lost in extra time after in the Final. I would like to see Limerick win the 4 in a row, and I think Clare would be the county most likely to stop them if they beat Kilkenny. I still fancy Kilkenny to beat Clare, though I hope I'm wrong!

Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 16558 - 29/06/2023 16:36:44    2490700

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Replying To countyman2022:  "Would beating Limerick in a final not be another one to get off the back?"
Limerick have to beat Galway first but to answer your question No because they already beat Limerick this year and had enough chances to win Munster Final plus playing a rookie corner back against one of the top forwards in the country was criminal.

WildPundit (Tipperary) - Posts: 1709 - 29/06/2023 18:45:04    2490726

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Replying To countyman2022:  "Would beating Limerick in a final not be another one to get off the back?"
I think he's inferring that Galway will beat Limerick based on that, so Clare will have to wait. ;)

WanPintWin (Galway) - Posts: 2424 - 29/06/2023 18:47:22    2490727

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Replying To clooney:  "Genuinely hope Cian Lynch can play you always want to see best hurlers on field Limerick now without D Hnnon & S Finn no matter the resources they are practically irreplaceable when Hannon was moved to 6 it transformed Limerick IMO

I would love a Clare/Limerick Final for all the local banter but KK & Galway are huge teams all on the day id say"
Speaking as a Limerick man, I would 'fear' Clare the most. Fine team and nearly always show up against us

Shocs07 (Limerick) - Posts: 374 - 29/06/2023 18:57:30    2490730

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Replying To LohansRedHelmet:  "That was Nowlan Park and as a Galway fan if you can only afford 1 RR match you go to that one.

Also it's more a dig at the terrible KK support to be honest. Imagine Galway coming to your County town/city for a championship match and only 11k turn up."
Only 14K turned up when KK went to Salthill the previous year.

Cockney_Cat (UK) - Posts: 2866 - 29/06/2023 19:39:44    2490735

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Replying To countyman2022:  "Would beating Limerick in a final not be another one to get off the back?"
Well in fairness they beat LK in the 1995 Munster Final and KK in the '97 AISF so those monkeys have been displaced a long time ago.

Oldtourman (Limerick) - Posts: 4517 - 29/06/2023 21:12:38    2490742

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Replying To WildPundit:  "Limerick have to beat Galway first but to answer your question No because they already beat Limerick this year and had enough chances to win Munster Final plus playing a rookie corner back against one of the top forwards in the country was criminal."
Brian Lohan made a big boo boo that day.

countyman2022 (Wexford) - Posts: 843 - 30/06/2023 09:14:52    2490772

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Replying To Oldtourman:  "Was that qualifier in Wexford, when Shaughnessy scored the goal that won it. I am fifty years going to Wexford and it was the worst day I ever saw there, or indeed anywhere else. Actually I met a good few of my fellow countymen there that night and I thought the support was ok considering the awful evening it was. It was a dual game fixture, I think, Roscommon played Wexford in the first game.
Actually, I was in Portlaoise for a drawn and replayed Offaly Galway games about 2011 and the crowd was very modest indeed and Portlaoise is an easy enough drive from most of Galway Hurling country. People forget Thurles is al long distance from West Limerick and West Clare too."
No it was one in Limerick, might be 2010-11.
I would say we were one of about 100 Wexford people there and there was not 10k at it.

StoreysTash (Wexford) - Posts: 1897 - 30/06/2023 11:25:19    2490808

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Replying To Shocs07:  "Speaking as a Limerick man, I would 'fear' Clare the most. Fine team and nearly always show up against us"
That was Tipps downfall too.. looking past the Leinster teams when it's proven time and time again there's nothing between these last 4 teams

TomWex (Wexford) - Posts: 85 - 30/06/2023 11:50:40    2490822

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