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Replying To Viking66: "Of course contact is allowed. But if you line up a fella who is running full pace with the ball you need to make sure you don't mistime your hit, or you should be off. If 2 players are going for a ball running beside eachother it's not a dangerous tackle, as there's not going to be the same impact." We need to be careful here, hurling has been played at all levels for a long time now with these rules and serious contact injuries to the head have not been a serious problem from what I an see. The worst of all was the one on Mike Casey and that was a red all day and a ban but lots of others should be yellow imo. It is the hot topic at the moment because it is in the media and social media and the GAA will feel like they have to react. Restraint is the key. If you turn down the physicality in hurling, then the game we all love is lost. Full blooded tackles can be mistimed and if the punishment is a red then full blooded tackles will cease. Also opposing players will turn into the committed tackle and face them on the chest or even the head to get a player sent off. Have the players or players representative been asked for their views, they would no more than any of us.
There is room for small tweaks here but the hype that it is a major problem in the game is not the full story here. TV and mitigation review would be required like the rugby if you were going to implement this properly otherwise games could be ruined by incorrect decisions.
Your definition above is a good i.e. if a player, like in the Mike Casey incident, is down over the ball and in a vulnerable position, there is a duty of care on the opposing player not to barge in as it could cause serious spine or head injury and they are not in position to receive a shoulder. Maybe get that message out there and let that be the tweak, that there is zero tolerance on this. Mistimed tackles when jostling and rucking in groups or close contact should be treated with a little more leniency as the players are at least prepared of contact and it is chaotic in there.
Fitzy01 (Limerick) - Posts: 423 - 24/03/2025 10:36:16
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Replying To Afinestick96: "What were your thoughts on the league lads ? I think it's been very disappointing can't remember many good games. What format would bring the best out of the league" Its getting killed stone dead due to its close proximity to the Championship Managers are only using it to try out players
It was once a great competition they will have to come up with something different because there are only 3 competitions in the GAA
clooney (Clare) - Posts: 974 - 24/03/2025 10:38:47
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Replying To updwell: "Very harsh red card for Offaly v Waterford, it seems like there is no allowance now for any shoulder to shoulder that isn't perfect. Anybody sent off tonight now will miss championship matches which is tough. When they didn't rescend the Tynan sending off v KK they won't change many decisions." I have to agree, Upwell. Everything nowadays seems to favour the player in possession. For years now, forwards in particular are regularly allowed take seven or eight steps (sometimes more) making it very difficult for a defender to legally stop him. More recently, the proliferation of thrown passes gives another advantage to the man with the ball. He can take the ball into the tackle knowing that if he's tackled by two or more players he can simply throw the ball to a colleague. This latest clampdown on any kind of shoulder challenge has further disadvantaged the defender. In fairness to referees, they are often conned by the player who goes down holding his head and often taking off his helmet. One way to discourage this would be to insist that a player who appears to sustain a head injury should have to leave the field for five minutes for a head injury assessment.
Hurling is still the most enjoyable game to watch, but I fear that by giving all the advantages to the forward, the emphasis is all about getting and keeping possession. Hence, even the best games are littered with unsightly rucks, with every player trying to get the ball into the hand. Ground hurling and first time pulling, which traditionally were an exciting and key component of our game, are now sneered at as being antiquated. But is there much skill involved in running at a defender and throwing the ball to a colleage, or, if not, going down in a heap and holding your head as soon as a challenge comes in? Before anyone says I'm advocating shoulders to the head, I fully accept that player welfare is paramount, and that there is no place in our game for anything that endangers that.
midlands (Westmeath) - Posts: 592 - 24/03/2025 11:01:46
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Replying To clooney: "Its getting killed stone dead due to its close proximity to the Championship Managers are only using it to try out players
It was once a great competition they will have to come up with something different because there are only 3 competitions in the GAA" The league was a great competition that counties really wanted to win back 15 to 20 years ago. I can remember huge crowd at league semi finals back then with championship like atmosphere.
Afinestick96 (Wexford) - Posts: 483 - 24/03/2025 11:15:09
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Replying To Afinestick96: "What were your thoughts on the league lads ? I think it's been very disappointing can't remember many good games. What format would bring the best out of the league" League has always been thus
I think the new format is a definite improvement and needs to be given a few years to bed in
The lack of jeopardy in the last round was odd and probably a bit of a freak
You would imagine with only 7 teams and 2 to final and 2 relegated there would have been a lot more at stake on the last day
So notwithstanding the above some minor tweaking is needed
We don't need a league final, and having that extra game so close to championship affected teams performances - teams were more motivated by avoiding relegation than getting to a league final hence some of the blowouts towards the end
So drop the final, and if you want add a team so there is no bye week, which serves no purpose
We have few enough top teams in hurling and adding a spot in Division 1 gives a better shot to the likes of Carlow and Antrim to get promoted
And if you must keep the final no need for a 2 week gap into it- I am sure both Cork and Tipp would prefer to play the final next week and get a longer break to championship
Personally I enjoy the league as a chance to see new players, see what teams are up to but found the inconsistency annoying. But it is what it is - a lead up to Championship
Yadse (Limerick) - Posts: 87 - 24/03/2025 12:15:01
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Replying To Afinestick96: "What were your thoughts on the league lads ? I think it's been very disappointing can't remember many good games. What format would bring the best out of the league" Think we have hit on the best format for the League tbh. There have been some good games, obviously I enjoyed watching our 2 wins, but the Galway game was closer and therefore more exciting. I watched some good games on tv also, including Dublin v Offaly, Limerick v Cork, etc.
As regards standard, two things.
1- with resting older lads, not risking even slightly injured lads, and wanting to see what new lads might be capable of, no county is at full strength for the League. Back in the day when there were way less Championship games, for some years only one, counties played their best players for every game, including the League. Games were also spread out more back then.
2- as long as I can remember League pitches and weather were always worse.
Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 15258 - 24/03/2025 12:32:30
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Replying To Fitzy01: "We need to be careful here, hurling has been played at all levels for a long time now with these rules and serious contact injuries to the head have not been a serious problem from what I an see. The worst of all was the one on Mike Casey and that was a red all day and a ban but lots of others should be yellow imo. It is the hot topic at the moment because it is in the media and social media and the GAA will feel like they have to react. Restraint is the key. If you turn down the physicality in hurling, then the game we all love is lost. Full blooded tackles can be mistimed and if the punishment is a red then full blooded tackles will cease. Also opposing players will turn into the committed tackle and face them on the chest or even the head to get a player sent off. Have the players or players representative been asked for their views, they would no more than any of us.
There is room for small tweaks here but the hype that it is a major problem in the game is not the full story here. TV and mitigation review would be required like the rugby if you were going to implement this properly otherwise games could be ruined by incorrect decisions.
Your definition above is a good i.e. if a player, like in the Mike Casey incident, is down over the ball and in a vulnerable position, there is a duty of care on the opposing player not to barge in as it could cause serious spine or head injury and they are not in position to receive a shoulder. Maybe get that message out there and let that be the tweak, that there is zero tolerance on this. Mistimed tackles when jostling and rucking in groups or close contact should be treated with a little more leniency as the players are at least prepared of contact and it is chaotic in there." Agree in close contact pushing and jostling isn't dangerous. It's when speed is introduced, one or both players are running full tilt but not in the same direction, that's when it becomes dangerous if mistimed or misplaced, especially given the size of the lads these days.
Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 15258 - 24/03/2025 12:34:59
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Replying To clooney: "Its getting killed stone dead due to its close proximity to the Championship Managers are only using it to try out players
It was once a great competition they will have to come up with something different because there are only 3 competitions in the GAA" Make Championship straight knockout again. That's the only solution to the League problem. But none of us want that Clooney.
Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 15258 - 24/03/2025 12:36:08
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Replying To Yadse: "League has always been thus
I think the new format is a definite improvement and needs to be given a few years to bed in
The lack of jeopardy in the last round was odd and probably a bit of a freak
You would imagine with only 7 teams and 2 to final and 2 relegated there would have been a lot more at stake on the last day
So notwithstanding the above some minor tweaking is needed
We don't need a league final, and having that extra game so close to championship affected teams performances - teams were more motivated by avoiding relegation than getting to a league final hence some of the blowouts towards the end
So drop the final, and if you want add a team so there is no bye week, which serves no purpose
We have few enough top teams in hurling and adding a spot in Division 1 gives a better shot to the likes of Carlow and Antrim to get promoted
And if you must keep the final no need for a 2 week gap into it- I am sure both Cork and Tipp would prefer to play the final next week and get a longer break to championship
Personally I enjoy the league as a chance to see new players, see what teams are up to but found the inconsistency annoying. But it is what it is - a lead up to Championship" Agree fully Cork and Tipp should be this weekend giving them 3 weeks to prepare for championship afterwards.
Afinestick96 (Wexford) - Posts: 483 - 24/03/2025 12:53:23
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Replying To Viking66: "Make Championship straight knockout again. That's the only solution to the League problem. But none of us want that Clooney." Thats true make in the noughties and 10s counties were only guaranteed two championship games . Less games meant teams went harder in the league and there was normally at least 4 to 6 weeks between league final and start of championship
Afinestick96 (Wexford) - Posts: 483 - 24/03/2025 12:56:21
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Congratulations to Tipperary and Cork. They are to two form teams in the league and are well deserving of their place in the final.
Cork look like the team to beat, the pace and skillset of their forwards is frightening, the depth they now have is unrivalled by any other county and their injured players are all coming back at the right time. They look best placed for a long summer and Paddy Power rightly has them favourites for the All Ireland.
Tipperary are coming along nicely. You can see Liam Cahill and Mikey Bevans stamp on the team starting to shine through and they are definitely the most improved team in Division 1A and Munster. They will cause some upsets this year.
Galway are in a rebuilding phase some of their defending looks a bit naïve at times throughout the league. In the rebuilding phase they are in, it feels like some days they will come out and play with abandon and blow somebody away, and the next day we will be left scratching our heads wondering why it didn't work out.
Kilkenny are quietly going about their business, always solid, and always able to put in a performance and dig out a result when required. They are still the team to beat in Leinster.
Limerick did a lot of tinkering with the team throughout the league and a lot of very inexperienced fellas got game time. Many of these however still won't dislodge the incumbents and I would be a bit concerned as the energy levels, first touch, fielding of he ball and shooting which Limerick were renowned for was non existent in the last two games against Kilkenny and Wexford. Limerick have however been here before and turned it up a notch or two when April came around so we are not worried yet/
Clare are a bit like Limerick. Nothing to prove to anyone but still not playing at the level they can get to, but Brian Lohan is around long enough to have them right for when Cork roll into Ennis when Championship kicks off
I have not seen much of Wexford (only in Limerick last Saturday night) they are a big physical team who move the ball and created space well, however their shooting on Saturday left them down, they could/should easily have scored another 12 points and that's being kind, some the wides they had were terrible
LimerickandProud (Limerick) - Posts: 121 - 24/03/2025 15:13:25
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Replying To LimerickandProud: "Congratulations to Tipperary and Cork. They are to two form teams in the league and are well deserving of their place in the final.
Cork look like the team to beat, the pace and skillset of their forwards is frightening, the depth they now have is unrivalled by any other county and their injured players are all coming back at the right time. They look best placed for a long summer and Paddy Power rightly has them favourites for the All Ireland.
Tipperary are coming along nicely. You can see Liam Cahill and Mikey Bevans stamp on the team starting to shine through and they are definitely the most improved team in Division 1A and Munster. They will cause some upsets this year.
Galway are in a rebuilding phase some of their defending looks a bit naïve at times throughout the league. In the rebuilding phase they are in, it feels like some days they will come out and play with abandon and blow somebody away, and the next day we will be left scratching our heads wondering why it didn't work out.
Kilkenny are quietly going about their business, always solid, and always able to put in a performance and dig out a result when required. They are still the team to beat in Leinster.
Limerick did a lot of tinkering with the team throughout the league and a lot of very inexperienced fellas got game time. Many of these however still won't dislodge the incumbents and I would be a bit concerned as the energy levels, first touch, fielding of he ball and shooting which Limerick were renowned for was non existent in the last two games against Kilkenny and Wexford. Limerick have however been here before and turned it up a notch or two when April came around so we are not worried yet/
Clare are a bit like Limerick. Nothing to prove to anyone but still not playing at the level they can get to, but Brian Lohan is around long enough to have them right for when Cork roll into Ennis when Championship kicks off
I have not seen much of Wexford (only in Limerick last Saturday night) they are a big physical team who move the ball and created space well, however their shooting on Saturday left them down, they could/should easily have scored another 12 points and that's being kind, some the wides they had were terrible" The only think you'd say about Wexford is they are giving a lot of young lads game time in the league, wides can be rectified, creating scoring chances is a positive.
I am going for a Wexford v Kilkenny Leinster final this year.
Past hurler (None) - Posts: 885 - 24/03/2025 15:58:25
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Replying To Viking66: "Make Championship straight knockout again. That's the only solution to the League problem. But none of us want that Clooney." Nobody wants league games in the winter muck and then a one and done championship when the conditions are perfect
The straight knock out Championship was miserable for everybody except the teams that won it regularly
you had talented intercounty hurlers who played one big game a year and that was it for them. Fans who had a single game to look forward to
So the only way to do what you suggest would be to run league and championship in parallel starting in the spring and running into summer. 8 (or 10) team league, everybody plays everybody and winner takes all
In parallel knock out championship
However, most teams would focus on the "All Ireland" (championship) so teams would rest players etc. for league games
Personally, the idea of mucking with the current round robin championship in order to "restore" a secondary competition which was never that great to begin with (if it was why did the structure change so frequently) makes no sense
Yadse (Limerick) - Posts: 87 - 24/03/2025 16:08:08
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Replying To LimerickandProud: "Congratulations to Tipperary and Cork. They are to two form teams in the league and are well deserving of their place in the final.
Cork look like the team to beat, the pace and skillset of their forwards is frightening, the depth they now have is unrivalled by any other county and their injured players are all coming back at the right time. They look best placed for a long summer and Paddy Power rightly has them favourites for the All Ireland.
Tipperary are coming along nicely. You can see Liam Cahill and Mikey Bevans stamp on the team starting to shine through and they are definitely the most improved team in Division 1A and Munster. They will cause some upsets this year.
Galway are in a rebuilding phase some of their defending looks a bit naïve at times throughout the league. In the rebuilding phase they are in, it feels like some days they will come out and play with abandon and blow somebody away, and the next day we will be left scratching our heads wondering why it didn't work out.
Kilkenny are quietly going about their business, always solid, and always able to put in a performance and dig out a result when required. They are still the team to beat in Leinster.
Limerick did a lot of tinkering with the team throughout the league and a lot of very inexperienced fellas got game time. Many of these however still won't dislodge the incumbents and I would be a bit concerned as the energy levels, first touch, fielding of he ball and shooting which Limerick were renowned for was non existent in the last two games against Kilkenny and Wexford. Limerick have however been here before and turned it up a notch or two when April came around so we are not worried yet/
Clare are a bit like Limerick. Nothing to prove to anyone but still not playing at the level they can get to, but Brian Lohan is around long enough to have them right for when Cork roll into Ennis when Championship kicks off
I have not seen much of Wexford (only in Limerick last Saturday night) they are a big physical team who move the ball and created space well, however their shooting on Saturday left them down, they could/should easily have scored another 12 points and that's being kind, some the wides they had were terrible" Wow that's the first time I ever heard anyone describe us as a big physical team!!!!
Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 15258 - 24/03/2025 16:09:42
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The double header looks good for league finals. However it seems unfair to bring Offaly to Cork. What would be wrong with Nolan Park for Waterford/Offaly. I don't think it would effect support for either game.
Canuck (Waterford) - Posts: 2992 - 24/03/2025 16:25:29
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Replying To Viking66: "Wow that's the first time I ever heard anyone describe us as a big physical team!!!!" What are ye normally described as?
Fitzy01 (Limerick) - Posts: 423 - 24/03/2025 16:27:57
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Replying To Fitzy01: "What are ye normally described as?" Small, both in terms of height and S and C. I dont think we have anyone taller than 6'1" except for Jacko.
Chin is big ok. Jippo has good size but didn't play during the League. He should be back for the championship. Jacko is big too but plays like a small man. Of the younger lads Ryan is tall, maybe 6'1" but slight, Conor Foley is strong for a 21 year old, Richie Lawlor is 6' but only 22, as are Molloy and Redmond. Clancy and Mike Kelly who came on as subs are both a little older, 23, and stronger, but that was the 1st time either played ever in the League. Think Hearne might be pushing 6' also, but is only 24/5 and not fully filled out. The Recks, Foley, Casey, Donohue are all 5'10" or less, as is Byrne who was suspended.
Mac will add a bit of strength up front when he comes back, but isn't a giant either. Dwyer is also strong, but has only played around 30 minutes of the League.
Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 15258 - 24/03/2025 17:24:18
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Replying To Canuck: "The double header looks good for league finals. However it seems unfair to bring Offaly to Cork. What would be wrong with Nolan Park for Waterford/Offaly. I don't think it would effect support for either game." More would go to Nowlan Park tbh Canuck
Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 15258 - 24/03/2025 17:25:36
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Replying To Yadse: "Nobody wants league games in the winter muck and then a one and done championship when the conditions are perfect
The straight knock out Championship was miserable for everybody except the teams that won it regularly
you had talented intercounty hurlers who played one big game a year and that was it for them. Fans who had a single game to look forward to
So the only way to do what you suggest would be to run league and championship in parallel starting in the spring and running into summer. 8 (or 10) team league, everybody plays everybody and winner takes all
In parallel knock out championship
However, most teams would focus on the "All Ireland" (championship) so teams would rest players etc. for league games
Personally, the idea of mucking with the current round robin championship in order to "restore" a secondary competition which was never that great to begin with (if it was why did the structure change so frequently) makes no sense" Exactly. So why the continuous cribbing about the League? It's a good competition in its own right, why compare it to Championship at all?
Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 15258 - 24/03/2025 19:15:34
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Replying To Viking66: "Wow that's the first time I ever heard anyone describe us as a big physical team!!!!" Your back six last Saturday will mix it with a lot of teams, and they cleaned out Limerick under the high ball and that includes Colin Coughlan, Tom Morrissey, Gearoid Hegarty, Shane O'Brien all of which are over well over 6 ft and well able to mind themselves normally. That's was my point
LimerickandProud (Limerick) - Posts: 121 - 24/03/2025 19:25:12
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