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Limerick Hurling Thread 2025

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Replying To Yadse:  "But the thing is it's the toughness of the Munster Championship that got us to where we are (I know it's far from the only thing but it is a big contributor as it is to the strength of the other teams)
And the relative weakness of Leinster that doesn't help their teams compete in the AI series
The likes of Adam English, Aidan O Connor, Cathal Coughlan, Shane O Brien, Feargal O Connor need to come through Munster"
I think Adam English, Aidan O'Connor and Shane O'Brien have now established themselves. They will only get better and better with experience.

On one hand I am disappointed Fergal O'Connor doesn't seem to have stepped up as well, however I fully accept that the Limerick full back line this year was very strong and consistent (so I can't blame management for not giving him championship game time).

Colin Coughlan I can't get my head around. He is on the senior panel way longer than English, O'Brien or O'Connor but he hasn't done enough in my opinion to nail down a starting slot even though it is our weakest line of the field this year.

He is a huge in stature, and is a fine striker of the ball. In club matches he always dominates the opposition physically (I've seen him run from the half back line to the opposition 45 with not one but two players up on his back and still get a shot off). I think at intercounty level he gets caught out with the low ball. Its like his frame is too big to get down low enough quick enough. He rarely wins the dirty ball in a scrum and some of his decision making under the pressure of Munster hurling Championship is questionable

LimerickandProud (Limerick) - Posts: 212 - 27/08/2025 16:00:31    2633813

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I'd agree with a lot of what is said..it's time for a lot of panel members to put their hand up..now possibly loyalty has been rewarded in last 2 years..another fella I've watched is Harrington from na piarsaigh,playing very well..monaleen have a few worth looking at and have a very young panel,langan did well at under 20..paddy Donovan is another her who needs more minutes at inter county level..
It's a big year ahead for limerick and Munster is a complete minefield..

CTGAA10 (Limerick) - Posts: 2593 - 28/08/2025 17:26:38    2633985

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Replying To LimerickandProud:  "I think Adam English, Aidan O'Connor and Shane O'Brien have now established themselves. They will only get better and better with experience.

On one hand I am disappointed Fergal O'Connor doesn't seem to have stepped up as well, however I fully accept that the Limerick full back line this year was very strong and consistent (so I can't blame management for not giving him championship game time).

Colin Coughlan I can't get my head around. He is on the senior panel way longer than English, O'Brien or O'Connor but he hasn't done enough in my opinion to nail down a starting slot even though it is our weakest line of the field this year.

He is a huge in stature, and is a fine striker of the ball. In club matches he always dominates the opposition physically (I've seen him run from the half back line to the opposition 45 with not one but two players up on his back and still get a shot off). I think at intercounty level he gets caught out with the low ball. Its like his frame is too big to get down low enough quick enough. He rarely wins the dirty ball in a scrum and some of his decision making under the pressure of Munster hurling Championship is questionable"
I'd like to see Coughlan get a run at wing back to see if he progresses. In club or college games he always does well as you mentioned. I think with an extended run in the team he could drive the half back line forward similar to what Hayes used to do from there.

I think your point about the dirty ball is fair but I think that would improve with more game time too.

slayer (Limerick) - Posts: 6557 - 31/08/2025 12:41:42    2634323

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Replying To slayer:  "I'd like to see Coughlan get a run at wing back to see if he progresses. In club or college games he always does well as you mentioned. I think with an extended run in the team he could drive the half back line forward similar to what Hayes used to do from there.

I think your point about the dirty ball is fair but I think that would improve with more game time too."
Colin will likely get a good run in the 2026 league anyway, especially as Kyle will likely miss most/all of it.

The Limerick half back line needs major surgery / significant over hall if we are to compete next year. Diarmaid Byrne's form has fallen off a lot over the last 12 months. I genuine believe like Hannon he has a role to play as a finisher (i.e. bring him on for the last 15 minutes when the game is in the melting pot and a cool head is needed) but I think his days of playing 70 minutes are over.

From what I have seen in the club championships so far I think Darragh O'Donovan has done enough to earn a shot in the half backs. I also think it might be time for Cathal O'Neill to move back there and get some game time to see how it goes.

Have any other Half Back Line contenders emerged?

LimerickandProud (Limerick) - Posts: 212 - 01/09/2025 13:58:32    2634494

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Replying To LimerickandProud:  "Colin will likely get a good run in the 2026 league anyway, especially as Kyle will likely miss most/all of it.

The Limerick half back line needs major surgery / significant over hall if we are to compete next year. Diarmaid Byrne's form has fallen off a lot over the last 12 months. I genuine believe like Hannon he has a role to play as a finisher (i.e. bring him on for the last 15 minutes when the game is in the melting pot and a cool head is needed) but I think his days of playing 70 minutes are over.

From what I have seen in the club championships so far I think Darragh O'Donovan has done enough to earn a shot in the half backs. I also think it might be time for Cathal O'Neill to move back there and get some game time to see how it goes.

Have any other Half Back Line contenders emerged?"
I would agree on trying Cathal O Neill in the HBs.
He is strong, full of running and has plenty of hurling. His shooting can be a little wayward so might be better placed further back
Byrnes is a puzzle. He adds so much in terms of long distance frees and striking but his defence has been found wanting at times. So big pluses but also big minuses. Nash is probably the closest in that respect (bar the frees) but his form was poor at the end of this year.
DOD has been good for Doon playing a little further back than he has done for Limerick. Certainly playing well enough to contend for a starting place; he could fill in for Kyle as needed but Hayes is by far our best CB option
So Nash/Byrnes/Hayes/Coughlan/O Donovan and as I said O Neill as an option

Aside from those, the best half back I have seen in this years Championship has been Richie English but I imagine he is unlikely to come back

Yadse (Limerick) - Posts: 190 - 01/09/2025 15:56:52    2634518

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Replying To LimerickandProud:  "Colin will likely get a good run in the 2026 league anyway, especially as Kyle will likely miss most/all of it.

The Limerick half back line needs major surgery / significant over hall if we are to compete next year. Diarmaid Byrne's form has fallen off a lot over the last 12 months. I genuine believe like Hannon he has a role to play as a finisher (i.e. bring him on for the last 15 minutes when the game is in the melting pot and a cool head is needed) but I think his days of playing 70 minutes are over.

From what I have seen in the club championships so far I think Darragh O'Donovan has done enough to earn a shot in the half backs. I also think it might be time for Cathal O'Neill to move back there and get some game time to see how it goes.

Have any other Half Back Line contenders emerged?"
O Donovan would be worth a shot at centre back

Bon (Kildare) - Posts: 2505 - 01/09/2025 19:22:52    2634538

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Replying To slayer:  "I'd like to see Coughlan get a run at wing back to see if he progresses. In club or college games he always does well as you mentioned. I think with an extended run in the team he could drive the half back line forward similar to what Hayes used to do from there.

I think your point about the dirty ball is fair but I think that would improve with more game time too."
He's a good player, but has he the pace for wingback? Maybe he'd be a better 6?

Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 17007 - 02/09/2025 10:48:19    2634574

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Replying To Bon:  "O Donovan would be worth a shot at centre back"
I'm not so sure about him as center back, i would still see him as an out and out midfielder who will help screen the half back line but is also one of the best playmakers and intelligent distributers of the ball. Our half back line are more exposed when he doesn't feature.
Adam English was our player of the year this year but he plays a completely different game to DOD. More pace and far more direct and forward orientated. DOD will sit and distribute
I'd love to see DOD and WOD in midfield with Cian Lynch at centre forward and Adam English playing the withdrawn corner forward roll. I'd push Barry back to corner back where he has had far more influence and try CON there as others have suggested. Coughlan should also see a lot more time next year. Give Byrnes a complete break at the start of the season.

I just hope Hayes makes a full recovery, none of use know the true extent of the injury so there is no point speculating. Any one else will be a downgrade in there. Mike Casey was in great form in the past season and seems to have carried it through to club, maybe he could go back to full back and release Dan to centre back.

Fitzy01 (Limerick) - Posts: 456 - 02/09/2025 12:05:42    2634591

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Replying To Viking66:  "He's a good player, but has he the pace for wingback? Maybe he'd be a better 6?"
He does play 6 for Ballybrown and I have also seen him at Midfield for Ballybrown so could be worth a try

LimerickandProud (Limerick) - Posts: 212 - 02/09/2025 12:45:16    2634599

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Replying To Bon:  "O Donovan would be worth a shot at centre back"
He's maybe not tall enough? Not even 6'. Then again Damien Reck isn't 6' either and with 11s roaming these days maybe you don't need a giant at 6. Still think DoD better midfield.

Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 17007 - 02/09/2025 15:10:50    2634625

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Replying To Fitzy01:  "I'm not so sure about him as center back, i would still see him as an out and out midfielder who will help screen the half back line but is also one of the best playmakers and intelligent distributers of the ball. Our half back line are more exposed when he doesn't feature.
Adam English was our player of the year this year but he plays a completely different game to DOD. More pace and far more direct and forward orientated. DOD will sit and distribute
I'd love to see DOD and WOD in midfield with Cian Lynch at centre forward and Adam English playing the withdrawn corner forward roll. I'd push Barry back to corner back where he has had far more influence and try CON there as others have suggested. Coughlan should also see a lot more time next year. Give Byrnes a complete break at the start of the season.

I just hope Hayes makes a full recovery, none of use know the true extent of the injury so there is no point speculating. Any one else will be a downgrade in there. Mike Casey was in great form in the past season and seems to have carried it through to club, maybe he could go back to full back and release Dan to centre back."
Great point about the role DOD and Adam English play. When DOD was completely injury free and playing midfield, he took so much ball off our half back line and distributed to the forwards. Our Management team have all the data & stats, but one thing that might be hard to measure is the element of surprise in a pass. DOD often caught opposition defences completely cold with a ball from one 40 to the other giving our lads the split second needed to wreak havoc.

English (as mentioned) more pacy and runs straight at the opposition - the point about him starting at corner forward & coming back towards midfield is interesting. It would be nice to see us do something completely different next season, either tactically or personnel wise and our Management team have the experience & know how to do that.

slayer (Limerick) - Posts: 6557 - 02/09/2025 16:07:53    2634634

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Replying To Fitzy01:  "I'm not so sure about him as center back, i would still see him as an out and out midfielder who will help screen the half back line but is also one of the best playmakers and intelligent distributers of the ball. Our half back line are more exposed when he doesn't feature.
Adam English was our player of the year this year but he plays a completely different game to DOD. More pace and far more direct and forward orientated. DOD will sit and distribute
I'd love to see DOD and WOD in midfield with Cian Lynch at centre forward and Adam English playing the withdrawn corner forward roll. I'd push Barry back to corner back where he has had far more influence and try CON there as others have suggested. Coughlan should also see a lot more time next year. Give Byrnes a complete break at the start of the season.

I just hope Hayes makes a full recovery, none of use know the true extent of the injury so there is no point speculating. Any one else will be a downgrade in there. Mike Casey was in great form in the past season and seems to have carried it through to club, maybe he could go back to full back and release Dan to centre back."
agreed that Hayes is by far our best option for #6, if fit
If not fit I'd be more inclined to try DOD than Coughlan. Its simply too important a position for an inexperienced player. Give Coughlan an extended run at wing back. They also tried WOD there previously but I think from that we learned he is a defensive midfielder and a wrecker rather than a creator
Dan also an option but I think he is a better FB than Mike Casey, and Mike has grown into a decent CB
I would also consider trying Cathal O Neill at CB but again, only as a back up option to Hayes

Yadse (Limerick) - Posts: 190 - 02/09/2025 16:29:06    2634636

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