Great to see a Leinster final that finally has people talking. For the first time in years, it's a bigger game than the Munster final. Dublin have made that possible and there's great credit due to all involved.

Don't fancy them here though. We all know how terrific Kilkenny and Tipp can be. No other team (including Dublin) has come close to the form required to beat either. We'll see on Sunday if Dublin can reach that level. I don't think they will - not this year.

Culchie (Cork) - Posts: 799 - 28/06/2011 16:06:56    969552

Both camps staying very quiet this week as they consider their teams for Sunday, Kilkenny will have more or less a full panel to pick from
and according to the papers yesterday Joey Boland is fit for Dublin , so we ll see friday night wheather he is included in the team , though i
hope Liam Rush stays at center back.

clonjon (Dublin) - Posts: 665 - 29/06/2011 12:03:48    970223

Dublin team will be picked alá Cody depending on the training matches this week. Good to hear that Joey is available but would worry that shoulder might not stand up. Worrying sign all year has been players coming back 'fit' and breaking down on the field.

hurlingdub (Dublin) - Posts: 6978 - 29/06/2011 12:12:07    970236

Dotsy's comments on the homepage are interesting. The guy gives an honest interview and expresses a real opinion. Fair play to him.

However, in doing that he exposes himself to charges of arrogance. His comments will likely be deliberately misinterpretted and pinned to the dressing room wall of any other county that he 'doesn't care about.'

Culchie (Cork) - Posts: 799 - 29/06/2011 15:15:28    970492

I don't think he meant it in that way Culchie.

hurlingdub (Dublin) - Posts: 6978 - 29/06/2011 15:24:26    970506

I don't see anything arrogant in what he said, he's just saying they're concentrating on getting the best out of themselves regardless of the opposition. And that's all any player should really be saying; there's nothing to really be gained from saying anything else, it would just be disingenuous flannel, and we get enough of that.

Marlon_JD (Tipperary) - Posts: 1823 - 29/06/2011 15:49:18    970539

You're dead right lads. He wasn't being arrogaant. He was expressing an honest opinion and giving the views that he was asked for. However, in Ireland, that often leads to charges of cockiness. It would be easy to take the whole thing out of context, selectively quote, or even misquote, and tell KK that he's calling them has- beens.We've all seen those things happening before.

I always assumed that Babs didn't actually call the Cork players donkeys. I suspect that the point he was making had something to do with Michael O'Brien not being the only factor in any success that Cork would have. However, his words were used against him, and the rest is history. It's probably why Cody's players don't do interviews. It's probably why we hear the same old silly rhetoric from GAA players all the time.

Guys like Dotsy have a bit more to them, but they risk being crucified for it.

Culchie (Cork) - Posts: 799 - 29/06/2011 16:02:57    970563

I'm with Marlon.

I think all he was saying was rather than worrying about KK, they are just focussed on playing their best. He nods the head to KK in talking about the all ireland medals etc but my reading of it is all he is saying that if they concentrate on their own game, they now have the confidence and belief in tehmselves rather thna worrying about stopping other teams. In truth his attitude is the attitude all teams and hurlers should go out with. As we all know from playing ourselves, if you went out thinking that you were going to lose, then it inevitably happened as the heads would go down the minute you fell behind.

I think it is more confidence than arrogance. And sure why not be confident. We couldn't beat Dublin in the Walsh Cup or League final or League. And sure Croke Park is now our unlucky ground. We've failed to win 3 matches in a row there. Its beginning to be a hoodoo around our neck. We can't buy a win at HQ nowadays.

Puddersthecat (Kilkenny) - Posts: 1692 - 29/06/2011 16:07:25    970578

He's not that sort of chap anyway. I think it's actually refreshing the way Daly lets them handle the press. There's no spin doctors as there was with our footballers a few years back and no silly pop psychology going on. Of course that runs the risk that some lad is going to say something silly that others might try and turn against them or the team but sure that goes with the territory. Daly treats the hurlers like adults and they behave like adults. There's no BS about them and at the risk of reading too much into it that is maybe why they have started to win games that they would have lost before. It is noticeable that Cody and Declan Ryan seem to have the same attitude. Trust is repaid on the pitch.

hurlingdub (Dublin) - Posts: 6978 - 29/06/2011 16:19:21    970607

Can't see past KK. I think they'll make it with some to spare. The injuries are just too much for dublin. I saw the dubs quoted at 11/4, that's pretty good. Hope for a good tough and tight match. Unfortunately I can't watch it or make it to it......really annoyed.
Hope the dubs make it.

hurlinspuds (Cork) - Posts: 1494 - 29/06/2011 16:29:52    970621

Declan has a different personality to Liam Sheedy. He doesn't seem as inclined to lose his cool and he's not afraid to make the necessary moves.The one thing i like is that he never courts too much attention bar match day formalities. Have met him on a few occasions he is a gentleman. ANyway looking forward to the leinster final, i just hoe dublin give their all and they should remember to give it a right good lash and they will still be in the championship if they lose.

Mulman (Tipperary) - Posts: 562 - 29/06/2011 16:37:32    970643

Dublin won't win another championship match this season.

gaillimh73 (Galway) - Posts: 669 - 29/06/2011 19:54:48    970919

Dublin have done very well to get to where they're at but thats it i'm afraid, they will never win any Liam, you can only bring a county so far imo. Kk will win this by 12-20 points and bring Dublin back to reality.

51longago (Mayo) - Posts: 2981 - 29/06/2011 19:59:48    970925

Another fkn prophet. Just hope you are like some of the rest and losing your money ;-)

hurlingdub (Dublin) - Posts: 6978 - 29/06/2011 20:00:35    970929

In all fairness Culchie what Brian Cody will have pinned on the dressingroom wall will be the result of the National Hurling League final 1 may 2011
Dublin 0-22 Kilkenny1-7,and if the Cats need any more than that to get them going then they are in trouble.

clonjon (Dublin) - Posts: 665 - 29/06/2011 20:23:07    970964

kilkenny will win this without getting out of second gear- if anyone looks anything into the league they are deluded, dublin were at maximum and kilkenny were at about 20% as they simply dont care about the league they only start training right when its over- alas the gullible dubs will lose a packet as the bandwagon gets into full force- get onto betfair folk and lay lay lay the dubs

liathroidboy (Mayo) - Posts: 4921 - 29/06/2011 20:29:29    970977

How much did you lose already ballboy? You've been talking about laying the Dubs for a while now.

Anyway, on behalf of myself at least - and I would like to think that some of what I've won was actually YOURS :-) - thank you.

hurlingdub (Dublin) - Posts: 6978 - 29/06/2011 20:35:00    970984

Puddersthecat:

Good man pudders your an ould pro at this build up the opposition and sit back and enjoy if they fall apart, if they don't you always have the fact you talked up the oppostion to fall back on must be a kilkenny thing cody is good at it too.

Dublin lads I hope ye win cause if ye don't he building yerselves up for a fall. Anyways I'll be shouting for ye and hopefully might make the game too.

Hag_and_Cheese (Tipperary) - Posts: 6103 - 29/06/2011 20:53:41    971013

clonjon
County: Dublin
Posts: 126

970964 In all fairness Culchie what Brian Cody will have pinned on the dressingroom wall will be the result of the National Hurling League final 1 may 2011
Dublin 0-22 Kilkenny1-7,and if the Cats need any more than that to get them going then they are in trouble.

right the scoreline on the door,cheers buddy for letting me know betting me house an car on kk winning because they will have the nhl final results

dubbydave. (Dublin) - Posts: 3927 - 29/06/2011 21:02:48    971022

Dublin 0-22 Kilkenny1-7,and if the Cats need any more than that to get them going then they are in trouble.

I agree with that beware a kilkenny team with a point to prove, tipp cork and this year wexford have been on the other end of a kilkenny team with a point to prove, and added to that it's a kilkenny team staying quite. Last year all the media attention kilkenny were getting before the all-ireland did nothing to help them they'll definately be a more focused team this year. They'll be pushing for glory this year and many of the older players will want to end their time at the top!

Hag_and_Cheese (Tipperary) - Posts: 6103 - 29/06/2011 21:11:11    971034