Who does anyone think are the favourites for this? Obviously we've a bit of a wait for Kilkenny/Galway but we've now got Thurles Sarsfields, Sarsfields of Cork, Oulart, Kilmacud Crokes, Kilmallock, Kilcormac-Killoughey, and of course Loughiel. Who won in Clare?

Oulart are going in quieter than other years and I am thinking with less fanfare. They could do it and a massive boost for Wexford hurling it would be.

Pinkie (Wexford) - Posts: 4100 - 16/10/2012 15:17:35    1284021

Its Oulart against the Crokes in the first round of Leinster as far as I know. Should be a cracker.

Culann (Dublin) - Posts: 2306 - 16/10/2012 16:04:17    1284049

I reckon its between Loughiel, De La Salle, Galway Champs & KK champs although Oulart might just pull off a surprise there, since Balyhale are short due to injuries & I dont think James Stephens are up to it.

So I go for the Galway Champs to win it.

KELF (Kildare) - Posts: 775 - 16/10/2012 16:42:01    1284089

obviously whoever comes out of galway/kilkenny are going to probably be the favourites but other than that its wide open.....thurles looked good on sunday but always seem to flatter to decieve when it comes to the crunch :) wouldnt be too confident of oularts chances they underperforming this year but maybe that has been the plan as were able to win wexford without playing to their potential

fooglimoogli (Wexford) - Posts: 1 - 16/10/2012 17:20:58    1284106

What are Portaferry's chances in the Ulster final? They had an impressive win over the Derry champions, Swatragh.

keeper7 (Longford) - Posts: 4088 - 16/10/2012 21:15:06    1284207

Id imagine the Galway champions would be very hard to beat especially as the likes of Ballyhale and James Stephens in Kilkenny seem to be in retreat? So i think St Thomas could be in with a real shout?

Jgc81 (Meath) - Posts: 195 - 17/10/2012 09:17:58    1284253

Haha, all ireland club hurling champs come from ulster yet only two posters mention ulster teams.

I think portaferry have a real chance against lougheile, although i would not be suprised at the same time if they rip portaferry a new one, all depends on how portaferry approach the game, go negative to wipe out watson and they will be destroyed go positive and use paul branniff properly and they could be on to something.

Either way i think ulster have as good a chance this year as last, cant see why ulster wouldnt.

North Side Gael (None) - Posts: 1076 - 17/10/2012 10:19:34    1284279

Kilkenny and Galway champs have to deal with too many games in quick succession so will be burnt out. Loughgiel Shamrocks are favourite in my book . Their performance on Paddies Day this year was something special and i can only see them being better this year.

richiescats (USA) - Posts: 420 - 17/10/2012 16:10:09    1284496

Clonkill deserve a mention, they have a decent draw in leinster, could be Westmeaths first in a leinster final, but overall i think De la Salle look the strongest.
Just cant see Lougheil Shamrocks repeating what they did last year.
Heres my top 5 teams so far of the county champs
1.De la Salle (Waterford)
2.Thurlas Sarsfields (Tipp)
3. Oulart (Wex)
4. Killmallock (Lk)
5. Loughiel Shamrocks (Antrim)

fonejacker (Kildare) - Posts: 315 - 17/10/2012 16:31:08    1284513

Yeah, didn't Clonkill knock Coolderry out 2 years ago? Oulart got it hard to beat them too.

keeper7 (Longford) - Posts: 4088 - 17/10/2012 16:35:15    1284515

Raharney beat Coolderry in 2010 not Clonkill. Clonkill were beaten narrowly by Ballyboden last year

tonorio (Offaly) - Posts: 609 - 17/10/2012 16:45:32    1284523

no that was raharney keeper7 , clonkill are even a stronger team than them.

fonejacker (Kildare) - Posts: 315 - 17/10/2012 16:47:11    1284525

Galway county championship is now really heating up. Amazingly of the 5 teams still left in it, the current county champions Gort look the biggest outsiders. A lot will actually depend on the weather and how it affects the conditions over the next few weeks. The better the weather the more likely St Thomas's are to win, the more wintery it gets the more likely the winner will come from the winner of the Loughrea-Mullagh replay. As an aside, absolutely brilliant match in Athenry last Sunday between Turloughmore and Portumna in front of a huge crowd. Joe was outstanding, scoring 14 points, 7 from play, but it just goes to show how much hurling is a team game. Turlough fully deserved their win and will be hard beaten.

onlyhurling (Galway) - Posts: 800 - 17/10/2012 17:00:59    1284532

Galway champions at a distinct advantage in the sence they dont have to go through a provincial club championship and basically have 50/50 chance of getting to a final as they only have to play a semi final after they win the county. So they will always have a huge chance..

I think Munster is very competitive this year. Thurles Sars will be favourites. A team of superstars like Lar, Pa Bourke, Padraic Maher, Michael Cahill ect.
Sars of Cork are strong aswell they have been knocking around for a couple of years.
De la Salle of Waterford blitzed their way through the Waterford championship. They are better in the forwards than 2 years ago when they lost the AI semi to Clarinbridge, but a bit weaker in defence. Kilmallock and the Clare champions will have a big say aswell.

In Leinster I think the KK champs will come through to the final on their side of the draw whoever it is.
Oulart have been hyped up every year because they steamroll their way through the Wexford championship but have shown every year that they are short of winning Leinster. Kilmacud are a bit inexperienced at this level and will be up against seasoned campaigners in Oulart,. I think the Westmeath champs will come through the other side of the draw.

Loughiel will be hard to beat again but cant see them pulling it off this year, They will be up against stronger opposition. The Leinster and Munster club champions last year werent of the quality of winners from other years

deisebhoy (Waterford) - Posts: 416 - 17/10/2012 18:38:41    1284598

Kilkenny, Wexford and Dublin clubs all on one side of the Leinster draw?

Pinkie (Wexford) - Posts: 4100 - 17/10/2012 19:03:42    1284616

Yeah Galway and Antrim clubs should compete in Leinster like their seniors.

richiescats (USA) - Posts: 420 - 17/10/2012 20:39:53    1284691

Oh yeah, it was Raharney!!! Only a puck of a ball between them & Clonkill for the last few years.

keeper7 (Longford) - Posts: 4088 - 17/10/2012 21:59:46    1284764

Thurles Sarsfields have a nice team but it wouldn't surprise me if they were beaten by Kilmallock the Limerick champions who home advantage. The tighter confines of Kilmallocks pitch won't suit their style of play.

Coopers_Helmet (Tipperary) - Posts: 154 - 18/10/2012 12:13:24    1284860

Thurles looked a very strong team when winning the Tipp championship last Sunday.They are my pick at the moment.St.Thomases could be aforce too .

Barnowl94 (Galway) - Posts: 3150 - 18/10/2012 12:46:34    1284889

The Tipp county final was a brilliant match. Still, it's been a long time since a Tipp club has won the Munster title.

keeper7 (Longford) - Posts: 4088 - 18/10/2012 16:16:26    1285066