I'm sure lads with white boots and chains are a rare site in Clondalkin and all that. I couldn't care what colour boots a lad wears as long as he plays well. Fair play to Kilcormac, they took the match by the scruff of the neck in the 2nd half and the 6 point win was reflective of their 2nd half dominance.

If Watson and Loughgiel are half as good as the Antrim posters are saying we are in for a treat in the 2nd match.

Killarney.87 (Tipperary) - Posts: 2513 - 09/02/2013 15:49:33    1330922

Good preview in today's Irish News, compared to a non-existant error ridden Independant article

cuchulainn35 (Armagh) - Posts: 1691 - 09/02/2013 15:57:50    1330927

Nothing new there Cuchalainn, can you please share the Irish News link?

Killarney.87 (Tipperary) - Posts: 2513 - 09/02/2013 16:09:10    1330935

Heartiest congrats to KK. Looking at the odds on offer before the match the Leinster Champions weren't given a prayer. I suppose it goes to show that whereas Thurles may on paper have the classier individual hurlers team spirit is something which is even more of an asset. When the chips were down and the five point lead was whittled down to one it was the underdogs who belied their tag and emerged deserving winners. Hard luck to Thurles and congrats to both teams on producing hurling of that standard on a pitch which wasn't as up to scratch as it could've been.

ironmaiden (Kilkenny) - Posts: 28 - 09/02/2013 17:18:48    1330961

Great game alright between St Thomas abd Loughgiel, nothing between them, bad slip by back for Thomas's goal and I think Loughgiel can feel hard done by umpires ruling point wide. Entertaining end to end stuff.

arock (Dublin) - Posts: 4956 - 09/02/2013 17:44:43    1330972

Loughgiel robbed again - the shocking time wasting is finally being punished and a great fine goal from Free for Loughgiel great great win.

arock (Dublin) - Posts: 4956 - 09/02/2013 17:54:29    1330977

And my maths are a shocker its a draw.........................great game

arock (Dublin) - Posts: 4956 - 09/02/2013 17:56:25    1330978

What game were you watching arock? Barry Kelly did his best to keep Loughgiel in it.

Ailteoir (Galway) - Posts: 921 - 09/02/2013 17:57:03    1330980

What a game. Credit to both teams. One to sum it up BREATHTAKING.

kerry74 (Kerry) - Posts: 1354 - 09/02/2013 17:58:08    1330983

Any sign of THURLESBLUES

RAHKILL (Westmeath) - Posts: 395 - 09/02/2013 18:08:56    1330992

Great game, well done to both teams - justice was done with that great late goal - as regards the aggrieved galway blogger - how did the ref keep louguile in it!!!!


what did people think of the incident in the first minute when Liam Watson got his hurley broke......

cuchulainn35 (Armagh) - Posts: 1691 - 09/02/2013 18:14:34    1330995

Great game

cuchulainn35 (Armagh) - Posts: 1691 - 09/02/2013 18:18:01    1331000

cuchullain35 - Look again at that 'incident' involving Liam Watson - it was a deliberate swipe back of the hurl which he broke across the helmet of the Thomas' player.

Ailteoir (Galway) - Posts: 921 - 09/02/2013 18:24:17    1331004

arock I know you wanted Loughgiel to win but win you state "a great great win" it is a bit much when it was a draw!! In fairness Thomas's were much the better hurling side and Loughgiel were awarded some very dubious free by the ref to keep them in it. I still think Thomas's can do it the next day but they need to be much more ruthless when on top like they were for most of this game. They also need to score goals as the Loughgiel goals were vital to them today. Bigger games also required from David Burke and Richie Murray the next day. Conor Cooney was MOTM and well deserved but Bernard Burke has some engine in him when in the groove - he scored 3 points from play in the second half but he could have scored 6 only for some sloppy wides.

tommy k (Galway) - Posts: 3470 - 09/02/2013 18:31:28    1331010

tommy k
County: Galway
Posts: 1149

You obviously can't hide your disappointment note my second corrected post....................

arock (Dublin) - Posts: 4956 - 09/02/2013 18:45:10    1331019

Ailteoir
County: Galway
Posts: 339

Umpires ruled out a perfectly good point for Loughgiel, the free at the end was for the keeper lying on the sliotar. Some silly stupid time wasting cost Thomas's a player. But a terrific goal from free to level things up Loughgiel deserved what they got out of this game as did Thomas's.

arock (Dublin) - Posts: 4956 - 09/02/2013 18:53:07    1331023

@arock - Yes, I thought the point you refer to that wasn't given was a clear score. Thomas' however were the better team and let several goal chances go begging. The 2nd yellow was farcical given the pull by Watson in the first few minutes that Kelly felt merited the same punishment.

Ailteoir (Galway) - Posts: 921 - 09/02/2013 19:06:26    1331030

Brilliant K/K, some result, winning by 6 points against the stars.

Would somebody please call on Thurlesblue as he has not been heard off for a long time !!!! I fear he may not be well.

Only saw the end of the second game and Shamrocks did well to come back at the end. Would swear that shot , waved wide , was over and in the lead-up to the peno the ball went under the keeper and rolled accross behing him, on the high ground, which I would have thought was well behind the line so the goal from the 20m free was only justice.
The time wasting messing cost St T's big time losing the man & the lead. The guy who rugby tackled and then kicked the ball away a minute earlier could also have gone, so maybe a lesson learned there, play your hurling and stretch ur lead and dont revert to mucking around.
Looking forward to the replay and to St Patrick's Day which should be another big day out for us Biffo's !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

KELF (Kildare) - Posts: 775 - 09/02/2013 19:11:11    1331033

Shamrocks really got out of jail today and are a bit fortunate to get a replay. You cannot fault the way they fought back but there is no doubt that Thomas' were the better side for most of the game. I think the intensity, physicality and hunger of the Galway men really caught Loughiel out and they were knocked out of their stride for much of the match. I would go as far to say that the Antrim Champions were bullied a bit on the pitch and they will probably realise that when they look back at the game; some of their players faded a bit after taking a few whacks. This level of hurling is intense and Antrim sides are just not used to the constant high intensity physical side and skill level at this grade especially if they haven't played at it for a while. St. Thomas' probably play at this speed and skill level in most of their League and Championship games and fair play to Shamrocks for not dropping the heads however they were played off the park at times. Antrim sides would need to play at this grade and level for a few years for the most of our clubs sides and the county team to get up to speed and grade required. As for the suggestion that the referee favoured Loughiel; what nonsense he gave Thomas' a few right handy frees throughout and probably could have shown second yellows to a few of their players who left the hurl in on more than a few occasions. Shamrocks now know what they are up against in the replay and will have to up their game 200% to have any chance; they actually are a better side than they showed.

Ulsterman (Antrim) - Posts: 9825 - 09/02/2013 21:08:56    1331114

Thought that Thomas's did not get much from the ref as there were clearly fouls on Thomas's players that were ignored particularly in the second half. I actually think Thomas's got complacent after going 4 points up - it happened to them in the Galway Club semifinal against Gort and final against Loughrea also and they nearly paid the price in those games. I still feel that if they can cut down the number of stupid frees / goals conceded and also the number of bad wides they had (at least 15 during the course of the game) that they have the more natural hurlers and should get over the line the next day. A drier pitch would also suit them.

tommy k (Galway) - Posts: 3470 - 09/02/2013 21:46:10    1331169