The Hurling Thread

[Coogee]

If me nan had wheels she would’ve been a bike blah blah blah, they were lucky to be within touching distance coming in to the last 10 mins.

I don't know about that. For all corks dominance early in the second half Limerick were 2 poor wides away from levelling the game. In fact limerick had some woeful wides throughout the game whereas every shot cork took went over. That happens. Gillane was harshly blown for a few frees too (yes Cork do get some dodgy referee calls too) Cork were the better side on the day but nothing between the teams as the 2 games showed this year.

 

[Coogee]

whats the starting forwards v Cork with O Brien in it

Kiely has to make changes to that team but will he make the cuts necessary.
Byrnes and Hannon were in trouble against cork
Moving Hayes to 6 might actually reduce his influence as his biggest asset is that power going forward.
Thats not an option at 6

They have no backs ready to push on. Coughlan is caught for pace badly. Fergal O Connor is very good but hes not getting ahead of finn or casey.

The all ireland in 23 was won because hannon got injured.
Maybe its time for donoghue to go back 6 full time.

The elephant in the room is Cian Lynchs fitness .
Kiely needs to get a grip on him

They have the players to win another few but Kiely has to get English and O Brien into the starting team and that wont be easy especially since O Brien is a brutal shooter.
He murdered conor leen in the munster league back in the spring but hit about 6 wides in the first half

You could put him at 4 and move Nash to 7 with Hayes at 6

Two of the better players from this years u-20 side at Cian Scully and Ethan Hurley and they are both wing back/centre backs so could push on next year and overtake Coughlan

 

[Twiceasnice97]

You could put him at 4 and move Nash to 7 with Hayes at 6

Two of the better players from this years u-20 side at Cian Scully and Ethan Hurley and they are both wing back/centre backs so could push on next year and overtake Coughlan

O Connor is small. That caused limerick serious problems dealing with Brian Hayes because they are so rigid in their positioning and didn't move Morrissey out on to him until the damage was done. Nash is vital for the full back line until a player with similar physical size comes along

do you think those younger players are ready for senior. The under 20 full back has a better chance if he gets time in the half back line i feel

ps dont forget the forwards with O brien in it

 

[North Cork]

I don't know about that. For all corks dominance early in the second half Limerick were 2 poor wides away from levelling the game. In fact limerick had some woeful wides throughout the game whereas every shot cork took went over. That happens. Gillane was harshly blown for a few frees too (yes Cork do get some dodgy referee calls too) Cork were the better side on the day but nothing between the teams as the 2 games showed this year.

But, Cork did have a good goal disallowed and the incorrect call against Ethan Twomey for a throw which gave Limerick a point.

Every game will have incorrect calls but those two directly cost Cork four points.
Limerick did miss a lot of scores but they have been playing that way for years, it is only in tight games that it costs them.
Limerick take on a huge number of scores from the half backs and midfield and it has worked for them previously.

 

[iluvhurling]

Limerick were even more massive favourites to win in 2024.

Thanks be to God our game is so unpredictable. Long may it last.
Having said that, my € is on The Jolly Green Giants in 2025.

 

[knockfiarna]

Wouldn't expect a huge shakeup in personnel, although on the go a fair few years ,7 All Ireland semifinals and 5 munsters in a row. 5 out of 7 all Irelands is phenomenal consistency for this group of players .
Will be very interesting to see what new dimension is added to our play, maybe more emphasis on goal scoring who knows but I'd expect limerick to be in the mix again in 25.

 

[Coogee]

O Connor is small. That caused limerick serious problems dealing with Brian Hayes because they are so rigid in their positioning and didn't move Morrissey out on to him until the damage was done. Nash is vital for the full back line until a player with similar physical size comes along

do you think those younger players are ready for senior. The under 20 full back has a better chance if he gets time in the half back line i feel

ps dont forget the forwards with O brien in it

Being honest I don't know a lot about those younger players. I'm relying on my auld fella who goes to alot of the minor and u-20 games and he rates both those guys highly.

O brien is an exciting prospect alright but probably needs to work on his accuracy as he doesn't seem to have pace

 

[Coogee]

But, Cork did have a good goal disallowed and the incorrect call against Ethan Twomey for a throw which gave Limerick a point.

Every game will have incorrect calls but those two directly cost Cork four points.
Limerick did miss a lot of scores but they have been playing that way for years, it is only in tight games that it costs them.
Limerick take on a huge number of scores from the half backs and midfield and it has worked for them previously.

the shooting from all angles this year especially was frustrating and while it didn't matter in the end on the Waterford game it came back to haunt us against Cork.

The referee calls are the same for all teams. GAA need to seriously look at two referee's on the field.

 

[Ah ref]

Evening all

Interesting reading the last few pages. As a Limerick supporter living in cork I hope we climb the steps of the hogan at least once more with this group. Very hard to know where the hurling landscape is as we head into 2024
Clare were under frankly massive pressure from their own last year. Needing to win something from such a good bunch. Fair play to them. I couldn’t begrudge their supporters after some bad finals and a team that had a lot of narrow final defeats. Next season will be pressure off. Can they flourish?? or is this season the perfect one for them. Getting an opponent that suited the far better in the final and getting every last ounce of effort out of some aging but talented guys like Kelly SOD and Conlon

I personally find it harder to work out the trajectory of this cork team. Good team but then all the most knowledgeable Limerick supporters were saying that in Dublin last year after such a scare in the round robin. Unplayable if cork hit red hot….. but that doesn’t happen often. Round robin average v Deise in a must win. Good first half v Clare. Poor second half ….One half v Limerick (with a lesser discussed very poor second half in puc). Red hot v a beaten docket in tipp but tipp were so dogshit v Limerick also it’s hard to rate that performance. Offaly who cares. Dogged it out v Dublin given the bug in the camp. Phenomenal for say 55 of the 80 odd minutes in the semifinal. But Jesus I’ve watched it back and the wides a beaten Limerick had in end make we want tho throw the dog through the telly.
Vv Good start v Clare in final. Awful second quarter (lost the game here in my opinion). Battling second half but If David Fitzgerald realised that hitting the ball over the black spot is a score it wouldn’t have been close.
There’s a good team there. Personally I’d have mellerick or Conor o Callaghan in the back 6, Coleman at 8 and darragh Fitz at hf.
Losing finalists have a poor record historically. Need to start the season well.

Kilkenny were fecking awful. Worried all season if they were heavy at S N C early on but that second half v Clare is as poor a performance as I’ve ever seen from the cats. Like them or loath them with Leinster so rubbish I can’t see them not back at semifinal stage next year to play whatever punch drunk Munster team emerges from the dogfight.


Limerick analysis in next post

 

[Ah ref]

Limerick are in an interesting conundrum. There’s definitely enough good players to get one more title but it all depends on the energy levels
There no doubt they felt the pressure of the “drive for 5” and while I think we’d have probably beaten Clare I reckon if we’d have played cork 3 more times it’s likely cork would win at least 2 unless we sorted some technical/teamsheet issues.
Have seen the hannon /Byrnes question being asked elsewhere. The truth is both had two very poor days v cork…in a season when both had excellent days out. Hannon in particular seems to be retired by all and Sundry. He was exceptional v Waterford and v Clare in Munster final. Certainly the opponents cork put on them stretch the weaknesses in their game more than most. Would Honestly wonder how much of the loss of DOD covering is being felt there. None of the others offer the protection he provides. Especially when you see how much cork struggled when Malone totally shut down darragh fitz.
How much of an impact has Limericks hb line playing zonal defence v cork ….and getting roasted versus Clare going man for man. Crikey even the impact of a ref stopping the quick long puck out from cork. That’s something everyone will go after.

It’s possible wod goes to 6 or CON. Or even Nash. personally thought conlon was cooked at 6 a year ago and he’ll be ducking it out with Downey now for an All star. Stranger things happen than dec getting his mojo back.
Finn and Casey had longstanding hamstring issues this season …. Not ideal for a cornerback when everyone outfield is struggling for pace with their opponents. (Says the old dirty cornerback)
Fergal o Connor looks a nice player but will need to add little bulk…he’s still young.

I think adam English is ready to start at midfield or half forward. I think lynch is fine/superlative at 11 but I totally agree his injuries mean his mobility at midfield leave him defensively vulnerable.

Could easily see Aidan o Connor start some games. Shane o brien as others have mentioned is a great player but needs work on accuracy. No reason that won’t come with time.
Wouldn’t be surprised to see Jimmy quilty getting more minutes

Whether the group is exhausted or just needs a refresh …. I’m hopeful there’s not massive surgery needed. Frankly the hurling landscape is good but not terrifying. … theres a genuine challenge to work out how to counteract corks pace etc.