It will just be more excuses from Antrim; they will need someone to blame for this except themselves. I know my county quite well.

Ulsterman (Antrim) - Posts: 9706 - 29/06/2014 17:47:58    1610854

Tearintohim and Doyler-what was i saying bout easy cash?So predictable.

cuederocket (Dublin) - Posts: 5084 - 29/06/2014 18:07:04    1610873

Antrim were under a lot of pressure too to win that game. With Offaly getting a hiding and Antrim beating them earlier in the year the favorites tag was firmly in Antrim's court.
Pity they couldnt see it out but really Offaly spurned quite a few goal chances and the Antrim keeper had a fine game.
Un-lucky to Laois too but they have had a fine season. They will get their chance to put one over Waterford in the NHL of 2015. I feel if Laois had home advantage this one would have been closer.

2 cracking games to look forward to on Saturday. Expecting Clare and Galway to come through.
Tipp lads to be on the beer again Saturday night in Thurles afterwards drowning sorrows.
Can see Galway winning this one handy enough with a bit to spare.Been impressed with them this year since the Dublin game and I dont think Galway are ready to exit the Championship just yet. Their forward line are going to cause Tipp backs awful amounts of trouble.

WildPundit (Tipperary) - Posts: 1709 - 30/06/2014 12:13:19    1611432

Tipperary will beat Galway.

Hoover78 (Limerick) - Posts: 865 - 30/06/2014 12:28:01    1611450

Playing the All Ireland Club finals in the calender will be of great benefit to Antrim.- as they will be able to start off their league campaign with all their players available. Kevin Ryan now has players who are fully committed to Antrim and I know their panel will be even stronger next year - for the first time this team can play for the full 70 minutes of intense level hurling.
The brand of hurling Antrim played yesterday was a delight to watch - Offaly know they stole the game yesterday but the Antrim people like Offaly and always have so all Antrim people will be hoping that Offaly can do themselves justice in the next round of the qualifiers .
As for the referee yesterday he knows that he made a mistake with that injury time free yes he knows it but Antrim have matured and they will drive on from this on reflection they know that in Ballycastle this year their biggest defeat was by 3 points to Cork, 2 by Offaly and 1 by Wexford.The big southern guns are now finding it difficult to whip the men over looking the Scottish coast.

Isolatedantrim (Antrim) - Posts: 31 - 30/06/2014 18:20:02    1611747

Think Id go with Clare and Tipp wins.

disillusiondfan (Limerick) - Posts: 4279 - 30/06/2014 19:15:50    1611772

On what grounds will Tipp beat Galway Hoover78?

I reluctantly agree with you too. I'm just curious. It's the biggest game of the qualifiers so lets get some debate on the topic.

crossfieldball (Galway) - Posts: 650 - 30/06/2014 19:22:00    1611775

Looking at antrims starting 15 only the corner back and goalkeeper who i hear is loughgiels sub keeper are from Loughgeil shamrocks one of the best club teams around at the minute surely the likes of that brendan mccarry and eddie mccloskey would and should make that team?? Any antrim gaels know whats going on most countys would be backboned by the county champs especially the likes of antrim who wouldnt have huge numbers of clubs??

Colinog (UK) - Posts: 39 - 30/06/2014 19:33:26    1611787

I think Tipperary are underrated crossfield, i think they have some very good players and i think maybe they are due to click and if Galway are not in their faces from the throw in i think Tipp will win. Home adv is a huge bonus for Tipperary. I think the comeback vs Kilkenny was a bit of a freak happening. I really like Galway but i think they had a great chance last Saturday but they did not take it. It may be tougher to get up for it in Thurles, a ground Galway don't do too well in historically. Best of luck though.

Hoover78 (Limerick) - Posts: 865 - 30/06/2014 20:08:25    1611808

I think so too. I don't know what people are jumping on their back for.

Last year year they were beaten in a highly competitive game v Limerick in Limerick. They had the ultimate test v KK in Nowlan Park too follow.This year they were very unlucky not to win the league and again narrowly lost out to current Munster champions Llmerick, which their is no shame in.

I think home advantage will be a big advantage to them but on the other hand I would expect Galway to be somewhat heated up and battle hardened. I would worry about fatigue however as the warm weather and physical nature of the games will have taken its toll on Galway.

crossfieldball (Galway) - Posts: 650 - 02/07/2014 11:23:34    1612516

My fear will be Galway's intensity, if they match Tipp ye have a great chance. I will always support Galway if Limerick are gone, there is a great relationship between both counties, maybe because ye always beat us!!! Anyway as stated i would always like to see Galway do well and delighted to see ye have the makings of an excellent foot all team at the moment.

Hoover78 (Limerick) - Posts: 865 - 02/07/2014 11:31:44    1612524

So given that all hope and suggestion of a Wexford win is being dismissed by Clare supporters as being cocky arrogant and talking Wexford, I think Wexford will be beaten by 30 points and I will be in Limerick by half-time.

Pinkie (Wexford) - Posts: 4100 - 02/07/2014 12:04:23    1612552

I'll be very annoyed and disappointed coming out of Thurles and Saturday evening if Galway have a dead performance. Whatever about the result I want to see heart and fire and a real intensity. Last year v Clare Galway were a flop and didn't appear to show any appetite for battle.

crossfieldball (Galway) - Posts: 650 - 02/07/2014 12:19:56    1612567

i'd give Wexford a fighting chance. However they will need to sharpen up in defence and not allow the Clare forwards space which they make look so easy at times. Also with the Clare forwards well able to rack up long range points and Ryan's free taking accuracy Wexford cannot afford to be giving away fouls. If Clare win by more than 6 points I'd be very surprised. Think Wexford can put it up to them and keep it tight.

However historically Clare seem to have the better of Wexford in recent AI series games and I remember them handing out a hiding one year to them in Croker.

WildPundit (Tipperary) - Posts: 1709 - 02/07/2014 12:46:28    1612592

Pinkie i would love to see ye beat Clare but i think ye are a few years away from it. Thought ye were a wee bit wasteful vs Dublin. I hope ye give them loads of it and it would be great to see ye win.

Hoover78 (Limerick) - Posts: 865 - 02/07/2014 12:50:26    1612597

Is it an open draw for the next phase after the wk ends games, or do last weeks winners draw against this weeks winners?

GerMan (Limerick) - Posts: 38 - 03/07/2014 09:45:10    1612988

I would believe that last weeks winners cannot meet in the next round. They will have to play the two winners of this weekend games.

WildPundit (Tipperary) - Posts: 1709 - 03/07/2014 10:46:35    1613027

Wexford are making great strides and are becoming a force again but they need a high profile victory to really get them back up there. Moral Victories are no good at the end of the day. However its a big ask for them to beat Clare this weekend, Clare by 5pts.

222 (UK) - Posts: 695 - 03/07/2014 13:19:23    1613130

so it's the business end now and some are facing the end of the summer.

predictions for the weekend?i'm going to go with Tipperary and (now maybe it's wishful thinking) i am going to go with my beloved yellowbellies to provide the shock of the championship so far.

perfect10 (Wexford) - Posts: 3929 - 04/07/2014 12:10:06    1613623

Clare team v Wexford

1. Patrick Kelly
2. Cian Dillon
3. David McInerney
4. Jack Browne
5. Brendan Bugler
6. Conor Ryan
7. Pat O'Connor
8. Colm Galvin
9. Pat Donnellan
10. John Conlon
11. Tony Kelly
12. Colin Ryan
13. Podge Collins
14. Conor McGrath
15. Cathal McInerney

LohansRedHelmet (Clare) - Posts: 2492 - 05/07/2014 08:23:42    1613993