Loughgiel beat the Derry senior team by 7 points a couple of weeks back in a challenge. Should be an easy win for Kerry.

Offside_Rule (Antrim) - Posts: 4058 - 30/05/2015 17:52:36    1730300

oops, I meant MORE than a week to prepare for the final

Marlon_JD (Tipperary) - Posts: 1823 - 30/05/2015 17:57:21    1730301

Should really be played before an all Ireland semi final or something.
Instead the minors of Kilkenny or some other top tier county get their day in the sun

valley84 (Westmeath) - Posts: 1890 - 30/05/2015 18:03:57    1730304

valley84
County: Westmeath
Should really be played before an all Ireland semi final or something.
Instead the minors of Kilkenny or some other top tier county get their day in the sun

Whoever gets to the minor final have earned their place, its not reserved for anyone, its the two best teams who get there.

I used to think that the Ring/Rackard/Meaghar finals should be played before the AI semi's as well, but that mightn't be the reward we'd intend it to be. Isn't it really just relegating these finals to being curtain raisers? I think these finals deserve their own spotlight, having them as a support act kind of dimishes them. Maybe. I guess it depends on how the whole day is marketed.

Marlon_JD (Tipperary) - Posts: 1823 - 30/05/2015 19:09:08    1730319

Derry hurling results 2015:
5 February 2015, Round 1: Kerry 0-14 - 0-14 Derry
22 February 2015, Round 2: Derry 2-15 - 3-10 Westmeath
8 March 2015, Round 3: Carlow 1-15 - 1-13 Derry
1 March 2015, Round 4: Derry 1-10 - 1-9 London
22 March 2015, Round 5: Derry 1-08 - 0-12 Wicklow

Derry had a strong 2A campaign. A draw in Tralee. Beating Westmeath in the next game. Not far off Carlow. Beating London. I wouldn't have read anything into the Wicklow result when they had nothing to play for.

Derry's championship results 2015:
Round 1: 2 May 2015 Derry 0-13 - 0-11 Mayo
Round 2A: 16 May 2015 Derry 1-12 - 2-8 London
Semi-final: 30 May 2014 Derry 0-23 - 2-12 Down

Like Kerry, Derry have made the Christy Ring final unbeaten. It's going to be a tough game. Kerry and Derry were the highest placed league teams in the championship. They've both carried their respective league forms into the championship.

Last 6 Christy Ring Cup champions:
2009 Carlow
2010 Westmeath
2011 Kerry
2012 London
2013 Down
2014 Kildare

There have been 6 different champions in the last 6 years. Derry are well capable of putting their names on that list.

It's important for me that my county are well aware of the threat ahead of them.

Players of lower tier counties are not interested in the gimmick of being curtain raisers ahead of other matches. The guarantee of promotion for the winner should help the competion. There is not more open ended promotion. We have a top 14. The next best 8 are all battling to be a part of that top 14. Give it time to establish itself.

legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 7871 - 30/05/2015 19:25:03    1730325

if you were from a county outside the top tier you'd understand

valley84 (Westmeath) - Posts: 1890 - 30/05/2015 19:27:43    1730326

valley84
County: Westmeath
if you were from a county outside the top tier you'd understand

What don't I understand?

Marlon_JD (Tipperary) - Posts: 1823 - 30/05/2015 21:35:22    1730380

Playing the finals before a big senior hurling match seems patronising to me. Its not like a Kerry or Derry player will feel better because for the last 15 minutes of the final there would be a few thousand Tipp/Kilkenny fans taking their seats early for the AI semi final.

CastleBravo (Meath) - Posts: 1646 - 31/05/2015 13:51:17    1730461

Great to see the city boys on the team again. I have a feeling its our year (maybe not in the football ha ha)

DoireCityFC (Derry) - Posts: 1580 - 01/06/2015 10:20:14    1730743

An amazing performance from Kerry on Saturday, this side really is something special and they are a credit to all of us in the Kingdom who love the small ball and to the innumerable people who put their heart and sole into the game in the shadow of our brilliant heritage in football down through the years.

Its along road back to be a consistent competitor at Munster championship level, but at least we are on the road now.

Kerry need to transfer their form on days like Saturday into a performance on the big day. We let ourselves down badly in 2013 and 2014 by simply not playing to our potential. If we go out and play as well as we know we can next Saturday, I can't see anything but a Kerry win.

Its just a shame the replay of Galway/Dublin will probably take the limelight off these finals....

TheHermit (Kerry) - Posts: 6354 - 01/06/2015 10:43:24    1730759

The lower tiers are about Saturday hurling. The reward for Kerry or Derry is Sunday hurling. Traumatised by recent finals, I fear Derry are waiting dangerously in the long grass. I've no doubts at all about the threat they pose and they are well capable of winning on Saturday. C'mon the Kingdom!

legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 7871 - 01/06/2015 14:17:27    1730919

I'd like to wish the Derry hurlers the best of luck in the Ring final. It would be nice to see yet another new name go on the trophy, but as I'm sure you know, you will need to put in a special performance to defeat a fine Kerry team.

Suas Sios (None) - Posts: 1550 - 01/06/2015 14:38:34    1730938

Are kerry heavy fave for the final. Both teams unbeaten and when we met in the league it was a draw.

DoireCityFC (Derry) - Posts: 1580 - 01/06/2015 14:46:41    1730947

We are up for it. Some experience for players, families and supporters. Ciarraí will be hard to beat but sure Derry teams dont roll over. Simple as that

christy sting (Derry) - Posts: 262 - 01/06/2015 15:13:47    1730978

Good luck to the Derry Hurlers in Saturday's final! Flying the flag for Ulster Hurling. As well as Kerry looked against Kildare Saturday this is a final anything can happen.

saulgael (Down) - Posts: 553 - 01/06/2015 16:08:29    1731005

Is the ring final due to be on TV? Good luck to Derry in the final, be great if they can do it, also think they could win an ulster championship this year, decent side

the_watcher (Antrim) - Posts: 128 - 01/06/2015 16:35:55    1731023

TG4 are showing it & the Rackard final.

keeper7 (Longford) - Posts: 4088 - 01/06/2015 16:39:56    1731025

Arent TG4 showing the Meagher final as well? ...love to see how my neighbours up in Sligo get on, cant say it would worth watching though :)

mayo_hurler (Mayo) - Posts: 113 - 01/06/2015 16:45:23    1731029

All the best to the Oak Leaf county in the CRC Final. Ulster hurling could do with a shot in the arm right now! Was at the game Saturday in Owenbeg and to be honest the better team won. However they will have to raise their game to beat the Kingdom. One thing I've noticed Derry vs. Kerry are always close encounters and Derry always play well at Croke park. It will be a tight affair.

portavogielad (Down) - Posts: 446 - 01/06/2015 18:51:12    1731088

Doesn't look like the games are being shown on GAAGO, which is a pity. They had shown league games which were on TG4, not sure why they wouldn't show the finals on Saturday.

Marlon_JD (Tipperary) - Posts: 1823 - 01/06/2015 21:54:45    1731177