20/05/2015 11:42:31 legendzxix County: Kerry

It's only the first round. The fair weather brigade won't get going until the Munster final.

Sad but true im afraid

janesboro (Limerick) - Posts: 1502 - 20/05/2015 13:18:27    1726045

When was the last time the Munster winners won the McCarthy Cup? 2005 I believe. Tipp and Clare have won in the mean time after being hammered in Munster though.
Face it lads the end of the provincial championships is coming soon.

Condorman (Dublin) - Posts: 983 - 20/05/2015 14:45:30    1726099

Candorman you are correct this was discussed last year some time also with the Munster winners lack of ability to win the AI after being Munster Champions.

You cant beat Munster Championship hurling but sadly once it enters Croke Park for some reason they fade even when not playing Kilkenny so we cant use that as an excuse.

I believe since 2000 only Tipp in 2001 and Cork in 2005 have actually gone all the way.Pretty fuppin dyer.

Personally I'd like to keep the Provincial Championships but keeping with the topic here it has been a pretty low key build up both camps are keeping quite.
A lot at stake here for both sides Clare & Limerick really need to prove they are not one hit wonders and I must point out that talented pool of hurlers in both camps will be making of a great game.

Hopefully the game wont be as quite as the build up and we see a heated battle on Sunday to wet the appetite for the season. I for one am looking forward to it more so cos the winners face Tipp.

WildPundit (Tipperary) - Posts: 1709 - 20/05/2015 15:27:20    1726125

Barnowl94 I know a few of the limerick players from my club and trust me, this is win at all costs! Limerick clare is huge and they will be desperate not to lose to lads from across the river they've held rivalries with since school days! and for limerick a prize of two home matches for a second munster championship in 3 years after 16 barron years is massive! Clare also haven't won in munster for 17 years.

With all do respect, your not from munster so I don't think you understand.

Also, expect a big crowd, everyone from limerick anyway seems to be going!

blackspot91 (Limerick) - Posts: 1055 - 20/05/2015 16:07:24    1726148

Absolutely blackspot.I know the significance of this game.I would be very surprised if we dont get a sizeable crowd.Hopefully the weather is nice.Really looking forward to this game.

cuederocket (Dublin) - Posts: 5084 - 20/05/2015 16:19:40    1726158

A Munster title would be massive for Davy Fitz, I believe. After last year, Clare won't want to go the scenic route!

keeper7 (Longford) - Posts: 4088 - 20/05/2015 16:38:28    1726163

Granted Blackspot, I'm not from Munster but I work with lads from every hurling county and know all about the rivalries.I know every player will be trying his damnedest the next day and that both sides will be going all out for the win.
The safety net is there though and that makes defeat a little more palatable and victory a little less sweet.I've been going to Munster matches a long time and I am certain that the introduction of the backdoor has diluted the MHC just a bit.

Barnowl94 (Galway) - Posts: 3150 - 20/05/2015 18:15:01    1726217

cuederocket
County: Dublin
Posts: 2084

1725973
Id be disappointed with a crowd of under 25000 0n Sunday.Id be hoping for 30000+.

id be very surprised if you get near 30 thousand never mind over it.
there was 16 thousand at waterford v cork at this stage last year
and 25 thousand for tipp v limerick in thurles last year at semi final stage
15-20 thousand would be the likely attendance id say.
such a shame the double header in gaelic grounds would have brought your 30 thousand id reckon.
also munster are playing in thomond park in semi final on saturday and only 12 thousand tickets have been sold for it apparently.

hill16no1man (Dublin) - Posts: 12665 - 20/05/2015 18:38:50    1726227

clonjon
County: Dublin
Posts: 523

1725985
Its simply wrong blaming the Munster council for not having a double header in Thurles . The simple fact is that Clare footballers are due home advantage in Ennis and they are not going to throw that advantage away, and who could blame them.

if they cant beat limerick in the gaelic grounds which is as much a home ground to clare as limerick
then they havent a hope of going to pairc ui rinn where the winners will play cork
surely if you bought into home advntage that much then they would be using playing limerick away
as perfect preperation for playing cork away

hill16no1man (Dublin) - Posts: 12665 - 20/05/2015 18:41:30    1726230

Your probably right, it may not be what it was in the nineties etc. but it's still a match many people, including the teams, have been looking forward to since the draw was made..

blackspot91 (Limerick) - Posts: 1055 - 20/05/2015 18:48:15    1726232

Hill,25000 minimum.Wait and see pal.Never mind last years Cork v Waterford game.Those 2 teams have played each other so much over recent years.This Sunday will see a big crowd.Ive no concerns at all about that.

cuederocket (Dublin) - Posts: 5084 - 20/05/2015 19:41:26    1726253

Under a new rule teams must be with the press on Thursday morning. Will be interesting to see if this is implemented? Hope it is as the likes of Davy totally abused the whole team announcement thing.

westisthebest (Galway) - Posts: 444 - 20/05/2015 20:22:19    1726261

clare wont want to go scenic route?why?it wouldnt be a disaster!! to get to all ire semi final from now u gotta beat limerick tipp and cork or waterford.if they lose they will prob have to beat the likes of(2 OF) laoise antrim offaly and maybe wexford to get to the same spot.ger loughnane said it a few years ago.championship hurling doesnt start till august...he was right/i predict 17/18000 sunday.people in clare are angry its not a double header in limerick..

kavvie (Clare) - Posts: 505 - 20/05/2015 20:29:00    1726263

totally agree westisthebest, davy is a joke when it comes to naming teams! anyway, from what I hear the limerick team will be..

hennessy
walsh mccarthy hickey
condon o mahoney s o'brien
j. ryan p o'brien
dodge hannon brown
lynch dowling mulcahy

limerick has there fair share of injuries too with wayne mac, quaid, downes, breen, allis aswell as dodge and hickey just about making it and probably aren't 100%

blackspot91 (Limerick) - Posts: 1055 - 20/05/2015 20:37:37    1726268

Surprising how low key this game is alright - The reality is the looser of this game has the same chance of winning the All-Ireland as the winner so these type of fixtures are loosing their appeal.

I fancy Limerick to win - they have a good Munster Championship record over the past number of years unlike Clare. Clare will be around later in the Championship and both side could easily meet again in a game which will warrant far more attention

Ban (Westmeath) - Posts: 1415 - 21/05/2015 11:18:27    1726388

I fancy Clare to win and maybe even win with a bit to spare.But both counties will still be in with a good shout this time next week.

Barnowl94 (Galway) - Posts: 3150 - 21/05/2015 11:25:33    1726395

Fair point Ban

There are a few cases of teams meeting with different results in the same championship year

Kilkenny/Offaly 1998
Kilkeny Galway 2012
Clare/Cork 2013

slayer (Limerick) - Posts: 6480 - 21/05/2015 11:27:18    1726399

The Gaa is very strange the way everyone in it manages to trivialise the competitions. In the past the league, railway cup oireachtas were all important competitions that everyone wanted to win. They are all now completely trivialized, and the same is starting with the championship pre quarterfinal stage. At this rate and reckoning, there are only four or five important matches in either code in the whole year. And when you factor in that half of those matches (quarter/semi/final) are rubbish, where does that leave us? Its not just the GAA/media either, a lot of the players and supporters act the same

flack (Dublin) - Posts: 1054 - 21/05/2015 11:41:22    1726408

I see Clare have 5 starters ruled out with the likes of Bugler suspended and Conor McGrath unfit to play so I feel Limerick have a chance in this one. However if Clare can get through this one they will be hard to beat especially for Munster. They certainly have been low key in their build up to this game but all the same it should be an interesting encounter.

KY4SAM2015 (Kerry) - Posts: 898 - 21/05/2015 11:51:58    1726415

I'm sure Limerick want to win this one considering they would have home advantage for the remainder of the games. If limerick win they have an excellent chance of winning Munster.

the_post (USA) - Posts: 185 - 21/05/2015 12:08:02    1726432