Very interesting match up today with both teams adopting similar styles. Cant wait to see how it pans out. Think Clare will sneak it as I believe they have better goal getters. Hope we arent talking about any controversy at the games end and the ref lets it flow. Hon the Banner

LohansRedHelmet (Clare) - Posts: 2479 - 01/05/2016 12:18:35    1851090

Yeah definitely has the makings of a cracker

Bon (Kildare) - Posts: 1909 - 01/05/2016 13:33:04    1851102

Poor first half. Hopefully the second half will open up & the hurling will flow.

keeper7 (Longford) - Posts: 4088 - 01/05/2016 16:19:33    1851137

Jesus Waterford your long range shooting is shocking today can you not mix it up?

clondalkindub (Dublin) - Posts: 9926 - 01/05/2016 16:30:10    1851139

An dire game of hurling really dreadful. If this is the future good luck to it, crowding, pulling, dragging, hacking, chopping, pushing jaysus it is awful. And why is there no hawk eye? Bizarre. So we should all be trully excited at the prospect of extra time!

arock (Dublin) - Posts: 4896 - 01/05/2016 17:01:12    1851145

Absolute rubbish from both teams. Cagey, defensive, poor shooting. Seems like both teams are worried about showing their hand too early in the year. It's a shame because both teams were superb to watch in their respective semi-finals.

ZeitChrist (UK) - Posts: 154 - 01/05/2016 17:11:31    1851149

Level at half-time in extra time. We could be heading for a replay, which is the last thing anyone wants.

Gaillimh_Abu (Galway) - Posts: 996 - 01/05/2016 17:28:55    1851153

Finally some hurling broke out. Extra time was more entertaining than anything that happened in normal time.

ZeitChrist (UK) - Posts: 154 - 01/05/2016 17:48:11    1851157

Crap game! Neither coach seemed to trust the players to out hurl the opposition. Soft free gave Waterford a draw! GAA refs have it instilled in them to get a draw at all costs. Can't complain though neither team deserved to win and I am sure if Clare were a point down he would have given us a soft free too.

LohansRedHelmet (Clare) - Posts: 2479 - 01/05/2016 17:49:04    1851158

Dramatic stuff in the finish!

keeper7 (Longford) - Posts: 4088 - 01/05/2016 17:52:04    1851160

Nothing like a tight game of hurling but it was funny neither team when they got a few points ahead pushed on. And to think we have to watch these teams twice more before the summer is out!! Let's hope for a better game next day out!!

WildPundit (Tipperary) - Posts: 1709 - 01/05/2016 18:12:56    1851168

Very poor game until last 10/15 minutes of extra time. Waterford will need to sort out the free taking for June when I'd imagine Maurice Shanahan will be back taking them . Soft free for Waterford to draw but thought the free at end of normal time for Clare was way worse think he hit the deck looking for it and Gavin gave it after not knowing if the Tony Kelly shot was a wide or a score. Waterford badly need Mahony back but he must still be way off since he was only given 3 minutes today. I think Clare have more then Waterford with Conlan McInerney a fit O Donnell and both Colin and Conor Ryan to come back . They game time will also do Tony Kelly the world of good .

dubshurling7 (Dublin) - Posts: 1017 - 01/05/2016 19:23:43    1851182

Atrocious game of hurling if this is the way hurling is going to be played the stadiums will be empty around the country nobody will pay to look at that rubbish

northerncat (Kilkenny) - Posts: 30 - 01/05/2016 19:36:08    1851187

Northern Cat, the ironic thing about your post is that at the league semi-finals (were you there?) it was noticeable that Waterford, Clare and Limerick all had a decent amount of support there, but not so your own county. Waiting for the sun to come out perhaps?

1914 (Clare) - Posts: 92 - 02/05/2016 11:11:33    1851244

Terrible game till extra time.Davy Fitz and Derek McGrath should sit down and have a think about what they are doing to the great old game of hurling! Ruining it in my opinion.
I would love to see both times lining out 15 V 15 and playing hurling to try and win the trophy not trying to 'out tactic' one another.
After yesterday I also assume that there are special police on the sidelines waiting to arrest any player who pulls first time on a ground ball.

Barnowl94 (Galway) - Posts: 3150 - 02/05/2016 14:29:04    1851329

Yes I was in semple stadium for the semi finals I do realise Waterford clare and limerick had plenty of support there a lot more than kilkenny my point is the brand of hurling played yesterday will completely turn people off ,regardless were your from at least kilkenny and tipp will give you a game worth watching and both clare and Waterford should be able to produce better but it's davy donal og and mcgrath who are to blame afraid to let the players at it after watching yesterday no one will be afraid of the come championship

northerncat (Kilkenny) - Posts: 30 - 02/05/2016 17:14:30    1851391

Why will it turn them off? Cork introduced a short passing game 10 years ago, my bet here is that when either of these teams meet a full strength Kilkenny it will be god help them because Kilkenny will push an extra man in on them and go for the jugular. Both will then need to go man for man and are in trouble unless they do like Waterford last year v Kilkenny and settle for a damage limitation exercise.
Also one thing I felt on Sunday was the amount of bad wides, both from long range and a lot closer in, was the worst I had seen for a long time (and I follow the Wexford hurlers around the place!!). Now maybe there was a wind, etc, I dont know.
But to be fair to both sides, in spite of the above, I felt the last 20 minutes and the extra time was compelling viewing and well done to them all.
But overall, in my view, if they are to beat a full strength Kilkenny, they will need to go man for man. But who am I to tell Davy Fitz or Derek McGrath that!

Pinkie (Wexford) - Posts: 4100 - 03/05/2016 08:57:55    1851470

Pinkie,

"if they are to beat a full strength Kilkenny, they will need to go man for man."

Is that not what they're trying to avoid?!?!

keeper7 (Longford) - Posts: 4088 - 03/05/2016 10:59:22    1851531

That was the most awful dire diabolical game of hurling I can remember.
If these 2 counties continue to go with these tactics I hope the likes of Kilkenny win it year in year out.

Those same Clare players showed the scintillating skills they possess in 2013 and also for their 3/4 u21 all irelands.
What was produced the last day was just sick

woops (Kerry) - Posts: 2073 - 03/05/2016 13:35:07    1851603

Buzzing now that last week was a draw and we have these two teams going at it again in beautiful weather today can't wait now. Gaa is so much better when it's played on a beautiful day.

clondalkindub (Dublin) - Posts: 9926 - 08/05/2016 14:55:33    1852988