National Forum

Leinster hurling final

(Oldest Posts First)

Hopefully a good hurling championship kicks off from here. I think all the aces lay with Galway on this one. They will feel they HAVE TO prove a point after all that has happened. Conor Cooney being cleared to play is a huge addition. Kilkenny, in my humble opinion, are going further and further back. Hogan, such a crucial player for them, is very doubtful, and they are already missing another of their main forwards from last year's win. Should be fun! Thoughts?

MiAmigaVERONICA (Clare) - Posts: 299 - 30/06/2016 17:42:51    1874401

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Have to disagree with I'm afraid, as much as I'd love to see a Galway win and a cracking game, personally I'd have serious doubts over Galway , can't see Kilkenny struggling too much with this one, hope I'm wrong though

Bon (Kildare) - Posts: 1898 - 01/07/2016 10:36:04    1874556

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Have been listening to people say Kilkenny are in decline since since the start of 2006. They are as dominant as they have ever been in the history of this sport and even if they were deteriorate somewhat as a squad, theyd still probably be too good for everyone else.
They absolutely walked last years championship, no one got close to them.
Okay, Hogan is missing, so what? Theyll replace him with a player who would probably walk onto any other county team. They were decimated by retirements last year and if anything it merely opened the door to fresher hungrier players who took up the baton without any difficulty.
You say Galway will feel they have to prove a point? Not sure what your own point is tbh. Surely they felt they "had to" to win last years all Ireland but in the 2nd half when the chips were down the cats swatted them away like flies.
Kilkenny by at least 5, Hogan or no Hogan.

joncarter (Galway) - Posts: 2692 - 01/07/2016 10:52:59    1874562

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Replying To joncarter:  "Have been listening to people say Kilkenny are in decline since since the start of 2006. They are as dominant as they have ever been in the history of this sport and even if they were deteriorate somewhat as a squad, theyd still probably be too good for everyone else.
They absolutely walked last years championship, no one got close to them.
Okay, Hogan is missing, so what? Theyll replace him with a player who would probably walk onto any other county team. They were decimated by retirements last year and if anything it merely opened the door to fresher hungrier players who took up the baton without any difficulty.
You say Galway will feel they have to prove a point? Not sure what your own point is tbh. Surely they felt they "had to" to win last years all Ireland but in the 2nd half when the chips were down the cats swatted them away like flies.
Kilkenny by at least 5, Hogan or no Hogan."
Agree with your post
Just would add
Dublin need to prove a point
Cork need to prove a point
Clare really need to prove a point
Kilkenny slagged off as either finished or not as good as sides of old , guess what here we go they need to prove a point.
Just saying the cliché prove a point is totally pointless

Damothedub (Dublin) - Posts: 5193 - 01/07/2016 11:06:59    1874571

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Replying To joncarter:  "Have been listening to people say Kilkenny are in decline since since the start of 2006. They are as dominant as they have ever been in the history of this sport and even if they were deteriorate somewhat as a squad, theyd still probably be too good for everyone else.
They absolutely walked last years championship, no one got close to them.
Okay, Hogan is missing, so what? Theyll replace him with a player who would probably walk onto any other county team. They were decimated by retirements last year and if anything it merely opened the door to fresher hungrier players who took up the baton without any difficulty.
You say Galway will feel they have to prove a point? Not sure what your own point is tbh. Surely they felt they "had to" to win last years all Ireland but in the 2nd half when the chips were down the cats swatted them away like flies.
Kilkenny by at least 5, Hogan or no Hogan."
And that 'swatted them like flies' would have nothing to do with whatever went in the Galway dressing-room at half time? Kilkenny most certainly will need to find somebody new to step up to the task if they are to do the business this year. Kilkenny's win last year was more a case of hold your head when all about you is losing theirs. They are a pale shadow of the team of four or five years ago. Incidently, I think Tipp are best placed to take the All Ireland this year.

As regards the 'they had to win last year', their point is that things were just not right in the camp. Well, they have set themselves up now that for many of the senior members, the legacy of their entire inter-county hurling careers is being put on the line here. It is time to excrete or vacate the pot, and I just feel that circumstances have contrived to give them a lifeline to justify, for some observers, their actions of last year. My tuppence worth is on Galway, as it was in the All Ireland last year.

MiAmigaVERONICA (Clare) - Posts: 299 - 01/07/2016 11:28:38    1874583

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Maybe it had something to do with the half time trouble, but I still think the cats would have won anyway. They did after all beat us easily in the Leinster final last year too.

joncarter (Galway) - Posts: 2692 - 01/07/2016 11:41:06    1874596

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Why would half time trouble prevent Galway from winning last years All Ireland?Absolute rubbish.Even if players and management torw strips off each other that is no excuse for Galway failing so miserably in the second half.Kilkenny came out like men possessed and upped the stakes and Galway put in one of their worst 35 minute displays in a long time.

I'm heading in to game on Sunday.Lower Hogan Stand as usual and i feel Galway will be ravenous to dispell the second half All Ireland collapse.They know that a good 35 mins v Kilkenny is not going to suffice.I feel a big game coming up for the tribesmen.I think they will beat Kilkenny and lay down a marker.I hope they do too and will be shouting for them.

cuederocket (Dublin) - Posts: 5084 - 01/07/2016 12:40:41    1874637

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Galway are one of the few counties who Kilkenny are wary of. On their day they can destroy anyone. Then again, it doesn't happen often enough!

keeper7 (Longford) - Posts: 4088 - 01/07/2016 13:00:00    1874646

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Replying To MiAmigaVERONICA:  "And that 'swatted them like flies' would have nothing to do with whatever went in the Galway dressing-room at half time? Kilkenny most certainly will need to find somebody new to step up to the task if they are to do the business this year. Kilkenny's win last year was more a case of hold your head when all about you is losing theirs. They are a pale shadow of the team of four or five years ago. Incidently, I think Tipp are best placed to take the All Ireland this year.

As regards the 'they had to win last year', their point is that things were just not right in the camp. Well, they have set themselves up now that for many of the senior members, the legacy of their entire inter-county hurling careers is being put on the line here. It is time to excrete or vacate the pot, and I just feel that circumstances have contrived to give them a lifeline to justify, for some observers, their actions of last year. My tuppence worth is on Galway, as it was in the All Ireland last year."
I like your optimism but we've been hearing about dressing room rows in Galway for years. A dressing room row was supposed to be the reason why we lost the 1981 All Ireland --- Galway were cruising and seemingly in control up to half time in that game but fell to pieces in the second half when Offaly put the pressure on. Similar enough to last year actually. You can believe these rumours if you want to or believe the more likely and plausible explanation that they were beaten by a better team in the second half.

PoolSturgeon (Galway) - Posts: 1902 - 01/07/2016 13:53:55    1874668

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It will either be a nice entertaining fast match or a bad boring one sided match , killkenny are a much better team , but Galway can show that the can beat anyone if wanted , they have great players , I hope Galway can show up and make an upset , but killkenny do deserve their success . For some reason I'm going for a Galway win , don't know why . Good luck to both teams. I hope I'm watching a good match!

oakleafersir (Derry) - Posts: 808 - 01/07/2016 14:04:32    1874670

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I've a lot of respect for Galway's new coach,I honestly think he will get it done just not next Sunday.I feel Sunday comes a bit too early for the current Galway set up.Bear in mind both sides will still be in the championship next Monday and in it with a great chance too.
With that in mind I hope both sides go out and give it a lash and we get a great game.The championship needs one.

Barnowl94 (Galway) - Posts: 3150 - 01/07/2016 15:03:13    1874708

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I do not know what the problem with people reading basic text is here. Whether Kilkenny won last year's All Ireland on merit or the result of Galway underperforming in the second half was purely down to the dressing-room bust-up is not the issue. My point is that that row could not but have affected their performance as a team in the second half. Whether they were good or not anyway is now a mute point.

2015 is done and dusted but because of what both in that game and afterwards Galway have backed themselves into a corner. I mildly consider them to have a good chance (as good as they will get) to partially answer their critics on Sunday. It is my opinion that Kilkenny are going to crash badly this year, whether or not they win the Leinster championship. Only time will tell.

MiAmigaVERONICA (Clare) - Posts: 299 - 01/07/2016 15:09:17    1874712

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Replying To MiAmigaVERONICA:  "I do not know what the problem with people reading basic text is here. Whether Kilkenny won last year's All Ireland on merit or the result of Galway underperforming in the second half was purely down to the dressing-room bust-up is not the issue. My point is that that row could not but have affected their performance as a team in the second half. Whether they were good or not anyway is now a mute point.

2015 is done and dusted but because of what both in that game and afterwards Galway have backed themselves into a corner. I mildly consider them to have a good chance (as good as they will get) to partially answer their critics on Sunday. It is my opinion that Kilkenny are going to crash badly this year, whether or not they win the Leinster championship. Only time will tell."
Kilkenny may well crash badly this year, and suffer a major loss of form (although the odds on that happening have been trimmed since they casually dismissed the dubs), but even if they do theyll still probably win the thing.

joncarter (Galway) - Posts: 2692 - 02/07/2016 16:30:43    1875047

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Replying To joncarter:  "Kilkenny may well crash badly this year, and suffer a major loss of form (although the odds on that happening have been trimmed since they casually dismissed the dubs), but even if they do theyll still probably win the thing."
I agree. Off form, they are still the best.

bennybunny (Cork) - Posts: 3917 - 02/07/2016 17:18:09    1875067

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Replying To MiAmigaVERONICA:  "I do not know what the problem with people reading basic text is here. Whether Kilkenny won last year's All Ireland on merit or the result of Galway underperforming in the second half was purely down to the dressing-room bust-up is not the issue. My point is that that row could not but have affected their performance as a team in the second half. Whether they were good or not anyway is now a mute point.

2015 is done and dusted but because of what both in that game and afterwards Galway have backed themselves into a corner. I mildly consider them to have a good chance (as good as they will get) to partially answer their critics on Sunday. It is my opinion that Kilkenny are going to crash badly this year, whether or not they win the Leinster championship. Only time will tell."
Unless it's a financial crash post Brexit!

thelongridge (Offaly) - Posts: 1735 - 02/07/2016 17:28:24    1875071

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Not bad for a team who are only functional

northerncat (Kilkenny) - Posts: 30 - 03/07/2016 20:41:14    1875615

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MiAmigaVERONICA (Clare) - Posts:201 - 01/07/2016 11:28:38 1874583

My tuppence worth is on Galway, as it was in the All Ireland last year.


You must be running low on your twopences

Cockney_Cat (UK) - Posts: 2447 - 03/07/2016 21:11:15    1875635

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Replying To Cockney_Cat:  "MiAmigaVERONICA (Clare) - Posts:201 - 01/07/2016 11:28:38 1874583

My tuppence worth is on Galway, as it was in the All Ireland last year.


You must be running low on your twopences"
Well done today!

MiAmigaVERONICA (Clare) - Posts: 299 - 03/07/2016 21:39:47    1875670

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