Surprised theres no thread on these games yet.
Same pairings as last year so I suppose you could say the 4 best teams in the country are in the semis.
Kilkenny V Waterford first up next Sunday.What do ye think?
Have Waterford a chance? Will they change their system especially after the major malfunction against Tipp?Or will KK just slowly grind it out as they did last year?
Tipp V Galway on Aug.14th.
Will it be a repeat of the 'game of the year' we got last year? Will Seamie Callanan go to town again?
Or will it be much more defensive and cagey game this time round?
At the moment I'm confident that Kilkenny will be in the final but I honestly haven't a clue who they will be facing on the first Sunday in September.

Condorman (Dublin) - Posts: 983 - 03/08/2016 12:41:33    1894676

If tipperary beat waterford by 6 goals, I think kk will have to much as they are better then tip. If kk dismantly de burca as tipp did with M Breen, kk will cruise home. Mc grath wont change current system at this stage, the system is flawed and wont win an AI for waterford.

Tipp to beat galway, callanan only played last year for tipp, i expect a better performance from tipp all round, They are becoming more like the kilkenny model all the time, although half forward line is still an issue

222 (UK) - Posts: 693 - 03/08/2016 13:12:13    1894717

Kilkenny will blow them away, Waterford will need goals and they wont get them with there system and they cant just change system now and expect it to work

Now the other game should be very interesting. Impossible to call

Brianmac78 (Dublin) - Posts: 1168 - 03/08/2016 13:24:06    1894726

clonjon (Dublin) - Posts: 665 - 03/08/2016 13:37:04    1894736

Waterford have to have a cut. They've known for the past 12 months that this day was coming. I'd love to see them do it. People talk about their systems failure in the Munster final but they were totally flat on the day & Tipp were awesome. Galway V Tipp will be some game.

keeper7 (Longford) - Posts: 4088 - 03/08/2016 13:42:27    1894740

I'm not sure KK have the ammunition to blow Waterford away as they don't have as big of a goal threat as in past times and Waterford won't let a repeat of the Munster final happen.
The worry from a Waerford point of view is, will they be more conscious than ever now to keep the score down and nullify the opposition.
Personally I think KK will win reasonably comfortably but not the mother of all hammerings.
KK by 6.

On current form Tipp are obvious favourites for the other match but it's not that simple. Neither Callinan or O'Dwyer have been firing as well as last year or anywhere near as close. But the majority of the rest have upped their game. Galway struggled last year to create goal chances against Tipp and the Tipp full back line has improved further and the Galway full forward line hasn't been as impressive. But, Galway will raise their game no question and still have loads of talent there to beat Tipp. They haven't had anything that looks like a settled team yet this year though. From a bias point of view I'll go for...
Tipp by 3-4.

If the above happens again then for all the hype of a competitive championship, it'll be a disaster really. There'll be a lot of doom and gloom for all the other counties but it remains to be seen. Without blowing by own trumpet I've predicted all the results right so far but I did predict a Tipp Waterford final at the start of the year but don't see that now.

tiobraid (Tipperary) - Posts: 4119 - 03/08/2016 14:27:06    1894794

Whatever the results the championship could do with 2 epic semi finals.
The only way that will happen is if Waterford throw off the shackles and go for it next Sunday.
I hope they do but I can't see it happening.
I'll hold fire on Galway/ Tipp till next week.

Barnowl94 (Galway) - Posts: 3150 - 03/08/2016 14:30:54    1894796

tiobraid (Tipperary) - Posts: 4119 - 03/08/2016 16:29:02    1894914

Condorman (Dublin) - Posts: 983 - 03/08/2016 18:13:07    1894975

Some great posts here lads.

I think Kilkenny, Galway and Tipp are all better than they were this time last year. But I'm afraid Waterford seemed to have stagnated.

If Waterford persist with a one man full forward line then it will be an armchair ride for Kilkenny assuming Waterford don't reduced the amount of long range wides they hit in every game. The optimist in me says Waterford will change it up in some way and at least give Kilkenny a fright. The pessimist says Kilkenny will ruthlessly take them apart.

I definitely think Galway are better than last year but they couldn't close the gap on Kilkenny cos they are better too. Tipp are also better. This could be a more interesting and higher intensity game than last year. I can't see Galway dominate midfield again with Breen and Maher in there. I can't see Callanan running amok with Daithi Burke at full back either. I think it will be another classic that is very difficult to call. I do feel bubbles owes us one after his silliness against Limerick and his disappointing performance against Galway last year.

Killarney.87 (Tipperary) - Posts: 2513 - 03/08/2016 19:38:09    1895008

I think next Sunday will be close. I'll say Kilkenny by 2 points. I'm saying this on the assumption that Waterford will have a bit more about them this time than they had in the corresponding game last year. If they don't, and instead play ultra defensive, I think the margin will be more like 6 or 7 points.

Will make no prediction on our own game. I'll take a one point win if it's offered!

PoolSturgeon (Galway) - Posts: 1903 - 03/08/2016 21:22:06    1895055

I think Colin Fennelly needs two big performances as he owes it to KK. Serious talent that hasn't' really done it enough, although I thought he finished the last two finals very well. I think KK will have enough Sunday unless waterford go more direct then it could be a tighter game. Its strange really, last two leagues KK have been bang average and now they stand 70 mins away from another final. Funny old game.

222 (UK) - Posts: 693 - 03/08/2016 21:26:05    1895059

no amateur player owes anything to anyone.
i think kilkenny will put the final nail in waterford's defensive coffin and galway will surprise tipp to set up a repeat of last years final with the same ultimate result.

perfect10 (Wexford) - Posts: 3929 - 04/08/2016 08:40:41    1895149

tipping kilkenny v tipp, hoping tipp v waterford

any predictions for minor semi finals?

janesboro (Limerick) - Posts: 1502 - 04/08/2016 10:08:37    1895201

CroiGorm (Dublin) - Posts: 1547 - 04/08/2016 10:20:26    1895206

Can't get over how easy it is to still get (decent) tickets for this. It's an All Ireland Semi Final! Will be interesting to see the attendance figures.

CroiGorm (Dublin) - Posts: 1547 - 04/08/2016 10:26:26    1895212

I think the Munster final was just on of those days where Tipp were on fire and a few mistakes on Waterford's part were punched on mercilessly.

I expect Waterford to give the Cats a right rattle, though I would be lying if I said I was confident they could win.

For me its Kilkenny in the final.

However I think that this year they will get caught in the decider and Tipeprary will be the team to do it. I expect them to brush Galway aside and finally, finally put another victory up over Cody's men.

TheHermit (Kerry) - Posts: 6354 - 04/08/2016 10:49:32    1895236

For Sundays game im not convinced about Waterford..they have the hurlers but the system they play with wont do against kilkenny
Primary ball winning is crucial in this game more than most..and i cant imagine waterford getting a goal which they need vs a kilkenny side when you are barely playing 2 players inside the 45 metre line..kilkenny will swallow any ball going in
Waterford may rely on long distance shooting in this case which is very 70-30 each shot you take in my view
I reckon it'll be nip and tuck up until half time but at some stage kilkenny will break through and get goals

kilkenny 2-16 0-15 Waterford

pidge (Cork) - Posts: 543 - 04/08/2016 12:30:25    1895364

PoolSturgeon (Galway) - Posts: 1903 - 04/08/2016 12:40:31    1895375

Am i right in saying alot of folk seem to think if waterford play outside of the system and open up we wil l give kilkenny a right crack? ...still cant see mcgrath changing so hope our accuracy from 80+ yards has improved....heart says waterford by two, hopefully not to by broken again!!

juniorjudge (Waterford) - Posts: 383 - 04/08/2016 14:24:00    1895536