Well. What do people make of the hurling draws. Group A looks to be a tougher group with a few of the bigger hitters in that one. Hard to make a call to what 3 teams will come out of that one. You'd imagine Kiltale and Dunboyne should come out of the second group with a dog fight for third.

Senior: Kiltale
Intemediate: Maybe Wolfe Tones.
Junior: Kilmessan

hurlinglad (Meath) - Posts: 45 - 09/02/2016 09:42:44    1823778

Will be interesting to see who kiltale play in the semi's. It may be better to finish 2nd in group A to have a more continuous run of games. Hard to see anyone touching them this year.. They are beatable, but the likes of trim and kildalky will need to be maxed out to get near them in a knock out game. They are the only two teams that can really give them trouble.

Irish_downunder (Meath) - Posts: 630 - 09/02/2016 10:45:39    1823815

Kilmessan will have a big say this year. Paul Reilly taking charge as well as Marsh and Clynch returning to full fitness so they'll be there or there abouts. Kiltales biggest threat I'd say.

Be interesting to see how kildalkey get on. lot of their main players well into their 30's. Last years defeat in the final could have be the end of the road for a lot of them lads.

Trim seem to have gone back from the heights they reached in 2014,

Kiltale only seem to get stronger year on year. It's possible that 3 O'Sullivan brothers and Philip Garvey will be coming into the panel/team from least year which is daunting for everyone else. If kiltale hit form on a big pitch like navan or trim it'll be very hard for any team to stick with them.

Senior: Kiltale
Inter: Tones
Junior: Kilmessan

begining (UK) - Posts: 300 - 09/02/2016 12:03:54    1823879

Tones should walk the Intermediate. Agree that Kilmessan are probably Kiltale's big threat at senior

RR (Meath) - Posts: 139 - 14/02/2016 20:31:57    1825343

Are you mad Na Fianna will stroll through the Intermediate, Serious young hurlers coming through there. They won the Minor last year and will win it again this year. Will have a very strong senior team in a couple of years. Have a great manager who has experience in winning.

latouche25 (Meath) - Posts: 520 - 17/02/2016 11:48:12    1826045

It's funny seeing the "Only Kilmessan can really challenge Kiltale, Na Fianna to cruise through intermediate" messages. I'm pretty sure I saw those same predictions word for word written here this time last year as well.

Na Fianna should win the intermediate, but it wouldn't surprise me if they don't. The likes of Tones and Kilskyre are probably not as good in pure hurling terms, but they are hard to break down. The intermediate can be deceiving, for the last few years in the group stages its easy to look great hammering the likes of St. Pats and Moylagh and club second teams. You might only play 1 or 2 actual good 1st teams in the group stage before moving on to the serious business of knockout hurling.

Kilmessan will definitely perform better than last year (which wouldn't be difficult), but I don't see where the sudden boost in people's confidence in them is coming from. That said, they got eliminated by Longwood in 2012 then won the SHC the year after.....so perhaps.

CastleBravo (Meath) - Posts: 1643 - 17/02/2016 13:42:03    1826100

Be interesting to see you predictions castlebravo. Who do you fancy for the SHC? Who has a chance?

Agree somewhat with what your saying regarding Kilmessan. But they are the only team to win a championship outside of Kiltale in last 4 years. If anyone can stop Kiltale it will be them. Kildalkey, Trim, Dunboyne and Kilyon have all had their chance to beat Kiltale on a big knockout day in PT but fell short, well short in Trim and Kildalkeys case.

begining (UK) - Posts: 300 - 18/02/2016 09:59:36    1826252

Kiltale. Again. They're not invincible but they just have it all. They've the talent and a large panel where lads seem to slot in and out with no less effectiveness. On top of that is a ruthlessness, they can just put teams away and make matches a no contest, like with Kildalkey last year, and even more for Trim the year before.

Kilmessan, Kildalkey and trim all have the raw material to beat kiltale in a knockout game on their day but it'd all need to go right for them and put a big effort to impose themselves upon them.

The lopsided groups make specific predictions difficult. Easy to forget dunboyne but they aren't a bad hurling team and are in the easier group, I can see another semi final exit for them.

CastleBravo (Meath) - Posts: 1643 - 18/02/2016 14:16:24    1826346

Agree with the lobsided groups Castlebravo. Seen an article on here after the draws were made saying the groups are more even than they have been the last few years. Wouldn't agree with that at all. Kiltale and dunboyne will stroll through their group, with group A being the group of death. Be interesting to see how the easy run of games effect Kiltale when it comes to the knockouts. Didn't do Kildalkey any favors last year.

begining (UK) - Posts: 300 - 18/02/2016 14:45:43    1826355

no matter how unbeatable Kiltale look, it's very hard to do 3 in a row and there are 3-4 teams who could beat them on any given day.
They are obviously the best team with an embarrassment of riches but they're easy group could work against them.
This group is similar to last years weak group. Kiltale and Dunboyne will walk through and a dog fight for 3rd which I think Blackhall will win again like last year.

Kilmessan will have a big year this year. Paul Reilly is an excellent manager. Marsh and Clynch back to full fitness is huge for them.
Kildalkey were told they were finished in 2012 and are still going, if they get out of the group they will be hard beaten again.
Trim and Killyon will have a say on whether they do. 3 of them 4 will qualify.
Longwood missing too many players but if Anthony Healy is back by June / July they could cause an upset or 2.
Navan will be beaten in all games in the group but the tough games should stand to them come relegation.

overthehill72 (Meath) - Posts: 334 - 19/02/2016 12:22:52    1826594

Also on a side note I heard the Niall Murray is back in trim after a few years in oz.. Big addition for them. Good midfielder in the hurling and an excellent goalkeeper. Was sub to paddy o rouke on the county setup a few years ago but that was when paddy's long range was being preached to the heavens.

Irish_downunder (Meath) - Posts: 630 - 19/02/2016 13:17:48    1826609

Harrington gone from trim too

begining (UK) - Posts: 300 - 19/02/2016 16:02:42    1826671

GROUP 1: Kiltale

HairLikeSheep (Meath) - Posts: 6 - 19/04/2016 10:27:24    1847091

Group 1:
Kimessan
Kildalkey
Killyon

GROUP 2:
Kiltale
Dunboyne
Boardsmill

Can see Kilmessan topping group 1 this year with kiltale running away with group 2, I think boardsmill can shock a few this year and pip blackhall to 3rd with the return of their stronger players

HairLikeSheep (Meath) - Posts: 6 - 19/04/2016 10:32:24    1847094

Very disappointing number of match reports form the hurling league at the weekend

Anyone at any of the games? Very handy wins for Kiltale and Kildalkey anyway

Belt (Meath) - Posts: 253 - 26/04/2016 12:03:20    1849617