Carlow and Kerry have qualified for the 2A final after today's results. A big congratulations has to go to the Kerry hurlers. With 15 McCarthy Cup teams and Kerry in the Christy Ring, it's a decent achievement to claim a top 14 place in the league.

With two regular league games to go and the 2A final, they'll be a good opportunity to work on a few things ahead of the Christy Ring Cup of which defending champions Down are the clear favourites.

legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 7842 - 09/03/2014 21:42:38    1557384

I think ye could win that final if MLR win the all irelan club as they will probably get a long rest. Its great to see kerry doing well as I was in college with a lot of kerry hurlers a few years back. Any ballyheige players there of note?

Fishermantom (Limerick) - Posts: 569 - 10/03/2014 13:40:16    1557666

I think it's the only division that's already really been decided. Down will have a disadvantage in this year's Christy Ring as they're operating in a lower division but at least they are well-placed for promotion.

keeper7 (Longford) - Posts: 4088 - 10/03/2014 14:07:14    1557700

All of the media haven't realised the 2A final is sewn up. Derry can only get to 6 points. As Kerry play Carlow next week, only one of them could finish on 6 points at worst. As both have beaten Derry, either of them would pip Derry on the head to head record.

legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 7842 - 10/03/2014 14:13:30    1557706

Plenty of progress made by kerry over the last couple of years but 1B playoff for the winners of 2A is wrong!

Hurl.Force.One (Tyrone) - Posts: 106 - 10/03/2014 14:25:01    1557713

Well done to Kerry.

bennybunny (Cork) - Posts: 3917 - 10/03/2014 14:25:56    1557714

That's right, Derry & London have already played 4 games whereas everyone else has played 3. Pity, in a way, coz every other division looks tight enough. The Kerry V Carlow match next Sunday will be nothing more than a dress rehearsal for the final.

keeper7 (Longford) - Posts: 4088 - 10/03/2014 14:26:58    1557715

legendzxix I think Kerry will be red hot favorites for this year's Ring Cup - Paddypower even agrees with that! Down had quit a few retirements from last year's winning team including Captain and star player Paul Braniff. Along with the retirements and key injuries to "Magic" Johnson, Michael Ennis and James Coyle we are a shadow of last year's team. But, promotion to 2A will be a achievement and a successful year if we can complete that. A solid run in the Ring will be an added bonus. Very impressed with Kerry's performances this year -You're mighty impressive.

saulgael (Down) - Posts: 553 - 10/03/2014 14:45:05    1557739

It's a pity in a way neither Down nor Donegal opted to step up a level after winning the Ring & Rackard Cups. Sometimes in hurling consolidation makes more sense.

keeper7 (Longford) - Posts: 4088 - 10/03/2014 15:19:16    1557772

Derry are a very much improved side from the one we beat at the start of the league. It'll be a competitive championship. We haven't won since '11. There's been a different winner over each of the last 4 years.

legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 7842 - 10/03/2014 15:23:59    1557779

Down were not given the option to step up last year. I think the same was for Donegal. The '13 championships were overlooked when bringing in the qualifier group and relegation/promotion play-offs for this year.

legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 7842 - 10/03/2014 15:44:58    1557788

It should be a good match. Will it be in Croke Park?

WoodlawnPat (Galway) - Posts: 288 - 10/03/2014 16:02:46    1557801

2 counties making great strides and should be a good final.

Kerry could be in with a big shout going on the MLR players been unavailable.

If Carlow are without the MLR players Kerry could win here but as already said a playoff is a farce.

You win your division you deserve to get promoted. You finish last you deserve a second chance and that goes for any county no matter how big or small.

WildPundit (Tipperary) - Posts: 1709 - 10/03/2014 16:56:31    1557842

Well done to Kerry, have been seriously impressive so far. Would have expected to be facing Westmeath in the 2A final at the start of the league, but Kerry have been best team in 2A so far.

In some ways it's a pity that the final is sorted already as the game next weekend now means nothing. It will mean squad players been giving a run and neither team will want to show much.

The week after that we play Westmeath which for us will be a nothing game again.
Even yesterday v Derry we had the game won after 20 mins when 1-8 to 0-2 up, and looked like the players got bored and start trying fancy flicks and stuff. The rest of the game was played at a slow pace, and these kinda games are no good to Carlow.

All 3 games so far we have won easily without playing anyway well. It was meant to be the Kerry and Westmeath games that we would be tested in, but now that will be all about giving guys a run and see if they are up to staying on the panel once the MLR guys return.

The 2A final is on April 6th, so by then win or lose the All Ireland final we should have the MLR guys back and that will add about 10 quality players to the panel. They will be needed as Carlow hurling needs badly to get out of 2A if we are to progress.

The Real 1944 (Carlow) - Posts: 1114 - 10/03/2014 18:13:28    1557890

It's a pity in some respects alright. I was looking forward to next week's game and how we'd get on when ye're without the MLR crowd compared with when they'd be back for the final. After missing out on last year's final when we only lost to Laois, I'm not going to complain! I'd imagine the final will be in Limerick? Carlow realistically stand a far better chance of winning a 1B play-off. If we somehow made it, it'd be a bonus challenge but one we'd welcome. Better to be involved than not.

Agreed on the unfairness of the play-off. I accept the play-off in the championship should we win the Christy Ring Cup. For what championship hurling in the top tier represents, a team should have to earn that place over another. Our senior champions enter the intermediate munster. If we did get into the qualifier group that'd have to be reconsidered. The league shouldn't be as restrictive. Win your division, you should be promoted, end of.

legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 7842 - 10/03/2014 19:30:29    1557940

Apologies meant on my earlier post you shudnt get a second chance in the league.

WildPundit (Tipperary) - Posts: 1709 - 10/03/2014 20:03:48    1557962

legendzxix
County: Kerry
Posts: 2943
Fairly sure if Kerry want to enter their teams in the munster senior club. Then one of those clusb teams will have to first win the Munster intermediate club. Im not sure but I think thats why MLR are allowed in the Leinster senior as a they, as carlorw senior champions won the Leinster intermediate championship. There by allowing carlow clubs to be considered senior at club level trhoughout leinster. Ballybduff nearly did it 2 years ago but kerry teams have it tough against interdiate teams from tipp and cork and limerick nearly being senior standard in most other counties

Fishermantom (Limerick) - Posts: 569 - 10/03/2014 21:17:05    1558008

We deserved to get something out of that game yesterday with our second team. However congratulations to kerry ye are making good strides winning several all ireland u21 b championships recently. would it not be possible for kerry to enter the munster intermediate championship? I think the same should apply to westmeath in leinster. For example a westmeath v kilkenny leinster intermediate final would generate huge interest compared to a christy ring cup final. A lot of the division 2 teams should be pitted against the strong counties intermediate teams in championship. Its a level we could compete at and generate far bigger interest.

overdabar (Westmeath) - Posts: 230 - 10/03/2014 21:17:33    1558010

The intermediate championship would be good for the likes of Westmeath & Kerry particularly if they're knocked out of the senior of Ring championships early.

keeper7 (Longford) - Posts: 4088 - 10/03/2014 21:45:43    1558036

Counties outside the top tier should be allowed enter the intermediate championship. For whatever reason it seems to be a non-runner.
After a fair bit of change anyways, agreement has finally been reached on the McCarthy being a 14 team tournament. The goal for all outside the top 14 is to win the Christy Ring Cup and get a shot through a play-off. Endless promotion had weakened the Christy Ring Cup. It should become more competitive.

legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 7842 - 10/03/2014 21:54:52    1558048