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Limerick Hurlers TOTY And MOTY 2020

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Great to see skillful, controlled and powerful hurling rewarded with both the team of the year and the manager of the year.

It's a joy to watch Limerick play; as good as ever I've seen. And I've been seeing for nigh on 50 years now.

The style might not suit the disgruntled voices of the likes of The Babs or Justin McCarthy of Cork. I saw them, too. And trust me, what they produced seems like low level junior now compared to the operatic-like wizardly of the likes Cian Lynch or Shane Dowling or the proud broad-shouldered sweep of the Morrisseys, Flanagan, the new Rattler Byrnes and Kyle Hayes.

Only Cody's men, 2006-2009, would I rate higher than this new breed of Limerick warriors. And the "traditionalists" can put that it their pipe and smoke it.

This is the new tradition.

foreveryoung (USA) - Posts: 1918 - 29/01/2021 04:18:56    2329487

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Replying To foreveryoung:  "Great to see skillful, controlled and powerful hurling rewarded with both the team of the year and the manager of the year.

It's a joy to watch Limerick play; as good as ever I've seen. And I've been seeing for nigh on 50 years now.

The style might not suit the disgruntled voices of the likes of The Babs or Justin McCarthy of Cork. I saw them, too. And trust me, what they produced seems like low level junior now compared to the operatic-like wizardly of the likes Cian Lynch or Shane Dowling or the proud broad-shouldered sweep of the Morrisseys, Flanagan, the new Rattler Byrnes and Kyle Hayes.

Only Cody's men, 2006-2009, would I rate higher than this new breed of Limerick warriors. And the "traditionalists" can put that it their pipe and smoke it.

This is the new tradition."
I know I'm biased, but great post..
We've gone from being the sort of team who struggled for years to put two good performances back to back, to going unbeaten for a whole year, winning everything along the way.

Awesome team that have brought great joy to Limerick people everywhere.

As for Justin Mccarthy.. He'll be remembered forever as the manager who brought our team to the most humiliating beating ever at the hands of Tipp in the 2009 All Ireland semi final..
A beating that ironically enough kick-started the current era of success.. We were in a mess and good hurling people did what they could to fix it.

So in a round about way we can thank him for these good times... They won't last forever but we'll enjoy them while they do. Luimneach abu!

skillet (Limerick) - Posts: 1063 - 29/01/2021 11:23:46    2329508

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You put it so well and you are correct,I'm attending hurling games since 1955 including the great Tipp team of late 50s/60s.It was great at the time but hurling has evolved and will continue to evolve,the speed of movement and eye to hand coordination presently is something to behold.This Limerick team at full throttle are fantastic to watch!I'm really enjoying them,such a pity with the Covid that we couldn't attend the games.
Someone else (team) will come up with a system to thwart Limerick's way of playing and that makes it all the more interesting and looking to see how will Limerick and other teams evolve to combat that.Change can be fantastic,who wants the same old same old,no matter how good it was at the time, to go on forever.I love innovation and there will be lots more of it in the future.....bring it on.

ONdeDITCH (Limerick) - Posts: 873 - 29/01/2021 11:31:49    2329510

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Replying To foreveryoung:  "Great to see skillful, controlled and powerful hurling rewarded with both the team of the year and the manager of the year.

It's a joy to watch Limerick play; as good as ever I've seen. And I've been seeing for nigh on 50 years now.

The style might not suit the disgruntled voices of the likes of The Babs or Justin McCarthy of Cork. I saw them, too. And trust me, what they produced seems like low level junior now compared to the operatic-like wizardly of the likes Cian Lynch or Shane Dowling or the proud broad-shouldered sweep of the Morrisseys, Flanagan, the new Rattler Byrnes and Kyle Hayes.

Only Cody's men, 2006-2009, would I rate higher than this new breed of Limerick warriors. And the "traditionalists" can put that it their pipe and smoke it.

This is the new tradition."
"It's a joy to watch Limerick play; as good as ever I've seen. And I've been seeing for nigh on 50 years now...Only Cody's men, 2006-2009, would I rate higher than this new breed of Limerick warriors."

Nonsense. This Limerick team, as good as they are, have won only two All-Irelands (2018, 2020)., hardly sensational. They've yet to win back-to-back AI, or play in two consecutive finals.

There have been several teams as good if not better in the last 50 years:

The Kilkenny team of the 70's. AI winners 72, 74, 75, 79 and runners-up 71, 73, 78.

Cork. AI winners 76, 78, 79.

Galway. AI winners 80, 87, 88. Runners-up 81, 85, 86.

Cork. AI winners 04, 05. Runners-up 03, 06

Tipperary (playing during Kilkenny's dominance) AI winners 10, 16. Runners-up 11, 14.

This Limerick team are good, but let's not get carried away with ourselves. Let's wait a few more years to see how good they really are.

Cockney_Cat (UK) - Posts: 2477 - 29/01/2021 12:25:16    2329519

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Replying To ONdeDITCH:  "You put it so well and you are correct,I'm attending hurling games since 1955 including the great Tipp team of late 50s/60s.It was great at the time but hurling has evolved and will continue to evolve,the speed of movement and eye to hand coordination presently is something to behold.This Limerick team at full throttle are fantastic to watch!I'm really enjoying them,such a pity with the Covid that we couldn't attend the games.
Someone else (team) will come up with a system to thwart Limerick's way of playing and that makes it all the more interesting and looking to see how will Limerick and other teams evolve to combat that.Change can be fantastic,who wants the same old same old,no matter how good it was at the time, to go on forever.I love innovation and there will be lots more of it in the future.....bring it on."
I read an interesting article awhile back by Darach Honan the former Clare forward.
The basic premise was that Limerick have become the team that Clare could have been after their all Ireland win in 2013.

Kinnerks vision and coaching had been allowed a degree of evolution in Limerick that didn't happen when he was involved with Clare.

I watched the munster championship game again Tipp yesterday and it was incredible to see. The defending all Ireland champions couldn't live with us when we upped a gear. The movement of the sliotar out of tight space and the comfort our team have in the style of play is unreal..

As you say it'll be fascinating to see what teams come up with to counteract what we're doing at the moment. All part of the evolution of hurling.

skillet (Limerick) - Posts: 1063 - 29/01/2021 12:32:23    2329524

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never ever listen to a "traditionalist".
the traditionalist would love ground hurling,bemoans the loss of manly play like breaking hurls across one another,thinks laps are how to get fit for hurling,etc.
having recently watched some all ireland gold on eir sport and youtube and tg4 i think,the legendardy matches of the 90s have not aged well.
the game has never been better,and with a few tweaks could be improved even more.

limerick are deserving winners of these 2 accolades as well as all others this year.none the less,they are up there to be beaten now hopefully! :)

perfect10 (Wexford) - Posts: 3929 - 29/01/2021 15:04:52    2329553

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Limerick are totally deserving of these two accolades. Wonderful hurling team, a great spectacle and good to see this team justly rewarded.

arock (Dublin) - Posts: 4897 - 29/01/2021 17:19:58    2329584

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Well done to Limerick on both accolades. Definitely fully deserved after a terrific year defeating all in sight with stupendous touch power and precision.

carlowman (Carlow) - Posts: 1821 - 29/01/2021 17:41:57    2329587

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Replying To Cockney_Cat:  ""It's a joy to watch Limerick play; as good as ever I've seen. And I've been seeing for nigh on 50 years now...Only Cody's men, 2006-2009, would I rate higher than this new breed of Limerick warriors."

Nonsense. This Limerick team, as good as they are, have won only two All-Irelands (2018, 2020)., hardly sensational. They've yet to win back-to-back AI, or play in two consecutive finals.

There have been several teams as good if not better in the last 50 years:

The Kilkenny team of the 70's. AI winners 72, 74, 75, 79 and runners-up 71, 73, 78.

Cork. AI winners 76, 78, 79.

Galway. AI winners 80, 87, 88. Runners-up 81, 85, 86.

Cork. AI winners 04, 05. Runners-up 03, 06

Tipperary (playing during Kilkenny's dominance) AI winners 10, 16. Runners-up 11, 14.

This Limerick team are good, but let's not get carried away with ourselves. Let's wait a few more years to see how good they really are."
I'm referring to the style of hurling they play, not to the amount they've won.

You do indeed name some fine teams. Galway were very hard done by in 1989, in my opinion, and that team should have done 3 in a row.

However, of all the teams you list, for me only watching that great Kilkenny team is better than watching the current Limerick team. Shefflin, Tommy Walsh and JJ were once in a century players.

foreveryoung (USA) - Posts: 1918 - 29/01/2021 17:46:25    2329590

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Replying To foreveryoung:  "Great to see skillful, controlled and powerful hurling rewarded with both the team of the year and the manager of the year.

It's a joy to watch Limerick play; as good as ever I've seen. And I've been seeing for nigh on 50 years now.

The style might not suit the disgruntled voices of the likes of The Babs or Justin McCarthy of Cork. I saw them, too. And trust me, what they produced seems like low level junior now compared to the operatic-like wizardly of the likes Cian Lynch or Shane Dowling or the proud broad-shouldered sweep of the Morrisseys, Flanagan, the new Rattler Byrnes and Kyle Hayes.

Only Cody's men, 2006-2009, would I rate higher than this new breed of Limerick warriors. And the "traditionalists" can put that it their pipe and smoke it.

This is the new tradition."
The fish hook has been cast. Who is going to bite?

Greengrass (Louth) - Posts: 6031 - 29/01/2021 19:11:18    2329601

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Congratulations to John Kiely and his limerick hurlers. Well deserved.

KingdomBoy1 (Kerry) - Posts: 14092 - 29/01/2021 20:15:09    2329613

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Replying To KingdomBoy1:  "Congratulations to John Kiely and his limerick hurlers. Well deserved."
Great night for Limerick last night. Three out of four was brilliant, but we should have got the award for Gearoid as well. That would have made a clean sweep.

Oldtourman (Limerick) - Posts: 4321 - 29/01/2021 20:59:16    2329622

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Replying To Oldtourman:  "Great night for Limerick last night. Three out of four was brilliant, but we should have got the award for Gearoid as well. That would have made a clean sweep."
Hegarty would have been a worthy winner oldtourman, but it was always going to be hard for him going up against Katie Taylor as she had a great year as well.

Still it's a great night for limerick and congratulations to ye again.

KingdomBoy1 (Kerry) - Posts: 14092 - 29/01/2021 23:00:17    2329639

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Replying To KingdomBoy1:  "Hegarty would have been a worthy winner oldtourman, but it was always going to be hard for him going up against Katie Taylor as she had a great year as well.

Still it's a great night for limerick and congratulations to ye again."
Don't forget Sam Bennett as well KingdomBoy. . His achievements last year were outstanding. A great night for Limerick and thoroughly deserved.

Greengrass (Louth) - Posts: 6031 - 30/01/2021 10:00:25    2329653

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Replying To Greengrass:  "The fish hook has been cast. Who is going to bite?"
When someone is full of the Joy's of victory its wise to leave them wallow in the first and perhaps second incarnation of that.
Many people in that exalted state often are on a 'high' where all seems very well and when in that exalted sense, there is 'no talking to them ' !!!!!

carlowman (Carlow) - Posts: 1821 - 30/01/2021 12:23:03    2329685

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Replying To Greengrass:  "Don't forget Sam Bennett as well KingdomBoy. . His achievements last year were outstanding. A great night for Limerick and thoroughly deserved."
Absolutely greengrass Bennett had a great year as well and I'm fond of the cycling but Katie is Irelands sweetheart and that's not a dig at her she's an amazing boxer and we're lucky to have her but I'd say she was always going to win that award last night.

KingdomBoy1 (Kerry) - Posts: 14092 - 30/01/2021 12:45:25    2329695

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Replying To carlowman:  "When someone is full of the Joy's of victory its wise to leave them wallow in the first and perhaps second incarnation of that.
Many people in that exalted state often are on a 'high' where all seems very well and when in that exalted sense, there is 'no talking to them ' !!!!!"
Being born after the 1973 win, Limerick senior hurling has been in the doldrums all my life. That is until 2018. So yes we are wallowing at the moment and will do so for as long as as we can. It's one thing to win one but to win a second with a second with lots more potential is just so surreal for us. So when we hear greats like John Mullane, Anthony Daly, Henry Sheflin, Tommy Welsh etc pay homage to this team and the potential they have I all most have to pinch myself.

So I say to all my Limerick compatriots, enjoy this amazing time, go to as many games as you can and love when other counties have a problem with us winning. When other counties are not happy that we are winning it's a good thing!

Seeking_silver (Limerick) - Posts: 411 - 31/01/2021 11:00:06    2329802

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Replying To Seeking_silver:  "Being born after the 1973 win, Limerick senior hurling has been in the doldrums all my life. That is until 2018. So yes we are wallowing at the moment and will do so for as long as as we can. It's one thing to win one but to win a second with a second with lots more potential is just so surreal for us. So when we hear greats like John Mullane, Anthony Daly, Henry Sheflin, Tommy Welsh etc pay homage to this team and the potential they have I all most have to pinch myself.

So I say to all my Limerick compatriots, enjoy this amazing time, go to as many games as you can and love when other counties have a problem with us winning. When other counties are not happy that we are winning it's a good thing!"
I was born well before the 1973 Limerick win and what a win that was... the placing of Eamon Cregan at centre half back being the master stroke that won the game as he was magnificent in that game controlling huge sections of the game and distributing the ball to great effect.
There have been .any other great teams along the way since.
As a neutral I was delighted to get a ticket for the 2018 final and celebrated with Limerick friends after the match after a great display and a fiercely exciting last few minutes.
I salute this great Limerick team on their magnificent performances last year beating all before them. They were a joy to watch with massive displays of all that is good in the modern game.
Limerick people are proud of their hurlers and rightly so, and I hope this team continues to bring success and joy for many years to come.
As a hurling supporter you know that people love to see the underdog winning but very quickly change when they perceive that this underdog becomes a 'monster'. Limerick seem so dominant that many will feel that they are now a monster and wonder how can they be beaten such is their dominance. Success inevitably brings about such thinking... look at Dublin !
My point was that some, and I stress some supporters (of every county by the way) can gloat on their success, and in their gloating belittle the efforts and successes of those of the past. That is unsavoury and unsportsmanlike.
But I say to you, yes really enjoy the success as it's a golden time.for Limerick built on huge work done in every club in the county. All Irelands are very very hard to win and when they are won enjoy and celebrate them...
This Limerick team have rewritten the script, have performed impeccably, are a credit to their county both on and off the field and other counties will be all out gunning to lower their colours in the future... success brings that inevitable challenge. I look forward to watching how Limerick match that challenge. I think they will be very successful.

carlowman (Carlow) - Posts: 1821 - 31/01/2021 12:26:52    2329810

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Replying To carlowman:  "I was born well before the 1973 Limerick win and what a win that was... the placing of Eamon Cregan at centre half back being the master stroke that won the game as he was magnificent in that game controlling huge sections of the game and distributing the ball to great effect.
There have been .any other great teams along the way since.
As a neutral I was delighted to get a ticket for the 2018 final and celebrated with Limerick friends after the match after a great display and a fiercely exciting last few minutes.
I salute this great Limerick team on their magnificent performances last year beating all before them. They were a joy to watch with massive displays of all that is good in the modern game.
Limerick people are proud of their hurlers and rightly so, and I hope this team continues to bring success and joy for many years to come.
As a hurling supporter you know that people love to see the underdog winning but very quickly change when they perceive that this underdog becomes a 'monster'. Limerick seem so dominant that many will feel that they are now a monster and wonder how can they be beaten such is their dominance. Success inevitably brings about such thinking... look at Dublin !
My point was that some, and I stress some supporters (of every county by the way) can gloat on their success, and in their gloating belittle the efforts and successes of those of the past. That is unsavoury and unsportsmanlike.
But I say to you, yes really enjoy the success as it's a golden time.for Limerick built on huge work done in every club in the county. All Irelands are very very hard to win and when they are won enjoy and celebrate them...
This Limerick team have rewritten the script, have performed impeccably, are a credit to their county both on and off the field and other counties will be all out gunning to lower their colours in the future... success brings that inevitable challenge. I look forward to watching how Limerick match that challenge. I think they will be very successful."
Carlowman. Thanks for those kind words. I for one apprentice it! I also look forward to other teams trying to plan the downfall of our great team. I actually don't know how to dismantled them. If you stop them one way they will play another way. Looking forward to NHL & SHL in 2021 and hopefully we will be playing your own county very soon.

Seeking_silver (Limerick) - Posts: 411 - 31/01/2021 14:15:28    2329824

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Replying To Seeking_silver:  "Being born after the 1973 win, Limerick senior hurling has been in the doldrums all my life. That is until 2018. So yes we are wallowing at the moment and will do so for as long as as we can. It's one thing to win one but to win a second with a second with lots more potential is just so surreal for us. So when we hear greats like John Mullane, Anthony Daly, Henry Sheflin, Tommy Welsh etc pay homage to this team and the potential they have I all most have to pinch myself.

So I say to all my Limerick compatriots, enjoy this amazing time, go to as many games as you can and love when other counties have a problem with us winning. When other counties are not happy that we are winning it's a good thing!"
Limerick posters are calling this Limerick team, a great team, Posters from most other county's are not. They are not a great team but have the potential. Back to back all Ireland's might change some minds. If this Limerick team are a great team then so are tipp and
and maybe Galway.

Newyorkkat (Kilkenny) - Posts: 129 - 31/01/2021 14:40:51    2329828

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