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Munster Hurling Club Championship 2022

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It's early days but already it seems clear that this will be a very interesting championship. Ballygunner begin the defence of their crown this weekend with a home game against new Tipperary champions Kilruane McDonagh. Kilruane did brilliantly to win their first title for 37 years but they will find it very hard to beat Ballygunner in Walsh Park. Theyv'e already lost their only 2022 county regular with Craig Morgan's cruciate injury, and it seems there are major doubts over a few others, especially Niall O'Meara who defied injury to finish out the county final. Ballygunner's experience at this level should see them through. Na Piarsaigh, St. Finbarr's and Ballyhea will probably all fancy their chances and I expect Na Piarsaigh to make a very strong bid to regain the title. Their game with Ballygunner, if it transpires, should be a cracker.

midlands (Westmeath) - Posts: 542 - 03/11/2022 15:58:02    2446361

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Replying To midlands:  "It's early days but already it seems clear that this will be a very interesting championship. Ballygunner begin the defence of their crown this weekend with a home game against new Tipperary champions Kilruane McDonagh. Kilruane did brilliantly to win their first title for 37 years but they will find it very hard to beat Ballygunner in Walsh Park. Theyv'e already lost their only 2022 county regular with Craig Morgan's cruciate injury, and it seems there are major doubts over a few others, especially Niall O'Meara who defied injury to finish out the county final. Ballygunner's experience at this level should see them through. Na Piarsaigh, St. Finbarr's and Ballyhea will probably all fancy their chances and I expect Na Piarsaigh to make a very strong bid to regain the title. Their game with Ballygunner, if it transpires, should be a cracker."
Tipp clubs have been competitive the last few years, Borrisoleigh winning in 19 and Loughmore gave Ballygunner plenty of it last year but think everything is stacked against Kilruane at the weekend between injuries, 1hr 45 mins of an away trip and 3rd weekend out in a row after 2 big efforts the last 2 weekends. I expect Ballygunner to win and if they play Na Pairsaigh that has the potential to be the game of the club championship in either code.

TerribleFootwork (Wexford) - Posts: 1716 - 03/11/2022 16:39:53    2446370

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Replying To midlands:  "It's early days but already it seems clear that this will be a very interesting championship. Ballygunner begin the defence of their crown this weekend with a home game against new Tipperary champions Kilruane McDonagh. Kilruane did brilliantly to win their first title for 37 years but they will find it very hard to beat Ballygunner in Walsh Park. Theyv'e already lost their only 2022 county regular with Craig Morgan's cruciate injury, and it seems there are major doubts over a few others, especially Niall O'Meara who defied injury to finish out the county final. Ballygunner's experience at this level should see them through. Na Piarsaigh, St. Finbarr's and Ballyhea will probably all fancy their chances and I expect Na Piarsaigh to make a very strong bid to regain the title. Their game with Ballygunner, if it transpires, should be a cracker."
Why are you talking about Munster, but not Leinster? Your own county has a team, Castletown Geoghegan, playing in the Leinster Senior Club Championship this weekend.

Cockney_Cat (UK) - Posts: 2466 - 03/11/2022 17:02:37    2446376

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Replying To Cockney_Cat:  "Why are you talking about Munster, but not Leinster? Your own county has a team, Castletown Geoghegan, playing in the Leinster Senior Club Championship this weekend."
Maybe cause Munster championship is more interesting.

cityman73 (Limerick) - Posts: 775 - 03/11/2022 17:16:24    2446379

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Seven weeks since Ballygunner played. I suspect they will be ring rusty and no fore gone conclusion here.

Canuck (Waterford) - Posts: 2660 - 03/11/2022 18:11:19    2446387

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Seven weeks since Ballygunner played. I suspect they will be ring rusty and no fore gone conclusion here.

Canuck (Waterford) - Posts: 2660 - 03/11/2022 18:42:32    2446393

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Replying To Cockney_Cat:  "Why are you talking about Munster, but not Leinster? Your own county has a team, Castletown Geoghegan, playing in the Leinster Senior Club Championship this weekend."
Because, quite simply, I cannot see anyone winning Leinster except Ballyhale Shamrocks. The Munster championship, on the other hand, seems much more unpredictable.

midlands (Westmeath) - Posts: 542 - 03/11/2022 19:58:54    2446407

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Replying To cityman73:  "Maybe cause Munster championship is more interesting."
It must be to midlands anyway! I watch as much of it as I can every year and I think if Ballygunner beat Kilruane they will win it out. They might be a little rusty coming in though, its been a while since the Waterford final.

Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 11848 - 03/11/2022 20:14:24    2446411

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Replying To cityman73:  "Maybe cause Munster championship is more interesting."
How, or in what way, is it more interesting?

Cockney_Cat (UK) - Posts: 2466 - 03/11/2022 20:31:14    2446416

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Replying To Cockney_Cat:  "How, or in what way, is it more interesting?"
Considering Ballygunner and Nap have pretty much dominated this province and dissed out some awful beatings, I wouldn't really class it as unpredictable. Especially when neither hae dominated at all Ireland series, Nap have won 3 games outside of munster (2 Ulster Champs and Ourlart after extra time) two serious teams all the same though and I'd have Ballyhale, Ballygunner, Nap and Thomas's a good bit ahead of the rest in the all Ireland race and all 4 have fairly dominated their counties over last 10 years, all have at least 5/6 County titles won in that time and an all Ireland or 3 in ballyhales case. Ballyhale once they get out Kilkenny are famous not loosing, it's only Portumna, Birr, Oulart the ballagh and Ballygunner who've ever beaten them outside of Kilkenny. It's a fair record and all the teams that have beaten Ballyhale they've also lost to Ballyhale. Predict a Ballyhale v St Thomas's final

Throughthemidfieldhewasstormin (Wexford) - Posts: 258 - 04/11/2022 11:04:15    2446442

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Replying To Throughthemidfieldhewasstormin:  "Considering Ballygunner and Nap have pretty much dominated this province and dissed out some awful beatings, I wouldn't really class it as unpredictable. Especially when neither hae dominated at all Ireland series, Nap have won 3 games outside of munster (2 Ulster Champs and Ourlart after extra time) two serious teams all the same though and I'd have Ballyhale, Ballygunner, Nap and Thomas's a good bit ahead of the rest in the all Ireland race and all 4 have fairly dominated their counties over last 10 years, all have at least 5/6 County titles won in that time and an all Ireland or 3 in ballyhales case. Ballyhale once they get out Kilkenny are famous not loosing, it's only Portumna, Birr, Oulart the ballagh and Ballygunner who've ever beaten them outside of Kilkenny. It's a fair record and all the teams that have beaten Ballyhale they've also lost to Ballyhale. Predict a Ballyhale v St Thomas's final"
Blackrock from Cork beat Ballyhale in the 78/79 AI final. Buffers Alley beat them in the 88/89 Leinster Final. Kinnitty from Offaly beat them twice in Leinster, by 19 points in 1979 and again in the Leinstsr SF in 85. Birr also beat them twice in 91 and 07. St Rynaghs also from Offaly beat them in the 82 Leinster SF as well.
I don't think Ballyhale are unbeatable they only scraped through Leinster last year with some very close games. 2 1 point wins if I remember rightly. At the same time I still have them as favourites this year.
As I said above if Ballygunner beat Kilruane I think they will win Munster. I think St. Thomas have gone back a bit. If pushed I'd go for Ballyhale v Ballygunner again if they both win their provinces but it wouldn't surprise me if the Ulster or Connacht champions beat either tbh. Slaughtneil are focused only on hurling in Ulster now having not won the football in Derry and have won 5 out of the last 7 UCHCs, while Dunloy looked good this year in Antrim and Portaferry are always strong. Whoever wins between Clarinbridge and Loughrea could beat St Thomas in the final I'd imagine it will be close.

Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 11848 - 04/11/2022 11:47:34    2446446

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Replying To Throughthemidfieldhewasstormin:  "Considering Ballygunner and Nap have pretty much dominated this province and dissed out some awful beatings, I wouldn't really class it as unpredictable. Especially when neither hae dominated at all Ireland series, Nap have won 3 games outside of munster (2 Ulster Champs and Ourlart after extra time) two serious teams all the same though and I'd have Ballyhale, Ballygunner, Nap and Thomas's a good bit ahead of the rest in the all Ireland race and all 4 have fairly dominated their counties over last 10 years, all have at least 5/6 County titles won in that time and an all Ireland or 3 in ballyhales case. Ballyhale once they get out Kilkenny are famous not loosing, it's only Portumna, Birr, Oulart the ballagh and Ballygunner who've ever beaten them outside of Kilkenny. It's a fair record and all the teams that have beaten Ballyhale they've also lost to Ballyhale. Predict a Ballyhale v St Thomas's final"
Blackrock from Cork beat Ballyhale in the 78/79 AI final. Buffers Alley beat them in the 88/89 Leinster Final. Kinnitty from Offaly beat them twice in Leinster, by 19 points in 1979 and again in the Leinstsr SF in 85. Birr also beat them twice in 91 and 07. St Rynaghs also from Offaly beat them in the 82 Leinster SF as well.
I don't think Ballyhale are unbeatable they only scraped through Leinster last year with some very close games. 2 1 point wins if I remember rightly. At the same time I still have them as favourites this year.
As I said above if Ballygunner beat Kilruane I think they will win Munster. I think St. Thomas have gone back a bit. If pushed I'd go for Ballyhale v Ballygunner again if they both win their provinces but it wouldn't surprise me if the Ulster or Connacht champions beat either tbh. Slaughtneil are focused only on hurling in Ulster now having not won the football in Derry and have won 5 out of the last 7 UCHCs, while Dunloy looked good this year in Antrim and Portaferry are always strong. Whoever wins between Clarinbridge and Loughrea could beat St Thomas in the final I'd imagine it will be close.

Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 11848 - 04/11/2022 11:49:55    2446448

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Replying To Viking66:  "Blackrock from Cork beat Ballyhale in the 78/79 AI final. Buffers Alley beat them in the 88/89 Leinster Final. Kinnitty from Offaly beat them twice in Leinster, by 19 points in 1979 and again in the Leinstsr SF in 85. Birr also beat them twice in 91 and 07. St Rynaghs also from Offaly beat them in the 82 Leinster SF as well.
I don't think Ballyhale are unbeatable they only scraped through Leinster last year with some very close games. 2 1 point wins if I remember rightly. At the same time I still have them as favourites this year.
As I said above if Ballygunner beat Kilruane I think they will win Munster. I think St. Thomas have gone back a bit. If pushed I'd go for Ballyhale v Ballygunner again if they both win their provinces but it wouldn't surprise me if the Ulster or Connacht champions beat either tbh. Slaughtneil are focused only on hurling in Ulster now having not won the football in Derry and have won 5 out of the last 7 UCHCs, while Dunloy looked good this year in Antrim and Portaferry are always strong. Whoever wins between Clarinbridge and Loughrea could beat St Thomas in the final I'd imagine it will be close."
Ulster plays Galway this year so can't be Ballygunner v Ballyhale this year. I'd say if anything Thomas's are a lot better team than they were 2/3 years ago. Still look a cut above the rest in galway, had one blip in group stage and the team that beat them are now knocked themselves and didn't win a game after beating Thomas's. Shane Cooney back too is a huge boost for them. Think Ballyhale are still a bit above the rest and especially after the way they lost last years Final after being the better team for most of that final (funny how the world works with the semi thing happening them in their favour in the semi final and Rynaghs game) Don't see anyone in Leinster really the trouble them ATM when comes down to it, Wexford clubs haven't been relevant really since Oulart finished up, Offaly are still decent at club level and Spring the big win every now and then but maybe not at the level the were 10 years ago with Kilcormac and Coolderry and the previous 20 years before that with the great Birr team and others, Laois are always solid, Carlow Champs are always feared too and well deserved to be, Dublin don't really offer much in Leinster bar that very good Cuala team from a few years back. Hard to see anyone beating Ballyhale. Na Piarsaigh or Ballygunner vs Ballyhale will be a great game but still back Ballyhale to beat either. Slaughtneil haven't won the football in a few years now and it probably has helped them in hurling now, exceptional against Ballyhale a few years ago and weren't bad against Ballygunner last year, probably very unlucky in the teams they've come up against, Cuala, Ballyhale, Na Piarsaigh and Ballygunner (all the winners too) don't know if maybe they've missed the boat or this year could well be their last great chance, such a pity they never got over the line in either hurling or football, unlucky to come around th same time as Corofin too.

Throughthemidfieldhewasstormin (Wexford) - Posts: 258 - 04/11/2022 12:49:05    2446470

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Replying To Throughthemidfieldhewasstormin:  "Ulster plays Galway this year so can't be Ballygunner v Ballyhale this year. I'd say if anything Thomas's are a lot better team than they were 2/3 years ago. Still look a cut above the rest in galway, had one blip in group stage and the team that beat them are now knocked themselves and didn't win a game after beating Thomas's. Shane Cooney back too is a huge boost for them. Think Ballyhale are still a bit above the rest and especially after the way they lost last years Final after being the better team for most of that final (funny how the world works with the semi thing happening them in their favour in the semi final and Rynaghs game) Don't see anyone in Leinster really the trouble them ATM when comes down to it, Wexford clubs haven't been relevant really since Oulart finished up, Offaly are still decent at club level and Spring the big win every now and then but maybe not at the level the were 10 years ago with Kilcormac and Coolderry and the previous 20 years before that with the great Birr team and others, Laois are always solid, Carlow Champs are always feared too and well deserved to be, Dublin don't really offer much in Leinster bar that very good Cuala team from a few years back. Hard to see anyone beating Ballyhale. Na Piarsaigh or Ballygunner vs Ballyhale will be a great game but still back Ballyhale to beat either. Slaughtneil haven't won the football in a few years now and it probably has helped them in hurling now, exceptional against Ballyhale a few years ago and weren't bad against Ballygunner last year, probably very unlucky in the teams they've come up against, Cuala, Ballyhale, Na Piarsaigh and Ballygunner (all the winners too) don't know if maybe they've missed the boat or this year could well be their last great chance, such a pity they never got over the line in either hurling or football, unlucky to come around th same time as Corofin too."
Ah I didn't know the semifinal draw. Yes it would be great to see a Derry club win the whole thing out. And they have grounds in a beautiful setting too.
Shane Cooney would be a boost for Galway next year too if he commits.
I still think there will be a few twists and turns this year tbh.
It wouldn't shock me if Kilruane win this weekend for example.

Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 11848 - 04/11/2022 13:09:20    2446475

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Replying To midlands:  "Because, quite simply, I cannot see anyone winning Leinster except Ballyhale Shamrocks. The Munster championship, on the other hand, seems much more unpredictable."
There are 7 matchess to be played in the Leinster Championship. Ballyhale, at the most, will be involved in 3 of them.

Cockney_Cat (UK) - Posts: 2466 - 04/11/2022 13:30:04    2446484

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A few things struck me about the gunners today. I always thought Leavey and Cooke were light weights. The legs and necks on them is unreal. Billy O'Keeffe the club hurler of the year last year a sub. Ruddle a sub. Jake Foley a county under 20 player a sub. Na Piarsigh will be different kettle of fish next day as they are better now than the last time Ballygunner beat them. Fitzgearld a star in the making. Sullivan protects him. I hope Waterford do the same and not get him killed before his 19th birthday as they did to Shane Bennett.
There was one thing I appreciated from Ballygunner when 17 points ahead and clear path to goal at the end they took points. You don't need to embarrass your opposition. They worst case of that was during the Cork strike what Kilkenny did to the stand in team. The thing I did not like was the constant attempts to get Hutchison sent off. In fairness the ref was aware of it. A part from his scores he gave an exhibition of passing. It was a terrible assignment for Killruane playing so many games in a row but not the gunners fault. They had to wait around for 8 weeks.
Playing hurling in winter condition is terrible. Does anyone think higher ridges on the ball so it could be lifter easier would help ?

Canuck (Waterford) - Posts: 2660 - 06/11/2022 17:26:19    2446648

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Replying To Canuck:  "A few things struck me about the gunners today. I always thought Leavey and Cooke were light weights. The legs and necks on them is unreal. Billy O'Keeffe the club hurler of the year last year a sub. Ruddle a sub. Jake Foley a county under 20 player a sub. Na Piarsigh will be different kettle of fish next day as they are better now than the last time Ballygunner beat them. Fitzgearld a star in the making. Sullivan protects him. I hope Waterford do the same and not get him killed before his 19th birthday as they did to Shane Bennett.
There was one thing I appreciated from Ballygunner when 17 points ahead and clear path to goal at the end they took points. You don't need to embarrass your opposition. They worst case of that was during the Cork strike what Kilkenny did to the stand in team. The thing I did not like was the constant attempts to get Hutchison sent off. In fairness the ref was aware of it. A part from his scores he gave an exhibition of passing. It was a terrible assignment for Killruane playing so many games in a row but not the gunners fault. They had to wait around for 8 weeks.
Playing hurling in winter condition is terrible. Does anyone think higher ridges on the ball so it could be lifter easier would help ?"
As I said in another thread. Ballygunner at -6 was crazy odds by the bookies and it played out as expected. Kilruane at full tilt weren't going to get within 10 of ballygunner
I really can't see NAP beating them either and I'd actually fancy ballyhea to push them a bit closer albeit not close enough either.
Ballygunner will be delighted after the long lay off but do have a very tough route to winning the All Ireland. A repeat of the 2021 All Ireland final is a good possibility but obviously a long road ahead to that.

tiobraid (Tipperary) - Posts: 4119 - 06/11/2022 18:37:08    2446656

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Replying To Cockney_Cat:  "Why are you talking about Munster, but not Leinster? Your own county has a team, Castletown Geoghegan, playing in the Leinster Senior Club Championship this weekend."
Ye are obseessed with peoples interest in Munster hurling! Maybe talk about more about leinster than commenting so much about Munster and the interest in these forums and talk might increase

tiobraid (Tipperary) - Posts: 4119 - 06/11/2022 18:39:14    2446658

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Replying To tiobraid:  "As I said in another thread. Ballygunner at -6 was crazy odds by the bookies and it played out as expected. Kilruane at full tilt weren't going to get within 10 of ballygunner
I really can't see NAP beating them either and I'd actually fancy ballyhea to push them a bit closer albeit not close enough either.
Ballygunner will be delighted after the long lay off but do have a very tough route to winning the All Ireland. A repeat of the 2021 All Ireland final is a good possibility but obviously a long road ahead to that."
Its leinster v Munster in the all Ireland semi final so no repeat is possible.

TerribleFootwork (Wexford) - Posts: 1716 - 06/11/2022 20:59:13    2446684

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Replying To tiobraid:  "Ye are obseessed with peoples interest in Munster hurling! Maybe talk about more about leinster than commenting so much about Munster and the interest in these forums and talk might increase"
Obsessed with peoples interest in Munster hurling?! Where do you get that nonsense from. Still, I suppose I shouldn't be surprised, going by some other of your near hysterical rantings earlier this year.

Cockney_Cat (UK) - Posts: 2466 - 07/11/2022 09:54:55    2446701

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