So what's the verdict on the draw?

Clare should be pleased with their performance against a superior Tipp side, a bunch of youngsters trying to find their feet and pull Clare hurling out of a rut and they competed well with All Ireland champions for 50 minutes before Tipp pulled away, gallant effort, they should take heart from it. You'd have to fancy their chances against Galway if they can produce a performance like they did in the first half against Tipp. As for Galway, God only knows what's gone wrong there, they badly need to win this game but they're a real enigma right now.

As for Limerick v Wexford, the heart says Wexford but the head says Limerick - if we had home advantage I might think differently. Limerick were impressive & very unlucky to lose against Waterford and will be keen to progress under Donal O Grady. We've had spirited displays against Antrim & KK but we too, are a Work In Progress. A win for us would be a big step in the right direction, but I think Limerick's home advantage will see them through.

I'm going to go for Clare & Limerick, and sincerely hope I am wrong on the latter.

gigoer (Wexford) - Posts: 1998 - 19/06/2011 18:57:11    960385

If Clare had home advantage I would be inclined to agree. The surprise element is now gone and Galway will know they are in for a match. Galway wont be as bad again and I would expect them to come through in a close encounter. The other game could be close too, similarly I expect a huge improvement in Wexford but I think home advantage could again prove crucial and I expect Limerick to prevail here.

corkcelt (Cork) - Posts: 4388 - 19/06/2011 20:08:20    960438

if honan and conlan can have more of an influence on clares game i feel theyll do enough to put galway out of their misery , limerick will have declan hannon back for the wexford clash as well as home advantage and should win comfortably , munster hurling still on top

stekhli (Dublin) - Posts: 3121 - 19/06/2011 20:23:18    960460

Two good games in prospect. Phase 2 in generally consistent in providing good clashes. Limerick and Galway should advance but I wouldn't write off their opponents.

legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 9113 - 19/06/2011 21:13:44    960513

Galway v Clare - very hard to call given Galway's collapse against Dublin. Before the weekend I would've put Galway to win but given Clare's performance against Tipp it would be unfair to not give them a strong chance of winning. Defining match for both teams, Galway need to silence their critics and do themselves justice. Not taking anything from Dublin's win, Galway cannot be that bad again and I think they'll have more to prove. Home soil is a big factor but hard to see a big crowd turning out for it. I'm going for Galway but only just!

Limerick v Wexford - There has never been much seperating these teams in recent times. Wexford will want to avenge 09 and will believe they can cause an upset. Limerick will welcome back Hannon and Lucey will should add more firepower and stabilise the full back line. I think this is a very important game for Limerick and will define their progress to date. After the defeat to Waterford it is vital they get a win under their belt and a defeat would be disasterous to the renewned buzz in the county. I think if Limerick can reproduce the display against Waterford and learn from the mistakes they should win this game by 4 or 5 points.

Two cracking matches, raging it wasn't a double header in Thurles though. They'd surely get near capacity and for 30/35e a ticket, supporters would get value and two brilliant championship matches. A full house in Semple Stadium would only add a greater atmosphere especially in a season with poor crowd attendance to date.

Mick14 (Limerick) - Posts: 766 - 20/06/2011 11:00:25    960692

hey cork celt galway will be as bad again.look at tipp match in the league then westmeath and now dublin.there is no ground for optimism.cyril farrell was talking up galway again on the sunday game.pure rubbish.you want a good bet put your money on clare.

toe2hand (Galway) - Posts: 223 - 20/06/2011 11:40:27    960736

Couldn't agree more Mick, double headers in Thurles be it League or championship is always a great day out, Thurles is a fantastic place to go for the hurling & the pints, 3 instances of that spring to mind for me personally, Wexford v Offaly & Kilkenny v Tipp in the League final 2009, Wexford V Clare & Cork v Galway in the League final 2010 and Wexford v Waterford & Clare v Cork on a scorching day in the championship 2007 (I think) - great days out, loads of pints, ceol agus craic

I'm really disappointed that these 2 draws were not put on as a double header in Thurles - let's face it, Galway, Limerick & Clare wouldn't have had far to travel, would they? And I for one would have been happy to throw on the Purple & gold and trapse off to Thurles

Bad call by the GAA here

gigoer (Wexford) - Posts: 1998 - 20/06/2011 12:14:41    960784

gigoer
County: Wexford
Posts: 296

960784 Couldn't agree more Mick, double headers in Thurles be it League or championship is always a great day out, Thurles is a fantastic place to go for the hurling & the pints, 3 instances of that spring to mind for me personally, Wexford v Offaly & Kilkenny v Tipp in the League final 2009, Wexford V Clare & Cork v Galway in the League final 2010 and Wexford v Waterford & Clare v Cork on a scorching day in the championship 2007 (I think) - great days out, loads of pints, ceol agus craic

I'm really disappointed that these 2 draws were not put on as a double header in Thurles - let's face it, Galway, Limerick & Clare wouldn't have had far to travel, would they? And I for one would have been happy to throw on the Purple & gold and trapse off to Thurles

Bad call by the GAA here

----

Couldn't disagree more - while I hear what you're saying, I spend an absolute fortune following our hurlers and footballers around every year, and haven't had a home hurling match in years, so delighted to be able to go to Salthill rather than what would be a third weekend in a row travelling for me.

abhainn (Galway) - Posts: 1000 - 20/06/2011 12:17:51    960787

From a Limerick point of view, writing off Wexford is not a good idea. We were favourites against them in 96 & 2001 and they won both of those by two points and one respectively.

Then in 2009 we beat them by two.

This is a very tricky fixture & I hope we make it through.

slayer (Limerick) - Posts: 6535 - 20/06/2011 12:19:17    960791

Well i think Clare played very well against tipp, and a nine point defeat was not a fair reflection of their performance,as a neutral watching the game i would have to say Clare played way above anything i have seen from them with a long time, tipp got very soft goals, and Clare tired towards the end, I also felt the ref was poor and tipp got a lot of dodgy calls, however clare have plenty to build on.
But they are seriously up against it now, Galway were the toughest draw and at home at that, despite them playing awfull stuff recently i still think they will a hugh backlash from them on this occasion ,its now last saloon time, they have on paper great players and i think they will win this local derby.
I will go against the grain in the other game I did not think Limerick were great against Waterford and no way were they unlucky, yes they could have won it but Waterford should have been out of sight at half time and on the day Waterford were far from convincing and they have work to do to compete against tipp, a repeat of what we have seen in thurles will not not be near good enough and we will be on the scenic route ourselves, but who knows ?.
Wexford alldough written off early in the season will be a tough nut to crack, they have been playing good stuff lately and they showed up well against KK for long spells which was probally a better test of form than what Limerick done so my vote to proceed in the quest for Mc Carthy goes to Galway and Wexford.

shrewdjudge (Waterford) - Posts: 290 - 20/06/2011 12:32:26    960800

Fair 'nuff abhainn, I respect that point of view. good luck in your game, I hope Galway can pick themselves up

Something tells me both Wexford & Limerick will respect each other here Slayer, should be a good game, if memory serves there's never been more than a point or 2 in all their championship meetings in the last 15 years. G'luck to both of us

gigoer (Wexford) - Posts: 1998 - 20/06/2011 12:33:59    960803

Clare & Limerick

gaillimh73 (Galway) - Posts: 669 - 20/06/2011 12:43:05    960816

Close games I expect but I would go for Limerick and Galway to prevail......just.

Richieq (Meath) - Posts: 3760 - 20/06/2011 12:44:45    960820

Clare V Galway- Very impressed with Clare, I thought Tipp would win by 8 or 9 points and I knew Clare would put up a fight but I didn't believ that they could play as well as they did in the first 20 minutes. Thing is that Clare would have been preparing for that game since the League Final loss. Now they have to turn around and pick up the pieces for Galway. If there's any fight left in Galway they'll come out all guns blazing and win by 5 or 6, otherwise Clare will eke out a win.

Limerick v Wexford- Coin toss as to who's the better team but I think Limerick have momentum and their players were making very positive noises after the Waterford defeat. I see them winning by 2-3 points.

roundball (Tipperary) - Posts: 2514 - 20/06/2011 12:51:48    960832

I, for one am glad these games are scheduled for home venues rather than a neutral double-header in Thurles. Salthill and the re-developed Gaelic Grounds are two stadiums that have been under-utilised in recent years so it is high time they saw a bit of action and no harm to see the local communities enjoy a financial benefit as well.

On the games themselves, hard to call any game involving the Galway hurlers at the moment. They must be the most infuriating inter-county team to support in recent years - huge potential, flashes of promise from time to time, ultimately it all ends in disappointment. You'd imagine a local derby against the Banner would bring out the battling qualities to produce their best but you would have imagined the same after the stinging criticism laid out in Hayes/Lane/Lynsky article and instead all we got was the lifeless display in Tullamore. Who knows really, there is probably one big performance in Galway but they will need it to tame Clare who impressed yesterday.

Wexford will have no fear of Limerick. Should be a hum-dinger, but if Limerick get a couple of players back from the last day and re-produce what they showed against Waterford then they should have enough on the day to progress.

eviemonkey (Cork) - Posts: 308 - 20/06/2011 13:03:08    960855

Both are good draws and should be good games. Phase 2 consistently provides good games. It's one of the few draws that is done well but it's slightly flawed Phase 1 winners are advancing to the same level. Phase 2 winners at the very least should be guaranteed home tie for Phase 3.

legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 9113 - 20/06/2011 13:09:31    960860

A good draw for neutrals, should be two entertaining games. I'll go for Galway and Limerick to win. Home advantage will be a big help to Limerick and Galway will know that they have to pull up their socks big time after last weekend. Clare will give them a right battle but I think Galway are that bit better.

Farmerboy (Meath) - Posts: 209 - 20/06/2011 13:19:11    960882

I think if we had got Limerick at home we would have beaten them, it's a tall order to go to Limerick and win. Hope I am wrong.
I think Galway will surely improve if they have any pride in that jersey and will beat Clare.

Pinkie (Wexford) - Posts: 4100 - 20/06/2011 13:28:13    960896

stekhli:

Honan didn't even look interested in the warm up yesterday let alone the match. True enough he has skill but has not shown it at intercounty as of yet. I'll go for Galway and limerick to win the games. Galway will have farragher and tanion back which will make a big difference and I think they can only improve after their preformance against dublin even the joe show didn't happen, limerick will also have young hannon back so i think they'll have too much for wexford.

Hag_and_Cheese (Tipperary) - Posts: 6103 - 20/06/2011 13:58:13    960937

Honan looked very unfit yesterday. That said we scored 1-19 against the All Ireland Championship without our best forward being fit.

Galway are a mess at the moment and I feel that they will not look forward to playing a fast youthful team like Clare. Home advantage is not as big a deal in hurling as in rugby for example and if Galway go behind early like Tipp yesterday, their fans might turn on them and ultimately the pressure might get too much. Galway having home advantage might be more of a advantage to Clare

LohansRedHelmet (Clare) - Posts: 2697 - 20/06/2011 14:10:53    960953