In a word, no.
The eternal optimists say that Kilkenny have raised the bar in hurling and other counties will soon match them, but this sadly isn't happening, if anything the gap is getting wider. Dual players are increasingly choosing football over hurling. I believe that a reason for this is their belief that football gives them a better chance at success than hurling, so you could argue that Kilkennys dominance has actually lowered the standard of hurling in many counties.
People say that we are privileged to witness the greatest hurling team ever, well I have one question for them. Seeing as we are so lucky to see this great team in action, would they like to see more of the same over the next ten years? You can be sure they wouldn't.
A good year for hurling these days constitutes someone giving kilkenny a game in the all Ireland final, a far cry from the pre Cody era of the nineties surely.
How is any of this good for hurling?

joncarter (Galway) - Posts: 2692 - 08/06/2013 15:37:46    1401812

im saying it for years now kilkenny will be the death of hurling [ no fault to them] its showing big time interest of fans and the media has fallen away big time sure noone at matches now noone talks hurling in the local now its rare

Stmunnsriver (Wexford) - Posts: 2983 - 08/06/2013 15:45:56    1401818

Standards are higher now than they have ever been. I say this as someone who has seen over forty All-Ireland hurling finals. From that point of view they have been good for hurling. However every sport thrives on competition. I have never seen such predictability and inevitability in hurling as I see currently. Bar a huge surprise it will be a Tipp Kilkenny final.Sport has a habit of biting you on the bum. I hope it happens in hurling this year and we get two fresh finalists.It all brings me back to footballs so called "golden era" in the mid to late seventies and the Kerry Dublin rivalry.That too was an era of stultifying predictability and inevitability.

Greengrass (Louth) - Posts: 6180 - 08/06/2013 15:51:18    1401822

People waffle on about how the gap in the football is getting bigger. Fact is we've had 5 different winners of the all Ireland in the last 5 years. In Hurling we've just had Kilkenny winning all Irelands like Dublin win leinsters. You can guarantee here and now that Kilkenny are in the all Ireland final this year and they haven't even played their first championship game yet. Its unreal how boring it is because one team is so far out in front its scary. At least in the football there are 5 or 6 teams at the top capable of beating each other. And you have more shocks in the football than the hurling.

waynoI (Dublin) - Posts: 13654 - 08/06/2013 16:07:45    1401833

As it is at the moment, Kilkenny are not good for hurling.

There are a few reasons for this.

Kilkenny are fanatical about winning and will go to any lengths to do so. With them, I would say, winning comes before the game of hurling itself. To be supremely skilled is not enough for them. They are not prepared to take their chances of a direct shootout with an equally skilled team. In order to be sure of winning, they must negate the skill of others (smother tackling).

Nothing illegal here, of course, and it is up to other teams to figure out a way to beat this; to be as equally fit and strong and durable and faster. Tipperary did it in 2010 and Galway gave it quite a lash last year.

The problem, as I see it, is the constant fouling, the arm-holding, the jersey tug, the barging when in possession, the shoulder charge which is seldom shoulder to shoulder, the hurly over the shoulder, which finishes up around the neck. (Putting your hurly over an opponent's shoulder is specifically mentioned as a foul in the rule book.) All other teams commit those fouls, as well, but the difference is that Kilkenny have made a virtue out of them, because they help to win games, and Cody has been putting pressure on referees to "let the games flow", which is another way of saying "let the fouls go".

I think, however, that referees are now becoming stricter on personal fouls, although there will always be escape routes for the fouler as long as the "advantage" rule remains. I am optimistic that the playing field will soon be levelled in that regard. The fanatical will-to-win by Kilkenny teams (which has always been there, even pre-Cody) will ensure that Kilkenny will still win a share of titles, but I look forward to seeing games where skill and fitness prevail instead of negative tactics.

Midleton (Cork) - Posts: 644 - 08/06/2013 16:19:59    1401839

Another way of putting it is, Kilkenny are brilliant and the rest of the counties are bad for hurling!

realdub (Dublin) - Posts: 8759 - 08/06/2013 16:25:40    1401842

Im not criticizing kilkenny realdub.Im just saying that their dominance is not good for the game.

joncarter (Galway) - Posts: 2692 - 08/06/2013 16:50:57    1401855

Midleton
County: Cork
Posts: 193

1401839 As it is at the moment, Kilkenny are not good for hurling.

There are a few reasons for this.

Kilkenny are fanatical about winning and will go to any lengths to do so. With them, I would say, winning comes before the game of hurling itself. To be supremely skilled is not enough for them. They are not prepared to take their chances of a direct shootout with an equally skilled team. In order to be sure of winning, they must negate the skill of others (smother tackling).

Nothing illegal here, of course, and it is up to other teams to figure out a way to beat this; to be as equally fit and strong and durable and faster. Tipperary did it in 2010 and Galway gave it quite a lash last year.

The problem, as I see it, is the constant fouling, the arm-holding, the jersey tug, the barging when in possession, the shoulder charge which is seldom shoulder to shoulder, the hurly over the shoulder, which finishes up around the neck. (Putting your hurly over an opponent's shoulder is specifically mentioned as a foul in the rule book.) All other teams commit those fouls, as well, but the difference is that Kilkenny have made a virtue out of them, because they help to win games, and Cody has been putting pressure on referees to "let the games flow", which is another way of saying "let the fouls go".

I think, however, that referees are now becoming stricter on personal fouls, although there will always be escape routes for the fouler as long as the "advantage" rule remains. I am optimistic that the playing field will soon be levelled in that regard. The fanatical will-to-win by Kilkenny teams (which has always been there, even pre-Cody) will ensure that Kilkenny will still win a share of titles, but I look forward to seeing games where skill and fitness prevail instead of negative tactics.

So are you saying that cynical fouling exists in hurling ? We have witnessed the utter travesty that is the introduction of the black card in to football.You are effectively saying that the countries top hurling team have enshrined cynicism as part of their philosophy. I think your view is jaundiced. The reason Kilkenny are the best is because they have the best and most skillful players which is down to their coaching structures. The best players of their generation are also fortunate to be managed by the greatest manager hurling has ever seen.

Greengrass (Louth) - Posts: 6180 - 08/06/2013 16:52:04    1401856

I know johcarter, I was just putting it in it's true light, I understand what you're saying pal...

realdub (Dublin) - Posts: 8759 - 08/06/2013 17:00:19    1401868

Midleton
County: Cork

Great post, gets to the heart of the real problem in hurling. And as you say, its not just Kilkenny, cynical fouling is pervasive in the game now, and its changed hurling as a spectacle for the worse. The great hurlers of the past that made us fall in love with the game in the first place wouldn't get on an inter-county team now, never mind actually be able to work their magic on the pitch. I miss ground hurling, I miss wristy flowing hurling, I miss players like John Fenton, Nicky English, John Troy (does that make me an old grouch?). Again, I'm not laying this just at Kilkennys door, the problem is the GAA only see cynical fouling as a problem in football, and seem to have an 'anything goes' attitude when it come to hurling. And this is hurting hurling in a lot of counties, as skillful hurlers are taking a back seat to the guys that can live with the physical/cynical stuff.

Marlon_JD (Tipperary) - Posts: 1823 - 08/06/2013 17:09:52    1401875

The greatest team ever with some of the greatest players that ever graced the game and the question asked is that good for hurling ?
I consider it a privilege to have seen Shefflin, Tommy Walsh and co in their prime.
Mick O'Shea's Kerry team dominated football at one stage despite it being a game favoured by virtually all counties and the same argument was raised.

Because mediocrity is easily achieved, greatness is often resented. Anon

Maroonatic (Galway) - Posts: 1066 - 08/06/2013 17:18:10    1401885

Agree with that marlon jd. Theres not a lot of magic in modern hurling anymore. Just a lot of big strong fellas. Bring back Dj Carey. Some of his goals and the skills he displayed were worth the entrance fees alone. Cant really think of any exciting player at the moment. Joe Canning is good but even his game is very dependant on physicality too.

joncarter (Galway) - Posts: 2692 - 08/06/2013 17:28:06    1401894

Maroonatic,Kilkenny have won 6 of the last 7 all Irelands. Judging from your post I assume you would feel privileged to see them win 6 of the next 7 too?

joncarter (Galway) - Posts: 2692 - 08/06/2013 17:30:07    1401899

I've no hesitation in saying I believe hurling played at it's best to the best game of them all. It still remains so. To my mind no other game comes close.This KK group have consistently played the game at the very highest level. Whatever the future holds we'll have to wait and see. I've been lucky enough to witness what is to-date the greatest team ever. And yes, I regard that as a privilege.

Maroonatic (Galway) - Posts: 1066 - 08/06/2013 17:49:18    1401914

Hurling is the greatest game on earth when BOTH teams are playing it to its highest level (September 2009,2010).However,when ONE team is playing to the highest level and wiping the floor with another its actually quite depressing.

joncarter (Galway) - Posts: 2692 - 08/06/2013 17:54:01    1401916

Greengrass -

So are you saying that cynical fouling exists in hurling ? Yes

You are effectively saying that the countries top hurling team have enshrined cynicism as part of their philosophy.Yes

I think your view is jaundiced. Possibly

The reason Kilkenny are the best is because they have the best and most skillful players which is down to their coaching structures. The best players of their generation are also fortunate to be managed by the greatest manager hurling has ever seen. I don't think it's quite as simple as that. For some reason, you are seeing only half the picture; I see the whole. Perhaps you like the direction hurling has taken. I don't. I know full well that hurling has always been physical, but it never was as cynical as it is at the present day. Kilkenny were always on of the top hurling counties in Ireland. I've seen them play often enough down the years to know that they were, undoubtedly, one of the hardest counties to beat in league or championship. They needed only the extra ingredient of extreme cynicism to almost totally dominate. They like to call it "playing on the edge". It was their choice. This is my opinion.

Midleton (Cork) - Posts: 644 - 08/06/2013 17:56:54    1401918

I was in Croke Park last July to witness one team wipe the floor with another and it was far from depressing. The scoreboard after 30 minutes read 2-12 to 0-2. Who had the 0-2? A team called Kilkenny. So cheer up joncarter and you'll be happy to know Joe Canning is not just good, he's great.

Maroonatic (Galway) - Posts: 1066 - 08/06/2013 18:06:35    1401928

Funnily enough I enjoyed that game myself.

joncarter (Galway) - Posts: 2692 - 08/06/2013 18:15:08    1401936

Its not Kilkennys fault all the other counties have to raise their standards. Kilkenny simply can't dominate forever so the other counties have to be reay to pounce when the eventually slip for a few years.Since 2000 hurling has been quite disappointing seeing so many counties who were good in the 90's fall away and never look like getting close to being all ireland champions.

Kilkenny are a brilliant team but nobody is interested in sport because of quality play most people love sport for its competitiveness.

uibhfhaili1986 (Offaly) - Posts: 1296 - 08/06/2013 18:20:14    1401938

It's not Kilkenny's fault they're better than everyone else.

It's up to the rest to raise the bar.

Samsforthehills (Donegal) - Posts: 1075 - 08/06/2013 18:22:00    1401940