Read this elsewhere but OTB now the first club to lose four provincial finals in a row...either code. Although, I am delighted for MLR and Carlow hurling, it's a huge pity for a club that is "going to the well" every year. I hope they make amends next year and I, for one, will be celebrating with them.

Cully (Laois) - Posts: 375 - 02/12/2013 10:49:11    1519704

3foot of timber don't think u understand me. I think hurling is in danger pretty much everywhere outside of kk Waterford n Clare. Loughnane said years ago that football is hurlings biggest threat. Look at how football has competed with hurling in counties like wexford and cork. It is now getting a toe hold in tipp. There was a big discussion in tipp last year around minor hurlers losing to us cos a lot of their players played on minor football team. I think apart from counties mentioned above we all need to work at keeping game alive.

disillusiondfan (Limerick) - Posts: 4279 - 02/12/2013 11:04:07    1519710

a huge well done to mount leinster rangers great to see.

pig.ignorant (Derry) - Posts: 655 - 02/12/2013 11:24:21    1519714

Delighted for MLR, but as Cully said you would have to feel for Oulart. Great team and sound people. Hopefully their day will come.

hurlingdub (Dublin) - Posts: 6978 - 02/12/2013 11:24:27    1519715

A lot of people on here were having a go at Ballyboden & Dublin club hurling after MLR's semi-final win. That has now proved to be totally disrespectful & unfounded to those concerned.

keeper7 (Longford) - Posts: 4088 - 02/12/2013 12:24:23    1519740

Cully
County: Laois
Posts: 253

1519704


Read this elsewhere but OTB now the first club to lose four provincial finals in a row...either code. Although, I am delighted for MLR and Carlow hurling, it's a huge pity for a club that is "going to the well" every year. I hope they make amends next year and I, for one, will be celebrating with them.

Sure it could be worse. Clann na nGael from Roscommon lost four all-Ireland football finals in a row.

Gaillimh_Abu (Galway) - Posts: 1034 - 02/12/2013 12:47:54    1519751

That is true Keeper. On the other hand Boden were clearly over-confident. Winning goal was a joke - forward standing all on his own ten yards from the goal! And Oulart missed a pile of chances yesterday. Must of dropped ten balls into the goalkeepers hand.

hurlingdub (Dublin) - Posts: 6978 - 02/12/2013 13:16:45    1519768

Sometimes the fear of losing overcomes all other desires.

valley84 (Westmeath) - Posts: 1903 - 02/12/2013 13:39:15    1519779

Fair play to MLR, they wanted the game more than Oulart and crucially they had on the sideline a very good manager who developed a gameplan to beat Oulart and had the ability to read the game and change things during the game, something Oulart didnt have.

MLR slowed the game down completely and stopped Oulart clearing easy balls, fouling when necessary, this allowed MLR to organise their defence and not get caught out of position and denying the Oulart forwards space. You could see it plain as day but Oulart never adapted, never changed, just kept launching high balls down on top of an already crowded forward line turning every pass into a 50:50 scrap for possession and 8 times out of 10 an MLR player won that dirty ball.

Nicky Kirwan sat on the bench, a pacy player capable of getting into space until it was too late. Once MLR got over the first 15 mins i thought Oulart were in trouble and in that 1st 15 mins the Oulart player went about the game trying for hail mary scores from the sideline rather than passing to a player in a better position. I think overall Oulart have better hurlers but this game was won and lost on the sideline.

tearintom (Wexford) - Posts: 1501 - 02/12/2013 15:18:32    1519820

i would like to correct the commentator on KCLR FM,i heard the audio earlier:

wexford did not relegate carlow as he has suggested,carlow were relegated because they didnt win enough games to stay in 1B.just like cork were relegated from 1a because they didnt win enough games.GET OVER IT.

best of luck to mlr though,hope you go on and win the all-ireland.also hope the rest of the clubs in carlow now match that effort.

perfect10 (Wexford) - Posts: 3929 - 02/12/2013 21:32:29    1519989

Great result for Mount Leinster and Carlow hurling. We in Antrim know only too well that they have some fine hurlers in Carlow and it was only a matter of time before they made a breakthrough. There are hurlers in Carlow, Antrim, Laois, Down, Kerry etc as good as any in the country but obviously not in the same numbers as the established counties. This can only be good news for the wider game.

Ulsterman (Antrim) - Posts: 9818 - 03/12/2013 14:45:32    1520153

I think it's madness to say that mlr 'wanted' to win more than oulart. I don't think anyone could want to win more than them. It's the new lazy mans cliche (along with 'they were hungrier') and nearly always bull**it. The better team (usually) wins, you can want all you like, but if your rubbish, struck by fear of losing, overconfident or very unlucky you'll lose. 'they wanted it more than us' is a spineless replacement for 'theyre better than us'

flack (Dublin) - Posts: 1054 - 03/12/2013 19:46:46    1520259

flack
County: Dublin
Posts: 144

1520259 I think it's madness to say that mlr 'wanted' to win more than oulart. I don't think anyone could want to win more than them. It's the new lazy mans cliche (along with 'they were hungrier') and nearly always bull**it. The better team (usually) wins, you can want all you like, but if your rubbish, struck by fear of losing, overconfident or very unlucky you'll lose. 'they wanted it more than us' is a spineless replacement for 'theyre better than us'

I disagree. I think there are a multitude of examples where a hungrier team beat a team that was better than them because they wanted it more. I think I've experienced both, been on the receiving end and also gave it out. I think Oulart seriously need to get in a sports physchologist. They have a fear of losing and lose their nerve. MLRs are obviously an excellent team but Oulart are stronger on paper and I had expected them to win.

I'd love to see MLRs to win it out but I think the Antrim boys might have too much for them. Experience won't really come into it as MLR have recent experience of keeping the training going and early new years preperation for big games.
I the other semi final I think Portumna might get the better of NaPiarsaigh but they are two even games and are very difficult to call. Portumna to win it out if I had to make the call.
Great competition!

hurlinspuds (Cork) - Posts: 1494 - 04/12/2013 09:49:38    1520360

I see what your saying hurlingspuds, but I'd say OTB were a lot 'hungrier' than MLR, for all the good it did them. I'd agree with you more about the fear of losing, which can be paralyzing, and trumps their hunger

flack (Dublin) - Posts: 1054 - 04/12/2013 14:16:54    1520494

I see what your saying hurlingspuds, but I'd say OTB were a lot 'hungrier' than MLR, for all the good it did them. I'd agree with you more about the fear of losing, which can be paralyzing, and trumps their hunger

flack (Dublin) - Posts: 1054 - 04/12/2013 14:16:55    1520495

On another thread I put a lot of Clare's success down to Davy fitz. I think he was able to orchestrate a game that played to Clare's strengths. In other words Galway lk and cork played on Clare's terms. Why is this relevant here? OTB played on MLRs terms on Sunday. MLR had extra back n a number 6 who was excellent in the air. OTB kept hitting high ball in hope that summit or Nolan would get paw to it. Completely playing to MLRs strengths. I think coaches now more than ever need plan A plan B and plan C. That y I'm glad our last manager left.

disillusiondfan (Limerick) - Posts: 4279 - 04/12/2013 14:54:42    1520515

Spot on DSF. Na Piarsiagh to win it out. Huge firepower and devastatingly quick all over the park. Hon the blues.

Hoover78 (Limerick) - Posts: 865 - 04/12/2013 18:28:19    1520625

Hope u r right Hoover but time for a different approach from limerick teams. 100% focus total dedication to job at hand. Complete media ban for players. Only those who work hardest and who do most to win will win. It not about enjoying the occasion it about being totally ruthless in pursuit of what matters

disillusiondfan (Limerick) - Posts: 4279 - 04/12/2013 18:59:53    1520632

I honestly think any of the 4 teams left can win it, since my own county has a team involved it is extra enjoyable but must admit i think it has been a fab comp up to this point with more to come.Looking forward to the spring in the hope Na piarsaigh can break the Limerick hoodoo and win an all irl in croke park,but as i said any of the 4 can win it.

someday (Limerick) - Posts: 1104 - 04/12/2013 21:03:52    1520674

I think after Sundays match that people will see MLR as a very effective but boring defensive team, who keep scores down with a great defence and others dropping back. That's what was needed to beat Oulart but the good thing about this side is they can change to suit the opponents.

In the semi final v the Dublin champs Ballyboden MLR scored 1-17 to win an attacking sort of game, went at them as was the plan and did end up conceding 3 goals but still worked.

Cannot wait till AI semis in Feb & maybe its good for Carlow that we are in 2A as for start of league as for 1st game or 2 at least we will have to work off the other 5 clubs.

The Real 1944 (Carlow) - Posts: 1114 - 04/12/2013 21:57:40    1520711