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Replying To Viking66: "Great entertainment for sure. Plenty of ebb and flow. Drama too. Not champagne hurling but very exciting all the same, better than what I watched Saturday evening.
Cork looking good at the minute, you must be quietly optimistic BnB?" TBH Viking, I'd still be very cautious as it's only April. If you had said to me at this stage last year that Tipp would win the AI, I would have laughed at you. What is really pleasing though is the fight and mettle they are showing. We've played better in games over the last few years and lost, so in that regard there is some optimism. However, there is a long, long way to go.
bloodandbandage (Cork) - Posts: 513 - 27/04/2026 12:36:23
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Replying To Viking66: "Great entertainment for sure. Plenty of ebb and flow. Drama too. Not champagne hurling but very exciting all the same, better than what I watched Saturday evening.
Cork looking good at the minute, you must be quietly optimistic BnB?" The news just in that Joyce will miss the rest of the season and Ron Downey out for 6 weeks. That's numbers 3 and 6. Massive blow.
bloodandbandage (Cork) - Posts: 513 - 27/04/2026 12:54:23
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Replying To bloodandbandage: "The news just in that Joyce will miss the rest of the season and Ron Downey out for 6 weeks. That's numbers 3 and 6. Massive blow." Big losses ok. Thats tough on the 2 young lads themselves especially.
Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 19365 - 27/04/2026 13:31:30
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Replying To bloodandbandage: "The news just in that Joyce will miss the rest of the season and Ron Downey out for 6 weeks. That's numbers 3 and 6. Massive blow." *Rob not Ron!
bloodandbandage (Cork) - Posts: 513 - 27/04/2026 13:49:45
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Congratulations to Cork on their win yesterday.
It was intense, tough and tight stuff and I thought both teams performed brilliantly.
From a Limerick perspective it felt like Cian Lynch's red card was likely the turning point, but in my opinion it was absolutely and fully deserved though and I would expect better judgement from him. When we went down to 10 men we really missed having Aaron Gillane up top as an outlet. I think Cork and Darragh Fitzgibbon in particular were brilliant playing heads up hurling and finding the space.
The pressure valve has well and truly been switched up. Ennis On Sunday is a big task for us missing two former hurlers of the year.
LimerickandProud (Limerick) - Posts: 241 - 27/04/2026 13:59:30
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Replying To bloodandbandage: "The news just in that Joyce will miss the rest of the season and Ron Downey out for 6 weeks. That's numbers 3 and 6. Massive blow." Absolute sickener for Joyce and the Rebels.... ;o(
Dreaded ACL
https://www.rte.ie/sport/hurling/2026/0427/1570417-blow-for-cork-as-joyce-suffers-season-ending-acl-injury/
Fionn (Dublin) - Posts: 4890 - 27/04/2026 13:59:31
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Cork peaking too early again it seems. Last time I checked there was no all irelands ever won in April. Seems to be the same every year with them. When push comes to shove I really think they could be bet by any of Galway Limerick Clare Dublin Kilkenny Tipperary Waterford or Offaly. They struggled against 14 man limerick with 20 mins left. Bare in mind this limerick team are no spring chickens, especially without two of the top 3 hurlers of all time behind only Joe Canning. Limerick being overlooked. Dont be surprised to see an offaly underdog run. Roll on championship 2026 its good to be back. Galway for Liam !
Galwayman67420 (Galway) - Posts: 27 - 27/04/2026 14:28:13
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Replying To Fairplayalways: "Firstly I am an Offaly man, and supporter of teams whom one time were in same vein as ourselves. in Munster, Limerick, Clare and Waterford were always teams I watch our for - even today. Leinster, apart from Offaly - Wexford Laois and Dublin etc. Antrim, Down and Derry etc. in Ulster. But this weekend having watched all televised games, the standard, pace, intensity we seen in Munster - was sadly lacking in Leinster games. A member of my household who does not really follow any of the GAA even remarked last night on the Sunday game - the lack lustre openess of the Offaly-Galway game etc. if you looked away there was hardly a cheer or a shout to hear to draw back ones attention. Cork and Limerick and Wateford and Tipp were rivetting games yesterday. I never agreed with Galway in Leinster - and still dont - they have done little to add to its competitiveness. If anything, they are too somehow stumbling through round robin games that they will win playing at 70%. Then when the knockout comes later in summer - they are competitive for a while but ultimately fall away..its 9 years since the won their All Ireland - havent really rattled the cage too much since.
Where is the answer? I dont know - we are gone down a serious rabit hole with Leinster - Wexford are surely not as poor as they were against a stuttering Kilkenny team, whom the pundits tried to talk up as "having gone back to old style" in their win on Saturday evening - I think more it was Wexfords surrender after the 2nd goal made Kilkenny look good. Wexford had a great U20 team including Cian Byrne who came on as a sub on Saturday and played well enough - there were more on that U20 team, if I recall, I know not everyone goes through to senior but surely there are more..The JMCD is a good tournament to a degree - nice to win it - but is it masking a bigger problem as Kildare and possibly Offaly/Laois/Antrim etc. find out when they come up to provincial. I said before, maybe let Galway go 2 yearly in either province, and if Kerry say wing JMCD they go into Munster - yes I hear people saying they would be eaten alive - but they wont improve being protected either. Antrim and Galway could rotate year about either in Leinster and Munster possibly...I dont know - the current set up - Leinster is very very flat - Offaly V Dublin the best game to date in it I would say...after that??" The answer is a national hurling championship. Get rid of Munster.
BigBàsMan (Galway) - Posts: 274 - 27/04/2026 16:32:54
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Replying To Galwayman67420: "Cork peaking too early again it seems. Last time I checked there was no all irelands ever won in April. Seems to be the same every year with them. When push comes to shove I really think they could be bet by any of Galway Limerick Clare Dublin Kilkenny Tipperary Waterford or Offaly. They struggled against 14 man limerick with 20 mins left. Bare in mind this limerick team are no spring chickens, especially without two of the top 3 hurlers of all time behind only Joe Canning. Limerick being overlooked. Dont be surprised to see an offaly underdog run. Roll on championship 2026 its good to be back. Galway for Liam !" Yes, good point, they should really have lost both opening games of Munster to make sure they peak in July!!!!!!!!!!! Such logic about peaking too early
Claretandblue (Westmeath) - Posts: 2612 - 27/04/2026 18:22:23
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Replying To Goreylad1985: "The gulf between the Munster and Leinster championship is widening every year really.
The intensity on show in both games yesterday,the attendances, the crowd interaction are chalk and cheese between the 2." As much as i hate to say it but Kilkennys decline in recent years meas no one in Leinster is now capable. Of winning the all ireland
.Looking at them saturday evening they are so limited now and as for the rest of us we think coz we beat them or get close to them we are getting better but we are getting worse as well.Its all in munster now to be fair.
Tiger1 (Wexford) - Posts: 445 - 27/04/2026 18:24:25
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Replying To BigBàsMan: "The answer is a national hurling championship. Get rid of Munster." Like an All Ireland Hurling Championship???!!!!!???
Goreylad1985 (Wexford) - Posts: 37 - 27/04/2026 19:12:24
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Replying To Claretandblue: "Yes, good point, they should really have lost both opening games of Munster to make sure they peak in July!!!!!!!!!!! Such logic about peaking too early" what would a westmeath fan know about winning all Irelands. The new season is a marathon not a sprint
Galwayman67420 (Galway) - Posts: 27 - 27/04/2026 20:38:17
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Replying To bloodandbandage: "*Rob not Ron!" Bloodandbandage, as you well know by now, I don't like Cork hurling (Cork football and people are fine), but I am sorry to hear about these injuries, particularly to Joyce, a pure warrior, where I was very interested in seeing how he'd develop in the full-back role. Downey, also a warrior, but Cork has cover for the half-back line.
I wish both players a speedy and a healthy recovery!
foreveryoung (USA) - Posts: 2504 - 27/04/2026 21:21:08
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Tadhg2020 : "Every serious competition the world over has different levels."
Every serious competition in the world has a level playing field. Equal rules for each competitor. Merit based systems, you find your level and when relegated you take your medicine and try to get back up.
You don't see anybody in the Premier League saying "Spurs were in a champions league final a few years ago, we can't possibly relegate them and they sell out 50k every week".
You are talking out of about 3 different ends of your mouth, you are talking about the 6th team in Leinster diluting the competition and providing a safety net yet, yet you think the 5th team in Munster should have no risk of relegation or any punishment for coming last. But you deem it fine to relegate the 5th team in Leinster just because "well they should be relegated", why do you think it would be OK for Wexford or Offaly to be relegated yet Waterford have won 4 games in the round robin since it was brought in? Which is it?
You talk about Kildare making progress yet relegating them back to Joe McDonagh will do not one thing to develop them. Westmeath, Antrim, Laois, Carlow are testament to that. The gap just gets bigger when you are not playing them.
I'm not old enough to remember the 80s and early 90s when Tipp and Cork won every Munster title for 10 years, or when Waterford were terrible. The Munster championship is riding the crest of a wave (and well deserved) but look at the attendances just 10 years ago, it wasn't always so and it was knock-out back then.
Colin Ryan the former Clare hurler was on the Wexford Hurling Pod a while ago and said he'd love to see "people get out of their own head" and develop a game which was knock-out provincials and then may the best team win the All-Ireland from there. Rank the teams based on provincial if I recall.
I think what you really want is the "I'm alright jack, Munster hurling is great so let the counties trying to develop and grow the game go to hell" status quo.
StoreysTash (Wexford) - Posts: 2007 - 27/04/2026 23:49:07
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Replying To LimerickandProud: "Congratulations to Cork on their win yesterday.
It was intense, tough and tight stuff and I thought both teams performed brilliantly.
From a Limerick perspective it felt like Cian Lynch's red card was likely the turning point, but in my opinion it was absolutely and fully deserved though and I would expect better judgement from him. When we went down to 10 men we really missed having Aaron Gillane up top as an outlet. I think Cork and Darragh Fitzgibbon in particular were brilliant playing heads up hurling and finding the space.
The pressure valve has well and truly been switched up. Ennis On Sunday is a big task for us missing two former hurlers of the year." Yeah, Sunday should be good. I think Sunday will be influenced heavily by new players on both sides anyway. Besides you have Donovan and English to come in. You won't be lacking quality. Hopefully it'll be the cracker we are all anticipating.
MiAmigaVERONICA (Clare) - Posts: 333 - 28/04/2026 09:27:42
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Replying To Galwayman67420: "what would a westmeath fan know about winning all Irelands. The new season is a marathon not a sprint" The size of your population and one All Ireland in 38 years, the ones ye won before that involved two matches so look after yourselves firstly. Not exactly Kilkenny, Cork or Tipp
Claretandblue (Westmeath) - Posts: 2612 - 28/04/2026 10:10:24
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lots are saying that limerick are under pressure on sunday to get a result .....its 50/50 as regards pressure. clare are under as much pressure as limerick to get a result. if clare loose on sunday they have 2 points with too very tough away matches to come they have to go to thurles and cork. this munster championship is far from done and i think that cork having invested so mcch in the limerick match and minus joyce and downey i have a feeling that waterford will turn them over next sat week .
munsterchamps (Limerick) - Posts: 1153 - 28/04/2026 11:15:05
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Replying To StoreysTash: "Tadhg2020 : "Every serious competition the world over has different levels."
Every serious competition in the world has a level playing field. Equal rules for each competitor. Merit based systems, you find your level and when relegated you take your medicine and try to get back up.
You don't see anybody in the Premier League saying "Spurs were in a champions league final a few years ago, we can't possibly relegate them and they sell out 50k every week".
You are talking out of about 3 different ends of your mouth, you are talking about the 6th team in Leinster diluting the competition and providing a safety net yet, yet you think the 5th team in Munster should have no risk of relegation or any punishment for coming last. But you deem it fine to relegate the 5th team in Leinster just because "well they should be relegated", why do you think it would be OK for Wexford or Offaly to be relegated yet Waterford have won 4 games in the round robin since it was brought in? Which is it?
You talk about Kildare making progress yet relegating them back to Joe McDonagh will do not one thing to develop them. Westmeath, Antrim, Laois, Carlow are testament to that. The gap just gets bigger when you are not playing them.
I'm not old enough to remember the 80s and early 90s when Tipp and Cork won every Munster title for 10 years, or when Waterford were terrible. The Munster championship is riding the crest of a wave (and well deserved) but look at the attendances just 10 years ago, it wasn't always so and it was knock-out back then.
Colin Ryan the former Clare hurler was on the Wexford Hurling Pod a while ago and said he'd love to see "people get out of their own head" and develop a game which was knock-out provincials and then may the best team win the All-Ireland from there. Rank the teams based on provincial if I recall.
I think what you really want is the "I'm alright jack, Munster hurling is great so let the counties trying to develop and grow the game go to hell" status quo." Where did I ever say that I think its fine for the 5th team in leinster to be relegated?
I have been very consistent on this. There are 6 teams in Leinster. There should only be 5. That was what was intended and you chose to change it. While there are 6 teams in Leinster relegation from Munster isnt even up for discussion. Thats my opinion. Is that clear enough?
If there are ever 5 teams in Leinster again then a conversation can be had on relegation but not until then.
Ladd go on podcasts and get asked on the spot questions all the time. They give off the cuff opinions that they may or may not have fully developed. It doesnt mean that they will stand by them when examined deeper.
Tadhg2020 (Limerick) - Posts: 251 - 28/04/2026 11:59:38
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Replying To foreveryoung: "Bloodandbandage, as you well know by now, I don't like Cork hurling (Cork football and people are fine), but I am sorry to hear about these injuries, particularly to Joyce, a pure warrior, where I was very interested in seeing how he'd develop in the full-back role. Downey, also a warrior, but Cork has cover for the half-back line.
I wish both players a speedy and a healthy recovery!" A bit harsh on Cork Hurling.
In Fairness I would be first to call out bad behaviour amongst supporters (and to be clear we have some wrong ones in Limerick occasionally as well), but since I have called out a certain element of the Cork Support in recent years (for booing and generally unnecessarily abusing opposition players etc.), I have to say I didn't see much of it down the Pairc on Sunday.
It was a great occasion very colourful. We had great banter with all the Cork supporters I met before and after the match (similar to how it was in years gone by) no nastiness what so ever just and appreciation for two class teams. Unlike recent years, I would be very happy to get the opportunity go back down again if we re lucky enough to make a Munster Final against Cork.
LimerickandProud (Limerick) - Posts: 241 - 28/04/2026 12:13:06
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Replying To MiAmigaVERONICA: "Yeah, Sunday should be good. I think Sunday will be influenced heavily by new players on both sides anyway. Besides you have Donovan and English to come in. You won't be lacking quality. Hopefully it'll be the cracker we are all anticipating." I appreciate we wont be lacking in quality but the players we are missing are a kin to Clare being without O'Donnell and Kelly, both of which are kind of irreplaceable. Ennis is one of the toughest places to go in Hurling but If we can bring a similar performance to last week we will be in the mix.
My big concern would be fatigue. Playing 25 minutes with a man down in a tough physical contest last Sunday while Clare were resting up at home could mean this match will be decided in the last few minutes.
Donovan in for Lynch is a given, otherwise the team probably stays the same
LimerickandProud (Limerick) - Posts: 241 - 28/04/2026 12:27:33
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