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Post by Mickmack on Jun 1, 2014 18:09:13 GMT
The game between Cork and Waterford last Sunday and todays epic contest between Tipp and Limerick points up yet again what a marvellous game hurling is. Waterford had lots of young lads who look like they will make the cut at senior level especially the two wing backs. Cork have a few more players this year including Aidan Walsh who showed his class with that line ball. The younger of the Cagodan species looks the real deal too.
Limerick were simply heroic today and won a game by sheer heart and desire. Their half back line were well beaten but Donal OGradys experience told at the end. They were unluckly to have a goal disallowed. The hooking and blocking was superb for both sides.
Limerick are in the munster final now and Tipp are in the lottery of the back door and who knows they could end up playing Kilkenny in Nowlan Park like last year. There was a time when Tipp were noted as hard men. They are too soft centred now.
This was Limericks first win against Tipp in Thurles since 1973 according to RTE. I think that that was the year Limerick beat Tipp with a last minute 70 by Richie Bennis.... I though that game was in Killarney!
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Post by Mickmack on Jun 1, 2014 18:19:12 GMT
Wikipedia says Thurles.........
Limerick 6-7 : 2-18 Tipperary (July 29, 1973 at Semple Stadium) – An incredible game whicch saw Limerick end a provincial drought which had lasted since 1955. Tipperary looked a sure thing to win the game and looked set to break away into an unbeatable lead, however, Limerick hung in their with a fantastic goal-scoring ability. The game hinged on the very final passage of play. A Limerick shot appearaed to have gone wide before it struck a Tipp defender. In spite of this, Limerick were still awarded a 70-yard free. Richie Bennis stepped up to take it and was told that it would have to make a direct score as it was the final puck of the game. Bennis didn't fail, in spite of some Tipp fans behind the goal claiming that the sliotar trailed off and went wide.
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Post by ballhopper34 on Jun 1, 2014 22:32:10 GMT
Killarney hosted Tipp-Limerick in 1971. Tipp won by a point, 4-16 to 3-18. Babs and the fresh sliotar in the rain for a late free was the topic of conversation after he buried it for the winning goal.
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Post by glengael on Jun 2, 2014 11:35:37 GMT
Great adventure in Thurles yesterday.
I'd imagine the Sky posse have their fingers crossed that next weekend will deliver another classic.
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Post by Mickmack on Jun 2, 2014 18:26:42 GMT
Killarney hosted Tipp-Limerick in 1971. Tipp won by a point, 4-16 to 3-18. Babs and the fresh sliotar in the rain for a late free was the topic of conversation after he buried it for the winning goal. Thanks ballhopper34 ######################################################################'''' Irish examiner By Michael Moynihan, Semple Stadium The glory that was Tipperary, the grandeur that was Limerick. Poe used Greece and Rome as the placenames when he wrote that, but the crackle and flash of yesterday’s Munster senior hurling semi-final deserve the classical touch. Olympus in Tipperary North Riding. Thunderbolts optional. Limerick won, with a late, late 1-2 before 24,962 spectators in Thurles. The men in blue and gold were left bereft, having led by three with three minutes remaining, but the Shannonsiders never gave up. “I looked up at the clock with 67 minutes gone and personally I knew we’d get a chance,” said Limerick midfielder James Ryan after the game. “Thankfully it went in and we kicked on from there.” The chance came when Kevin Downes careered through the middle before parting to Shane Dowling, who deliberated for that exquisite split-second which allows you just enough time to speculate before he crashed home the game-changing goal. “I thought he was going to come out to the ’65 to hit it,” laughed Ryan. “But great spatial awareness, he came back out and he didn’t have much time, but he slotted it.” The auguries didn’t favour Tipperary. Their intermediate team’s decline in the face of a tigerish Limerick in the second half of the curtain-raiser, despite eventually nicking the win late in extra time, gave their followers pause before the senior game, and the main event followed an eerily similar trajectory. Neither Tipperary and Limerick were unable to establish a commanding lead at any stage, and in the first half the main talking points were the two goals. Dowling’s came from a free which was a model of restraint for this modern age, the Limerick man taking a bare couple of metres before cracking home a goal: it sparked a bad couple of minutes for Tipperary. Noel McGrath was indicted for a pick-up, and Seamus Callanan ran the ball over the sideline. The home team needed inspiration and they got it from their traditional source of perspiration, the indefatigable Patrick ‘Bonner’ Maher. The number 11 had an amount of work to do when he won the ball near the Limerick goal – if you were wearing green yesterday in Thurles you might have queried the amount of steps he took – but his eye-of-a-needle goal kept Tipperary in the hunt and the half ended level. Gearoid Ryan’s goal early in the second half looked an ideal springboard for victory, but Limerick – calm yet driven – hit the next four points. Tipp rallied and more than once they created goal chances, only to find Richie McCarthy doing a fair impression of Horatio on the bridge. Afterwards Tipp boss Eamon O’Shea acknowledged they’d come close to a third goal: “We did, but sure close is close and until we get them they are not goals. “I wouldn’t use that as a thing I would say, we came close. You try to make sense of the game and we tried this, that, the other. “I thought we gave away possession hitting it into the goalie’s hands a few times. I don’t know whether wind was an issue or not. “Maybe we searched for the winner, the fourth, and we pushed it a bit, and when you push it a bit you are anxious, and when you are anxious you make bad decisions like striking the ball into the goalie’s hands and trying to take a shot when maybe you should hold onto it.” O’Shea’s diagnosis was piercingly correct. Tipperary had late, late wides which deflated them visibly, and when Limerick saw the jugular they didn’t hesitate. “If you win it looks like all the decisions you made are correct,” said TJ Ryan afterwards. The Limerick boss wasn’t getting carried away: “Maybe if we were beaten by a point, you’d be asking me different questions. That’s the fine margins involved in hurling, one or two points either way and in fairness our boys gave their all. “The response of my players and to my management team, who have put in a huge effort over the last number of weeks . . . all I can say is a big thank you to them. We go again. It’s a bit like Liverpool.” Clearly TJ doesn’t mind alienating those immune to the charms of Anfield, but that’s a matter for another day. His opponents yesterday face another searching week or two of introspection. Tipperary are not in an existentialist crisis, but rather an essentialist one; is withdrawing a forward to create space for Callanan and Maher (‘Bonner’ version) a tactical stance that goes too deeply against their grain? Do they need to go back to their own version of what James Ryan called “old school hurling”? They may need to search further back than the French Left Bank for philosophical succour, though: the Greek motto on the walls at Delphi was gnothi seauton, or know thyself, words usually accompanied by the injunction to disregard the opinion of the multitude. Eamon O’Shea faces hard selectorial calls ahead which may not find favour with the multitudes of Knocknagow. In the other corner James Ryan was right when he said there’s plenty to work on: Richie McCarthy can’t always be in the right place to make a telling hook, and TJ Ryan will be keen to shut down the space in front of his full-back in the Munster final. Tom Condon also faces an anxious wait after his entanglement with Niall O’Meara in the second half as well, an interaction that may be revisited in the next couple of days. But Limerick also have it in them to prove an old saw from Virgil correct: they can because they think they can. Three things we learned in Thurles 1 — Limerick and Tipperary people come late to matches. Rolling through Thurles at the same time as last week, it was oddly quiet and traffic-free. Yet there were almost ten thousand more people than attended Cork-Waterford. Extra routes in, obviously. Or maybe they just knew the curtain-raiser was destined for extra time. 2 — There’s an alternative to the Anthony Nash technique. Shane Dowling got a goal from a 21-metre free yesterday which didn't rely on throwing the ball into the small square. Thousands of concerned onlookers wiped the sweat from their brow(s), though they were presumably concerned for health and safety reasons by the rocket Dowling slammed home in the second half. 3 — Visible chink in the Tipperary armour. Their opponents in the qualifier rounds will take note of Limerick overtaking the Premier yesterday in a driving finish and seek to reach the same position in their own games. Expect other teams to target Tipp in the last ten minutes if they can remain neck and neck until then. © Irish Examiner Ltd. All rights reserved
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Post by Mickmack on Jun 4, 2014 20:24:41 GMT
Wexford produced a magnificent performance in Nowlan Park tonght as they beat Kilkenny in the Leinster U21 Championship for the second straight year.
A team, which consisted of a plethora of Senior grade players were far too strong for the young Cats, who lacked the same maturity. They won by a margin of 10 points, 0-10 to 2-14.
Elsewhere in Leinster Carlow went down to Westmeath heavily while in Limerick, Clare were comfortable winners. 2-19 to 0-14.
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Post by sidelined on Jun 4, 2014 22:40:29 GMT
Wexford produced a magnificent performance in Nowlan Park tonght as they beat Kilkenny in the Leinster U21 Championship for the second straight year. A team, which consisted of a plethora of Senior grade players were far too strong for the young Cats, who lacked the same maturity. They won by a margin of 10 points, 0-10 to 2-14. Elsewhere in Leinster Carlow went down to Westmeath heavily while in Limerick, Clare were comfortable winners. 2-19 to 0-14. very important win for wexford as they were in danger of falling further behind kilkenny and dublin in the lenister hurling ladder. these players should get huge confidence boost from second victory over the cats and this one in nowlan park.
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Post by Mickmack on Jun 5, 2014 22:39:22 GMT
Former Waterford hurler Ken McGrath has described how open heart surgery had left him feeling like he had been “hit by a bus”.
The winner of four Munster SHC titles and three All Stars went under the knife at Dublin’s Beacon Hospital in April.
McGrath (36) suffered a brain haemorrhage last December and extensive tests at Ardkeen Hospital revealed an abnormal valve and infection in his heart. Seven weeks ago last Tuesday, he underwent an eight-hour procedure.
McGrath said: “For the first two days (post-operation), I can’t remember a thing. Lads that got the operation done before me told me that when you wake up, you feel like you’ve been hit by a bus – that’s the only way you can describe it.
“It was unreal for a few days. Eoin (his brother) came up with the father on the Thursday and got some fright when he saw me.
“I was white as a ghost and had lost a lot of weight. But I knew that I was in safe hands.
“It was a job that had to be done and I knew that it would improve my quality of life in the long run.
“Three or four days later, I was walking up the stairs in the Beacon – it’s unbelievable how fast you can recover.”
On June 27th, the Ken McGrath All Star challenge will take place at Walsh Park, with a host of former intercounty stars playing in a benefit match to raise funds for a lengthy and costly rehabilitation process.
Selections The team managers are Davy Fitzgerald and Brian Cody, who will send Munster and Leinster selections into battle.
McGrath is naturally thankful for all of the support that he has received to date.
McGrath was well enough to attend Waterford’s Munster SHC quarter-final draw with Cork last Sunday week, and will return to Thurles as a spectator again for next weekend’s replay.
McGrath will soon embark on a seven-week rehabilitation programme at Waterford Regional Hospital.
And he smiled: “For the first week I could walk five minutes and was wrecked. It’s strange, now I’m walking 30-40 minutes after seven weeks. I get tired in the afternoon and have to have a little rest, which is great!
“But I’m really starting from scratch again, to build it up. In the last two weeks, I feel a lot better and there’s colour back in my face.” The Ken McGrath All Star challenge takes place at Walsh Park. Admission: €10 (U16s free). Donations can also be made to Permanent TSB account 23053903, sort code: 99 06 32
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Post by MrRasherstoyou on Jun 6, 2014 10:12:48 GMT
Looks like could be one of the best championships in living memory. Any of about 6 teams could genuinely win the All-I. That was a massive win for Limerick considering the way things have gone since they arrived in the All-I semi last year on the crest of a wave and probably slight favourites to win Liam McCarthy.
Meanwhile Tipp, at home, were on a bit of an up. But recent failings came back to haunt them again. The side that won the All-I a few short years ago has never fulfilled themselves further, the loss of Liam Sheedy was surely the nail in the coffin though only hindsight has shown it.
I wouldn't put it past Offaly to cause an upset but they aren't as under the radar as last year, so it's just as unlikely. Still hopefully its as good a contest for Sky TV's opening game.
Quite alot of noises about Wexford being on the up but then that was ever thus and usually Offaly and Kk thrived on that. It should suit Dublin too, though it's a massive game, especially being in Wexford Park. Must win for Dublin. Wexford can progress more under the radar in qualifiers.
Galway what can you say? I think Kk will beat them assuming they progress past Offaly but then Galway will be written off as so often and will raise their game as so often. I'd really love to see a Kk-Dublin LFinal this year, unlike the past couple I think it would be a great contest. Hopefully Laois, Westmeath, Carlow will continue to progress. Antrim, it's sad to see them so low, hurling badly needs them to get their act together again.
Munster is as good a competition as ever this year, despite the back-door option. Limerick want to show that they were worthy champs, what with all the talk about the Horgan sending-off last year. Clare will be awful hungry to win it after winning the All-I very much the back way. Cork will be hungry to win it back and to prove they weren't 10 points worse than Limerick last year and to use it as a stepping stone in their rehab from last year's All-I finals hangover. Waterford are the coming young team/squad who might surprise everyone. Kerry seem to be making some progress? I'm sure nearly everyone on here would love to see Limerick do it?
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Post by ansúilleabhánach on Jun 6, 2014 20:22:39 GMT
Wexford produced a magnificent performance in Nowlan Park tonght as they beat Kilkenny in the Leinster U21 Championship for the second straight year. A team, which consisted of a plethora of Senior grade players were far too strong for the young Cats, who lacked the same maturity. They won by a margin of 10 points, 0-10 to 2-14. Elsewhere in Leinster Carlow went down to Westmeath heavily while in Limerick, Clare were comfortable winners. 2-19 to 0-14. To add to this encouraging news, remember their minors won in Nowlan Park last year for the first time since 1985, and in the early rounds of this year's minor championship the Dubs beat the Cats at the same venue by 2-8 to 0-3. I don't want to be seen as taking joy out of another county's underage travails, but those of us old enough to remember how gripping and unpredictable Craobh Laighin was until 1999 will hope that its obituary may yet be postponed...
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Post by MrRasherstoyou on Jun 13, 2014 14:29:15 GMT
Huge games this w/e. Cork for revenge? How much do both teams want Munster, for its own sake as well as easier passage to a semi? How much of a psychological edge do Clare have, with the two knock-out victories they had over Cork last year? Are Clare still in All-I recovery mode? Was playing in league div 1B much of a disadvantage to Cork?
Wexford making quite big nosies about a revival this year and there's alot of interest in the game against Dublin tomorrow. HUge game in Wexford Park and a must-win for Dublin I feel if they are to have a good summer. I'd also dearly love to see another Kk-Dublin Leinster final and this time a closer game. Of course Galway will have something serious to say about it
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Post by Annascaultilidie on Jun 13, 2014 15:34:53 GMT
Can anyone explain why the Cork - Waterford replay two weeks later rather than one week, leaving the victor with one week to prepare for a semi rather than one?
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Post by Mickmack on Jun 14, 2014 17:19:26 GMT
Half backs are playing - and thinking - very differently to their predecessors.
Gardiner-Curran-Ó hAilpín. Daly-McMahon-Doyle.
Great half-back lines have a rhythm to them based on the three names in sequence. Pity they’re on their way out.
Ronan Curran anchored the Cork defence for almost a decade and saw the modern game of hurling challenging the received wisdom of positions in defence.
“The three of us had a good understanding and the movement of forwards wasn’t as marked as it is now — it wasn’t that often you’d find yourself in different parts of the field.
“That’s all changed. Now, rather than thinking of a half-back line, you’d probably need to think in terms of six defenders in a unit.
“The way the forwards interact and move positions now is designed to confuse defences, which makes it even more important for those defenders to communicate with each other.”
His Clare counterpart agrees. Seán McMahon was the best number six around when the Banner were in their pomp. He acknowledges the change in the game.
“Certainly the way forwards are playing now, a lot of them won’t bother just standing next to a defender.
“That’s not all counties — Kilkenny mightn’t rotate as much as Clare, say — but the change is noticeable. It was changing when I was finishing up, but at the start it was definitely a case of the goalie pucking the ball as far as he could, and more often than not, it landed in the middle. That’s certainly different — you can see teams’ puck-out strategies in action every time you go to a game.
“You have to be more flexible because as a half-back, you’ll probably find yourself in the full-back line on your own for a while, or midfield. You’ve to be an overall defender rather than a specific centre-back.”
Curran saw the transformation take place over the course of his service with Cork: “I think it started changing in the mid-2000s, when it became more of a thinking game, more of a possession game.
“Clare have brought that to a new level, where it’s becoming much harder as a central defender because they — and other teams — are trying to pull you out of position.
“The way I see it, you have to have the right balance between holding the centre to protect the goal and marking your man. And on top of that, you have the tactics your team are playing to. Completely different to when I started. You were marking Conor Gleeson, John Hoyne, these guys and the ball was pucked down on top of you. You were there as a centre-back to hold the centre.”
McMahon goes a step further, suggesting even the layout of match programmes could change: “If you lined out the Clare team nowadays in a programme, it could read 1-3-1-3-2-4-1, but you have to have some base for positions. Somebody has to have a number on their back! But that’ll change in time. It depends on the players you have at your disposal, and if they’re suited to orthodox positions, you’ll see teams maybe go back to the ‘old’ formation. It’s whatever works for the players you have.”
At the moment, though the traditional dominant number six is a slightly endangered species, says Curran.
“The way the game has developed, the old centre-back — the old full-back — have gone, in the sense you won’t see fellas dominating from those positions. What you’re looking for is a guy who can do a shift in any position.”
By the same token, the defender can no longer simply clear the ball blindly out of the danger zone.
“Your aim is to get the best possible ball to your forwards,” adds Curran.
“That has probably always been the case, but because it’s a possession game now, you see defenders moving it on 10, 20 yards.
“Because of that, you can’t leave your man — before you could judge the game and judge where the ball was being delivered, maybe, but that’s not an option now.
“Your responsibility is to be close enough to get in the tackle and to mind the space, and the fact those forwards all have pace to get away from you complicates it further.
“If you line up traditionally, if you like, you’re always going to be chasing what the other team are doing.
“I saw Jimmy Barry-Murphy quoted as saying attitude is more important than tactics, and he’s right. But you also need some structure.”
© Irish Examiner Ltd. All rights reserved
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Post by Mickmack on Jun 14, 2014 20:01:34 GMT
Dublin beat Wexford by 5 or 6 points and were well on top from start to finish. Even when Wexford had their periods of dominance the Dubs were well able to pop up with a long range point or two to keep Wexford at arms length. Dublin play KK or Galway in the leinster final. Wexford don't look like they will do too much damage in the qualifiers on this display but then they took Clare to extra time in the 2013 qualifier game.
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Post by Mickmack on Jun 16, 2014 13:17:13 GMT
A few thoughts on Clare v Cork yesterday.
The ref looked for any excuse to give Cork a free. Clare were not at the pitch of the game and too many big players were well below par. Aiden Walsh was simply awesome. What a talent. He will surely concentrate on hurling from 2015 on. Similarly Niall Cahalanes son. If these two were available to Cork last year then Cork would probably have won the All Ireland. The back door waters are treacherous now. Clare and Tipp and the loser of KK and Galway all in the draw. And Waterford and Wexford though they are probably a little behind those three. If Clare can be hurling when there is an R in the month I wouldn't write them off just yet.
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Post by Mickmack on Jun 17, 2014 19:37:05 GMT
Tue, Jun 17, 2014, 16:57
It was one of the most thrilling sights of a weekend packed with them across as many sports as you wished to watch: Aidan Walsh soaring high in the first minute of the Munster semi-final win over Clare to pluck a puck-out from the clouds for Cork.
Since last year’s All-Ireland final, Jimmy Barry Murphy has made changes at full back, centre back, midfield and centre forward, but it’s the addition of the former Young Footballer of the Year from Kanturk that has raised most eyebrows.
At his best, he is a really spectacular footballer. I remember in particular an All-Ireland quarter-final for the against Kildare in 2012 which he bossed from start to finish – it’s not often the biggest, strongest player is also the fastest and most effective, but he was all those things on that occasion.
The thought occurred to me that day, during that summer’s Olympics, that if it weren’t for our pesky national games, he’d probably be winning us a gold medal in London in the men’s single sculls, or the triathlon.
As it is, we have to make do with watching him excel at just the two sports, and what struck me on Sunday was what he had managed to transfer from football to hurling.
The timing of some of those sky-scraping catches that he adorned the game with on Sunday were extraordinary. They really showcased the all-action nature of his play, how he lands after a catch and immediately gets on the front foot. It’s almost like he can turn his body in mid-air, to land facing the goal that was at his back for the puck-out.
There’s also the physical conditioning that is a basic requirement for Gaelic football at the highest level now. When Walsh’s team-mate Eoin Cadogan togs out for the hurlers, he looks like a beast. When Cadogan plays for the footballer. . . well, he looks like an inter-county footballer.
I noted on Twitter during the game that hurling fans would do well to recognise that cross-pollination between the two sports has its benefits, but traditionally that is not something that hurling fans (or ‘hurling people’ as they rather clannishly prefer to be called, said one Tweeter to me) are all that comfortable doing.
And I’m not just talking about Kilkenny here. Across the major hurling counties there is a snobbishness towards football that doesn’t do them any favours. We may call hurling our national sport, but that must come with an asterisk when over half the country doesn’t compete in the All-Ireland championship.
They say it takes a lifetime to learn the game but it was striking to see what Walsh, and another man with plenty of football played in his career, Conal Keaney, were capable of doing this weekend. Like Walsh, Keaney was a physical player in the big ball code – but in hurling, he seems able to completely monster opponents.
Of course, they are different sports that require different body shapes and hurling fans will tell you that football players have the luxury of three months where you barely have to touch the ball in training, and that leaves a lot of time for strength and conditioning. But hurlers need only look at their football counterparts to see that adding some muscle doesn’t mean you lose any pace. It just makes you a fitter, stronger, more effective sportsman.
Judging by Davy Fitzgerald’s remarks about Podge Collins after the game – “there are a few (of our) lads that think they can play both codes; you can’t do it” – Aidan Walsh’s attempts to play both this year are destined for failure. But it’s supposed to be your hurling that should suffer. Walsh’s hurling touch looks to be right there. It was his display when coming on in the second half of Cork’s National Football League semi-final capitulation against Dublin that was really off the pace.
When we spoke about the dual player issue on The Irish Times Second Captains podcast on Monday, former Cork hurler (and no mean footballer in his own right, although he never played for the Cork seniors) John Gardiner said you’d have to be a professional athlete to play the two sports. Holding down a job is a total non-runner when you need recovery sessions and proper rest-time to compete at the very top in both codes.
Since that’s not going to happen any time soon, it seems like Aidan Walsh, Podge Collins and their ilk are something very much to be celebrated while they’re still around. And maybe it’s not too much to ask that instead of demonising their desire to compete, we should be open to the two-way street that playing different sports opens up.
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Post by MrRasherstoyou on Jun 19, 2014 12:58:56 GMT
Hurling elite snobbery is alive and well as ever this summer, what with some of the comments from Wexford lads before the game last weekend, and even worse, Dónal óg Cusack's comments on the sunday game about Conal Keaney. I think they're worried, it must be getting to them. What will they do if, God help us, Kk get to the Leinster final and Dublin beat them? The Leinster FINAL lads!! The Cats!! It just wouldn't be right lads! Still though, the referee for the Cork-Clare game showed again how to nip that kind of insolence from the lesser counties in the bud.
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Post by Mickmack on Jun 19, 2014 20:14:23 GMT
Rashers..maybe you could get Damo Dempsey to write a song about the down trodden Dublin hurlers .....something along the lines of his song Colony.... get him to leave out all the millions pumped in by the GAA I look to the east, I look to the west To the north and the south, and I'm not too impressed Time after time After crime after crime They raped, robbed, pillaged, enslaved and murdered Jesus Christ was their god and they done it in his name So he could take the blame if it's not all a game With bible in one hand and a sword in the other They came to purify my land of my Gaelic Irish mothers And fathers, and sisters and brothers With our own ancient customs, laws, music, art Way of life and culture Tribal in structure We had a civilisation When they were still neanderthal nations We suffer with the Native American, the Indian in Asia Aboriginal Australia The African people with their history so deep And our children still weep and our lives are still cheap You came from Germany, from France, from England And from Spain From Belgium and from Portugal You all done much the same
You took what was not yours Went against your own bible You broke your own laws Just to out do the rival But did you ever apologize For the hundreds and millions of lives You destroyed and terrorised Or have you never realized Did you never feel shame For what was done in your country's name And find out who's to blame and why they were so inhumane And still they teach you in your school About those glorious days of rule And how it's your destiny to be Superior to me But if you've any kind of mind You'll see that all human kind Are the children of this earth And your hate for them will chew you up and spit you out
You'll never kill our will to be free, to be free You'll never kill our will to be free, to be free You'll never kill our will to be free, to be free Inside our minds we hold, hold the key
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Post by MrRasherstoyou on Jun 19, 2014 21:55:27 GMT
Ah jaysus Mickmack, would ye ever camán ourra dat!
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Post by Annascaultilidie on Jun 19, 2014 22:19:43 GMT
Ah jaysus Mickmack, would ye ever camán ourra dat! Superbio.
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Post by glengael on Jun 23, 2014 12:32:45 GMT
Another quiet weekend on the hurling front then.
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Post by Mickmack on Jun 23, 2014 23:15:52 GMT
Hurling’s facility for serving up days of giddy illogic endures. Kilkenny and Galway tumbled through the sky here like tangoing parachutists, somehow landing back on earth as one after a game of brazen unpredictability. It finished Kilkenny 3-22 Galway 5-16 and even then, the fattened totals only tell a bit of the story.
The best of it was the end of it. A breathless, deathless last 40 seconds in which Henry Shefflin won it for Kilkenny and Joe Canning saved it for Galway. Their points were virtual camera negatives of each other, from more or less the equivalent spot on either end of O’Connor Park. Both on the run, both off their less natural side (it would be a grievous libel to call it their weaker one), both at an angle from close to the sideline. The best at their best when only the best would do.
“Two top players,” purred Brian Cody afterwards, as Tullamore hummed with 12,548 different attempts to explain what we’d just seen.
“Everyone knows that, everyone knows the quality of both players. Two super points. Ordinary players would have found it difficult. Neither of those players are ordinary, they just popped them over the bar.”
Out the gate Glorious as both intercessions were, not a soul in the ground could have envisaged the need for them even just five minutes earlier. This was over. Done. Out the gate and away home.
TJ Reid’s seventh successful free of the day put Kilkenny 10 points to the good in the 63rd minute. It meant that they had just put 1-8 on the board without a Galway score to interrupt them, as classically Kilkenny a burst of game-set-and-match as you could wish to see.
We shrugged and set about telling the tale of a Kilkenny side that was back, one that was reanimated and refreshed and looking ominously well-appointed for the time of year. One that had come through a first half grapple of raw-boned intensity with honours even before moving through the gears as the third quarter gave way to the fourth.
Another generation It was going to be a story of Cody’s ability to create yet another team for yet another generation. Of Richie Hogan’s reinvention as an all-action midfielder, responsible for five points of Kilkenny’s gaudy total. Of Tommy Walsh’s rage against the dying of the light, his 27-minute cameo at wing-forward crucial to Kilkenny’s best period. Of Colin Fennelly’s selfless hooking and blocking to go with the 1-3 he stitched into the day.
Beyond Cody’s side, it was going to be a story of another Galway season that looked bound for deflation. Of a willingness to go toe to toe but a fatal weakness for leading with a glass chin. Of another day where Joe Canning was heroic in a losing cause. Not quite the same old same old but close enough to it for the nuances to get lost in the hubbub.
With Kilkenny 3-20 to 2-13 ahead, Cody sent Shefflin in off the bench for the last seven minutes. Any Galway people half-intending to head for the cars had their mind made up for them when the change was announced over the PA. A 10-point lead and Shefflin comes on. The decadence of it.
And then. Out of nowhere, Galway dragged a response. Canning had spent most of the day out around the middle but now he went to the edge of the square and drew a blinding save out of Eoin Murphy. Conor Cooney pointed the 65 and Jason Flynn followed it with a point of his own but we assumed this was window dressing.
The notion that they could be the first falling pebbles of an avalanche simply didn’t arise.
Even when Cooney managed to burgle a goal – again, with Canning as safecracker – all it did was reduce the margin to six points with three minutes left. Galway were motoring but they were running out of road. The game looked gone.
“It did,” agreed Anthony Cunningham afterwards. “We said at half-time there were goals here but once we got the first one it gave us the chance to get the other two. Then we got in for the second one and then there is only a goal in it. And always when there is only a goal in it in championship, anything can happen.”
And happen it did. Kilkenny were looking decidedly rickety in their full-back line now, with Canning, Flynn and substitute Jonathan Glynn all proving variously difficult to contain.
Glynn had already earned a penalty when straight through in the 50th minute, from which Canning nailed his first goal of the day. And when another hopeful delivery rained down on the Kilkenny full-back line now, it was Cooney who turned and whipped on the loose ball. A minute to go, a goal between them.
Mainlining tension It was see-ball-hit-ball stuff now. Players mainlining tension. Even as reliably clear a thinker as Paul Murphy got caught in the frenzy, sending an aimless ball into the Galway full-back line where there was no Kilkenny player to receive it. Out came full-back Ronan Burke to send it back 80 yards down in front of the Kilkenny goal.
Glynn got on it and bore down on Eoin Murphy. Before he cocked the trigger, Cillian Buckley hurtled in from stage right to drag him down.
Penalty. Canning. Goal. All square. Madness.
If the curtain had dropped there and then, the crowd would have tossed their bouquets with full hearts. But there will still time for Shefflin to make us wonder would we ever see a player like him again. And for Canning to remind us that we already can.
Back to Tullamore next Saturday, then. Back for the simple, unknowable delight of a game that still finds new ways to surprise and amaze. Bliss.
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Post by MrRasherstoyou on Jun 23, 2014 23:24:28 GMT
Most amazing end to a game I think I've ever seen. Canning's score up there with the Clare equaliser in last year's All-I Final draw, maybe harder. Shefflin's was outstanding too.
Galway must take a huge boost from that, they did the impossible whilst playing fairly poorly. By rights it should set them up to go on and have a great year.
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Post by ansúilleabhánach on Jun 24, 2014 17:29:07 GMT
Galway must take a huge boost from that, they did the impossible whilst playing fairly poorly. By rights it should set them up to go on and have a great year. If I had a euro for every championship in which I have thought that...2009 after beating Corcaigh only to choke against Port Láirge...but I hope this time you're right! Two hopeful signs: 1) I think it may be 2005 since they last fought their way back into a game (v TÁ in qf IIRC they were behind going into last 10 mins), and that wasn't even close to their refusal to fold on Sunday, after everybody else had given up on them. Very unGalwaylike! 2) Canning not only a superb individual player, but showed signs of leadership i mo thuairimse on Sunday. The way he held the sliotar and drew everyone before the pass to Cooney for goal no. 3 was very Shefflinesque.
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Post by Mickmack on Jun 24, 2014 21:08:40 GMT
After Joe sunk Galways second goal to make it 2.13 apiece KK simply slipped into turbo gear and Galway couldn't live with them. Cody brought on a few subs and suddenly Galway get a run on them
Galways revival was similar to Corks draw with Kerry in 2008 semifinal when they pulled back 8 points. One of these mad situations but it does point up problems for Cody.
Poor Joe is in a similar situation to Maurice Fitz between 1988 and 2005. Not enough help and even he cant do it all of his own. His equaliser was breath taking. Big Jonathan Glynn made a big impression in the second half but its hard to see enough Galway players stepping up to get over the cats. The loser plays Tipp. Neither will fancy that either.
Come on Galway where is yer f...... pride as former Irish rugby captain Ciaran Fitzgerald famously said. It they dont show a bit more they don't deserve to play along side Joe Canning.
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Post by Mickmack on Jun 25, 2014 7:27:52 GMT
BY MARTIN BREHENY Just as I was about to start this column yesterday, I got a call from the 'Keith Finnegan Show' on Galway Bay FM, where a topic greatly exercising listeners was the non-screening of the Galway-Kilkenny replay on Saturday. Eager to apportion blame, a disgruntled public homed in on the Sky Sports deal, suggesting that it was responsible. Not true, of course, but since the GAA's link-up with Sky whipped up so much controversy a few months ago, it was always going to be an easy target when a contentious TV issue arose. Sky are committed to showing the Armagh-Monaghan Ulster semi-final on Saturday (7.0) and since the TV rights deal precludes Sky and RTE screening different games at the same time, the Galway-Kilkenny game was always going to be a radio-only event, once it was fixed for 7.0. So why not have a 5.0 throw-in, with RTE on live duty? That isn't possible because RTE are showing the World Cup and Irish Derby. RTE offered coverage if the game had a 2.30 start. Now, the problem switched from TV to other considerations. Apparently, neither Galway nor Kilkenny were keen on the earlier start, on the basis that it would be less spectator-friendly. CONGESTION There is also the issue of a crowd in Tullamore on a busy shopping day. Most towns welcome games on Sundays and Saturday evenings because they bring extra trade, but are wary of Saturday afternoon action, fearing traffic congestion will keep local shoppers away. So there's the dilemma for Galway v Kilkenny. No head-to-head between Sky and RTE because of contractual obligations; no 5.0 start because RTE are committed to soccer and horse racing; no 2.30 throw-in because of concerns that it's not a supporter-friendly time, plus the fear of disrupting Tullamore's traders. Leinster Council chairman John Horan introduced a new, and somewhat surprising, angle on RTE radio yesterday, stating: "To ask players to give up their Saturday fully off work would not be fair." Somehow, I doubt if many players will work a half-day before heading for Tullamore. Besides, Croke Park officials have fixed three football qualifiers for 2.0, 2.30 and 3.0 on Saturday, so what about the players from those six counties? Anyway, a hurling tie which has seized the public imagination won't be shown live. Whatever the official explanations, the reality is that a glorious marketing opportunity has been spurned by the GAA. That it should happen during the World Cup makes it all the more inexplicable. This game is a bonus, asking to be exploited for all its worth. If it were to be on TV, an advertising campaign could have run all week, simply showing the spectacular closing seconds from last Sunday when Henry Shefflin and Joe Canning swapped two remarkable points. It has become a YouTube sensation, a magical double-flash, which doesn't even need a voiceover to make it a compelling advertisement for the replay, but what's the point when it won't be on TV? If 2.30 is the only time the game could be shown live, then go with it. The argument that the earlier start would prevent many supporters from travelling is not convincing. Yes, it would impact on some people but how many? And is it right that the interests of a minority are put ahead of a larger constituency who want to see the game? As for being unfair to crash in on Tullamore, as Horan put it yesterday, wouldn't the spending power of 12,000 supporters more than compensate for whatever number of locals avoided the town because of the traffic heading to O'Connor Park? A marketing nugget should be very carefully mined and minded yet, in the case of this game, the GAA have tossed it back down into the darkest pit. The nonsense over the venue for the Munster hurling final isn't exactly a promotional aid either. The pairing has been known since last Sunday week, yet the decision on the venue was due to be taken only last night. That's a nine-day delay to decide if Pairc Ui Chaoimh is up to standard for the showdown between Cork and Limerick. Once Limerick reached the final on June 1, there was a 50-50 chance that they would be playing Cork. It was Cork's turn to host the next clash with Limerick, so why didn't doubts about Pairc Ui Chaoimh become an issue more than three weeks ago? People like to make plans for the Munster final, which remains one of the great championship events, so they should not have to wait so long for the venue to be announced. McGrath charity clash to attract galaxy of All Stars It's a tribute to the popularity of Ken McGrath that good wishes poured in from all over the country – and beyond – when news broke some months ago that he was suffering from a serious heart problem. Thankfully, he's well on the way to recovery – a process which will, no doubt, be enhanced when he sees so many familiar faces lining out in the Ken McGrath All Star challenge in Walsh Park on Friday night (7.30). Featuring Munster v Leinster (which also includes Galway), the teams will be made up of All Stars who Ken played with and against during his lengthy career as a Waterford colossus. It's a 'who's who' of big names from the recent past, all of whom are still playing club hurling. Proceeds will go to a fund to provide assistance for Ken during his recovery period. Admission is €10 and others wishing to contribute can do so at any Permanent TSB Branch. Account No: 23053903. Sort Code: 990632. Typical of Ken, he has asked that part of the proceeds go to the Irish Heart Foundation. The game will be followed by an All-Ireland preview event in the Mount Sion club, hosted by WLR commentator Kieran O'Connor. Prolific Erne pay for leaky defence Spare a thought for the Fermanagh footballers, who are out of the championship despite scoring a total of 5-28 in two games. They created a record last Saturday when they lost by a point to Laois, despite posting 2-15 – the highest score ever recorded by a losing side in the qualifiers. They scored 3-13 when losing to Antrim in the Ulster quarter-final, by far the highest total by a losing team in the 24 provincial games so far this season. Fermanagh's trouble was that while they were high earners, they also spent heavily, having been taken for a total of 4-37 by Antrim and Laois. Looks like Pete McGrath will be in the market for better security. Irish Independent - See more at: www.independent.ie/sport/gaelic-games/hurling/gaa-left-to-clock-up-costs-of-untimely-marketing-error-30382096.html#sthash.9iyU1fu7.dpuf
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Post by glengael on Jun 25, 2014 10:26:58 GMT
Poor Joe is in a similar situation to Maurice Fitz between 1988 and 2005.
You might want to revise your timelines there Mick, unless you have some info that the rest of us don't! Hugely disappointing that this game won't be televised.
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Post by MrRasherstoyou on Jun 26, 2014 10:32:51 GMT
That's a real loss to hurling and the GAA. Could the game not have been sunday? In a different venue if that was an issue? Be nice to see a big hurling clash in one of the Connaught venues some day, even though I know Galway are playing in Leinster.
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Post by Mickmack on Jun 26, 2014 18:30:05 GMT
Poor Joe is in a similar situation to Maurice Fitz between 1988 and 2005.
You might want to revise your timelines there Mick, unless you have some info that the rest of us don't! Hugely disappointing that this game won't be televised. meant 1995.... worrying sign!
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Post by glengael on Jun 30, 2014 11:23:01 GMT
The Kilkenny or by the sound of it the TJ Reid roadshow rolled on this weekend.
Now its Tipp v Galway in last chance saloon. Tipp will hardly want a repeat of last year.
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