National Hurling League - Round One

Cork 3-17 Waterford 0-18. Cork looking good. Waterford going backwards. This is a good Cork team and I fancy them in the championship and if they get a good few wins, who knows.

Kilkenny 2-17 Tipp 0-15 - Kilkenny way too good for Tipp who were beaten everywhere, high ball, low ball, loose ball, no ball. Kilk were way slicker and fitter. Ryan was furious. They say that Ryan doesn't communicate with the players in the way that Sheedy did and is blunt. But as grown men, surely they don't need to be nursed in such a fashion. Has Ryan turned thoroughbreds into donkeys. FFS Kilk are heading to 40 titles and at the minute there's noone to stop them. Wouldn't surprise me if Tipp end up fighting relegation.

Galway 0-20 Dublin 0-13. Are Galway better without the best player in the country? The players seem to find their niche without Joe around. Dublin, like Tipp were very poor. Daly was furious and threated to drop players if necessary.

Division 1B

Limerick 1-13 Clare 2-24. I for one, though Davy Fitz was the wrong manager for this teams. But they were good yesterday and I like them. Limerick going backwards without O'Grady.

Antrim 3-18 Wexford 2-15. Good result for Antrim. Was this really a surprise though? Wexford will be disgusted.

Ofally 1-27 Laois 0-18 - Don't know much about either team.

So, my predictions after round one, business as usual for Kilkenny. Easily make the league final with Cork as their opponents.

Gutted for the Dubs. Could've done with a winning start. Seems like Galway could be a decent side this season?

Cork? Are you off your head? It's Waterford FFS. That Cork team isn't that great at all. They have a decent enough starting team but little in reserve. Nothing like Tipp or KK. Lehane is a special talent though have been watching him for the last year, some fella was telling me about him 3 years ago!

Galway will be alright, Dubs will be the closest ones to breaking the duopoly(Tipp and KK, I used the right phrase right?)

I don't know Thom. I like the look of Cork this year and it's amazing what having a coach like JBM has done for the confidence already. At least the league is more competitive this year, no team can afford to lose a second game, otherwise they will be facing a possible relegation battle.

As for Clare, I liked them last year and I still like what I've see so far.

As for Tipp, don't get me started.

I was thinking Antrim for promotion, a good start for it, will get at least an Ulster title this year again

Lehane has been the word on the street for a bit now. Cork are still well short.

I despise KK, but I got annoyed at a Tipp back for blocking a shot that'd have been a beautiful goal.

Aointrim getting development money.......They are a solid outfit. That ain't right.

Id be interested to know the Cork peoples views on John Allen??
A good follow on from O'Grady?

He inherited a great team in Cork. The 06 AI wasn't beyond Cork. He did a very good solid job with Cork, should do alright in Limerick.

No better man.

I read Eoin C. is back for the Cork Hurlers

http://www.gaa.ie/gaa-news-and-videos/daily-news/1/0803122009-cadogan-returns-for-cork-hurlers/

Wish I could watch that game against the Dubs *sigh*

Kilkenny have made it to their fourth Allianz League Final in six years after thumping Clare. Meanwhile Galway made sure the Dubs got relegated

Cari wrote:Kilkenny have made it to their fourth Allianz League Final in six years after thumping Clare. Meanwhile Galway made sure the Dubs got relegated

Meantime Cork smash Tipp. I turned the TV off in disgust. Codogan had a great game, did he get man of the match?

I know Tipp are missing a lot of players, but today's performance was just ridiculous. To my mind the player Tipp are missing the most is Patrick Maher and not Lar.

Wouldn't worry about the Dubs, Conal will be back for the championship.

Read about Cork, Blue. Wish I'd seen if Cadogan had a good game...

I hope Conal does make a full recovery and is back soon. I miss him...and so do the Dubs.

Cari wrote:Read about Cork, Blue. Wish I'd seen if Cadogan had a good game...

I hope Conal does make a full recovery and is back soon. I miss him...and so do the Dubs.

He had a great game. Mind you the Tipp forwards were crap, making any backline look good.

I believe Conal is back in full training and should be ready for championship.

Nice win for Cork, they didn't start with their full strength side but they still played well, the defending could be a bit better, O'Neill got killed for the first goal. Plenty of positives to work on for next season. A quarter final wouldn't be too bad this season.

Thomond wrote:Nice win for Cork, they didn't start with their full strength side but they still played well, the defending could be a bit better, O'Neill got killed for the first goal. Plenty of positives to work on for next season. A quarter final wouldn't be too bad this season.

I think they are aiming higher than that.................

John Cregan wrote:

Thomond wrote:Nice win for Cork, they didn't start with their full strength side but they still played well, the defending could be a bit better, O'Neill got killed for the first goal. Plenty of positives to work on for next season. A quarter final wouldn't be too bad this season.

I think they are aiming higher than that.................

Of course they are but that doesn't mean they're good enough for it. A quarter would be a decent season, anything further is a bonus.

Cork will make the final this year. Wouldn't surprise me if they won it. Only Kilkenny stand in their way.

bluemoda wrote:Cork will make the final this year. Wouldn't surprise me if they won it. Only Kilkenny stand in their way.

No they won't, it's the league lads and lassies. You're looking too much from it. Tipp didn't have thier strongest side out, neither did KK when Cork played them. There are some very promising signs but this Cork team is a few years away from being genuine contenders. They don't have the depth KK or Tipp do.

Oh so it's another Tipp/Kilkenny AIF? Bummer. I was hoping someone would spoil the party (preferably those Boys in Blue... )

Cari wrote:Oh so it's another Tipp/Kilkenny AIF? Bummer. I was hoping someone would spoil the party (preferably those Boys in Blue... )

More than likely, Galway could do something, but unlikely. The Dubs are contenders but probably not good enough. It's still league time so not a lot can be learned from it. There was time when Mayo footballers would do superb in the league, and we thought they would sweep everything. God were we idiots.

The league final will be a good pointer for Cork. I cant see Cody and Kilkenny giving it away that easy. Cork have a little more depth now than previously plus they are playing to a game plan and have less dependence on individuals for scores.

Would agree that it is a year early for them. If they could get Aidan Walsh and Ciaran Sheehan from the footballers they would make a big difference in terms of ball winning around the middle third specifically in the half forward line.

Get them playing for both. Footballers need Sheehan definitely while Walsh is a solid footballer too.

Dont care about the Footballers Thomond they are too flakey...always have been always will.

Yeah, a lot of Cork people feel like that. I don't though. They will win at least one or two AIs in the next few years though. Cork have a history of underachieving in the football though.

Sheehan came back tonight and played a half of football for the club.