All Ireland Hurling Final 2021

[badpiggy]

Turned into an exhibition. Kilkenny's second goal killed Kilkenny ffs

[Doc_Piptorious]

[ame="https://youtu.be/CIKVwzZGWhw"]https://youtu.be/CIKVwzZGWhw[/ame]


Here we are, born to be kings

[Doc_Piptorious]

What a game. Kilkenny tried to hit Limerick with everything they had. They tried to kill Limerick off, even went 7 points clear of Limerick at one point and still lost the game by 9 clear points in the end.


Starting to think that unless you get Limerick on a really bad day, you need to be going in at least 10 to 15 points clear at half time to put them away.


Limerick were typical Limerick. They just take everything that gets thrown at them and then find a way to claw back any deficit and win.

That second half was something special. 21 points in a single half and you got the impression they had more in them.

As Piggy said Kilkenny scoring their second goal only seemed to piss Limerick off and get them to work up a savage head of steam that saw every single player in Green bust a gut for every minute left in the game.


Had Ukrainians going wild for that second half. Almost bouncing off the walls at the comeback that then turned into a savaging. Got asked if all folk from Limerick fight like that. Told them that only our weakest are allowed to hurl to keep thing fair for other counties.

Kilkenny had no answer at all when Limerick went up a gear whereas Limerick took everything Kilkenny threw at them and then did their thing of going into beast mode in the second half, something we have seen so often from them. They really are third quarter killers of teams.

Proper tough game in the first half too. No quarter being given nor asked by either side. Really puts the diving and fannying about by pro footy players into context when you saw the hits taken by the Limerick and Kilkenny players out there and they just took them and then dished them right back.


Am almost positive if Limerick were playing Clare the scoreline would have been a win by a point or two either way as Clare are the only team I fear when it comes to Limerick games, but Kilkenny seem to provoke Limerick when they meet and Limerick tend to change mentality every time that happens.

What odds now on Limerick doing the impossible and next summer becoming the first county to ever win five All Irelands in a row? This Limerick squad is creaking a little bit but damn if they do not keep finding ways to come back.

One year away from being the very best in the history of the sport whereas right now they still have two teams that could be argued as being that (though for me this Limerick side is the best hurling side I have ever seen, even better than the majestic Kilkenny team of not so long ago.)

[Irishnev]

Dublin v Kerry final today, my first football game of the season….. but it should be a goodun

[Irishnev]

The Dubs win by 2 - it reminded me why it was the first game I watched…… intensity and effort is there but it’s a low scoring dour fight fif the most part

Hurling every day if the week

[badpiggy]

David Clifford has a few sleepless nights ahead of him. Dour is right though tbh.

[danperkins]

Up the Dubs

[Irishnev]

David Clifford has a few sleepless nights ahead of him. Dour is right though tbh.

Ya - he had the chances and didn’t deliver, the Dubs deserved it for me

[Doc_Piptorious]

I see the 2024 hurling league fixtures are up.


ROUND 1

Saturday, February 3: Division 1B – Galway v Westmeath, Dublin v Tipperary.

Sunday, February 4: Division 1A – Kilkenny v Wexford, Clare v Cork, Offaly v Waterford. Division 1B – Limerick v Antrim.


ROUND 2

Saturday, February 10: Division 1A – Wexford v Offaly, Cork v Kilkenny. Division 1B – Antrim v Dublin.

Sunday, February 11: Division 1A – Waterford v Clare. Division 1B – Westmeath v Limerick, Tipperary v Galway.

ROUND 3

Saturday, February 24: Division 1B – Dublin v Limerick.

Sunday, February 25: Division 1A – Kilkenny v Offaly, Cork v Waterford, Wexford v Clare. Division 1B – Antrim v Galway, Tipperary v Westmeath.


ROUND 4

Saturday, March 9: Division 1B – Galway v Dublin, Westmeath v Antrim, Limerick v Tipperary.

Sunday, March 10: Division 1A – Waterford v Wexford, Offaly v Cork, Clare v Kilkenny.

ROUND 5

Sunday, March 17: Division 1A – Offaly v Clare, Waterford v Kilkenny, Wexford v Cork. Division 1B – Antrim v Tipperary, Dublin v Westmeath, Limerick v Galway.




Difficult to look past Limerick retaining the league trophy (as well as them then going on to retain the Al Ireland Title yet again).

Some tough fixtures for Cork and Clare there, not to mention they play each other, but can see Limerick just walloping everyone they meet before the home game against Tipperary in round 4.


Only highlighted Limerick, Clare and Cork in the listing because I don't give a **** about anyone else and also because I think the winner will come from that trio.

Also think that 2024 is the year we see a Limerick - Clare All Ireland Final.


Though as with other years, Clare are the team I do not want Limerick to meet in any final be it the All Ireland, The Munster final or otherwise.

Only team in the country that I think Limerick cannot blow away once Limerick pick up their second half head of steam. Don't know what it is with Clare but they have the ability to make every big game against Limerick a bum squeaker, then Clare will go lose to a team and Limerick will go and hammer that team that beat Clare.

But Clare themselves are bloody kryptonite to how Limerick like to play.

Second best team and squad in the country for my money and behind Limerick on self belief only imo as I think they are a match for Limerick in terms of fitness and skill.

[Doc_Piptorious]

The Drive For Five is on , Nev.


Beating Clare yesterday is the confidence boost I needed to fully buy in on it.


Nine points down against the one team I always get the fear when Limerick come up against them.

Not only nine points down against Clare, but nine points down on the 53rd minutes against Clare on Clare's home turf and still Limerick turned that around to win by three points. A twelve point turnaround in the second half.


Big one again next week against Tipp but it is not Clare so far more confident about the game.



Still think that 2024 is the year that gives a Limerick vs Clare All Ireland final

[Irishnev]

I watched it yesterday, I’m not sure if Clare threw it away or Limerick rose to the occasion or a combination of both

That’s the “worst” Limerick played in ages yet they won away to Clare who are arguably the second best team in the country. It’s theirs to lose and that hasn’t changed

[Doc_Piptorious]

I watched it yesterday, I’m not sure if Clare threw it away or Limerick rose to the occasion or a combination of both

That’s the “worst” Limerick played in ages yet they won away to Clare who are arguably the second best team in the country. It’s theirs to lose and that hasn’t changed

Think it was Limerick doing what they almost always do when up against it.

They seem to be able to give any team in the country a really big lead, the sort of lead that should close out a game, and then just power back.

Clare are defo the second best team in the county for me and was saying as much last year and the year before as well.


Remove Limerick from the competition every year and Clare should be the team mopping up All Ireland titles.


Would go as far as to say that the current Clare squad is one of the best, maybe even the best, Clare squads of my lifetime.

Limerick have been just so freakishly good the past close to a decade now that even brilliant teams look levels below by comparison.


Gillane is an absolute weapon for any team to have though and that is using the word weapon in a positive manner. Just a lethal score getter who turns games on their heads year after year.

[Irishnev]

Think it was Limerick doing what they almost always do when up against it.

They seem to be able to give any team in the country a really big lead, the sort of lead that should close out a game, and then just power back.

Clare are defo the second best team in the county for me and was saying as much last year and the year before as well.


Remove Limerick from the competition every year and Clare should be the team mopping up All Ireland titles.


Would go as far as to say that the current Clare squad is one of the best, maybe even the best, Clare squads of my lifetime.

Limerick have been just so freakishly good the past close to a decade now that even brilliant teams look levels below by comparison.


Gillane is an absolute weapon for any team to have though and that is using the word weapon in a positive manner. Just a lethal score getter who turns games on their heads year after year.

Hurling is progressing at such a pace and professionalism that even average teams now would wipe the floor with the best teams of teams from x years ago. I think the Clare team of Lohan, Seanie McMahon, Jamsie etc were at least as good but that Time Machine doesn’t exist.

Gillane’s goal was perhaps a square ball but I think it didn’t matter. Cian Lynch had a v quiet game until the last 15 mins when he won some dirty ball and turned it into scores. Limerick dominate the middle third of the pitch (similar to Klopp’s team at their best) and mop up everything relentlessly. Clare couldn’t cope with the green wave at the end

[Doc_Piptorious]

Hurling is progressing at such a pace and professionalism that even average teams now would wipe the floor with the best teams of teams from x years ago. I think the Clare team of Lohan, Seanie McMahon, Jamsie etc were at least as good but that Time Machine doesn’t exist.

Gillane’s goal was perhaps a square ball but I think it didn’t matter. Cian Lynch had a v quiet game until the last 15 mins when he won some dirty ball and turned it into scores. Limerick dominate the middle third of the pitch (similar to Klopp’s team at their best) and mop up everything relentlessly. Clare couldn’t cope with the green wave at the end

The pressing and the mentality shown by Limerick is similar to Klopp teams (though would argue they keep it going for longer than Klopp teams as Limerick just keep going and don't have a season or two of lulls between runs of form)) but at times I think they remind me more of some of the classic All Black teams.


For me, and especially if they make it five All Ireland titles in a row this season, they are probably the greatest hurling team of my lifetime and that includes teams that has sustained runs of great form like the Kilkenny teams or teams that had an outstanding season like past Clare or Waterford teams.


Mad thing is that there are more than a few players in the under age teams that are starting to look a bit special too.


When Limerick eventually go back to being "just" a good team it is going to be a bit of a shock to the system after this run of years with them being outstanding.

Good shout regarding Lohan, McMahon etc but do still think that even if you remove modern superior fitness levels that the skill levels of a lot of the current Clare team matches the legends of old and more than a few of the current Clare team would be the sort of hard *******s that could have slotted into the sport of yesteryear as well imo.

Is really a Golden era of Munster hurling though. So many great players in the sport at the same time. Limerick obviously managing to field a team of greats or close to greats for years now but a look at the Clare and Tipp squads creates lists of top notch players too. Even Waterford have a few cracking lads in their squad.


As a Limerick related aside, I ran into an old GAA coach of mine (school boy level), Paudie Fitzmaurice, a few weekends ago. He still laughs at the dirty player he taught me to be.

A silky player on the pitch but a lover of the dark arts as a coach.

[Irishnev]

The pressing and the mentality shown by Limerick is similar to Klopp teams (though would argue they keep it going for longer than Klopp teams as Limerick just keep going and don't have a season or two of lulls between runs of form)) but at times I think they remind me more of some of the classic All Black teams.


For me, and especially if they make it five All Ireland titles in a row this season, they are probably the greatest hurling team of my lifetime and that includes teams that has sustained runs of great form like the Kilkenny teams or teams that had an outstanding season like past Clare or Waterford teams.


Mad thing is that there are more than a few players in the under age teams that are starting to look a bit special too.


When Limerick eventually go back to being "just" a good team it is going to be a bit of a shock to the system after this run of years with them being outstanding.

Good shout regarding Lohan, McMahon etc but do still think that even if you remove modern superior fitness levels that the skill levels of a lot of the current Clare team matches the legends of old and more than a few of the current Clare team would be the sort of hard *******s that could have slotted into the sport of yesteryear as well imo.

Is really a Golden era of Munster hurling though. So many great players in the sport at the same time. Limerick obviously managing to field a team of greats or close to greats for years now but a look at the Clare and Tipp squads creates lists of top notch players too. Even Waterford have a few cracking lads in their squad.


As a Limerick related aside, I ran into an old GAA coach of mine (school boy level), Paudie Fitzmaurice, a few weekends ago. He still laughs at the dirty player he taught me to be.

A silky player on the pitch but a lover of the dark arts as a coach.

5 in a row makes them the best ever - JPs money is being well used plus success breeds success, no wonder the underage players are coming through