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A wonderful year for hurling if not the greatest ever, and the sad part is that we've now to wait the guts of nine months for Championship 2019 to commence. Gutted as a Galway fan that they didn't do the two in a row, as it really would have silenced the doubters and cemented their place in history as a great team, sadly they just didn't turn up in the final, and despite the comeback, Limerick were deserving winners. So going into next season, you would probably rank the top four teams as Limerick, Galway, Clare and Cork, whilst Tipperary and Kilkenny will definitely be there or there abouts next season. I can only see Limerick getting stronger now that the monkey is off their back, but as Galway will tell you it's even harder to win the next time around. Galway will definitely need a few new players as defensively they were very weak this season, and conceded a lot of sloppy goals, also their forward play is quite one dimensional. If you were to put a gun to my head I would at this moment in time predict a Limerick v Clare or Limerick v Cork All Ireland final, but after the Summer we've had, who knows? Finally while the round robin series was a massive success, no team should play four weeks in a row, and that has to be looked at. Also move the All Ireland final back to it's previous slot, as everything this year just seemed so rushed, yes it was the wonderful the way the games kept coming at us, but it was almost like they were in a hurry to get the season over and done with!! gilly0512 (Galway) - Posts: 1176 - 21/08/2018 10:12:53 2135150 Link 0 |
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Agreed and a 3 week break for both teams between the semi final ad the final (no bias at all - I'd say this if it was Limerick Vs Clare final this year). 2 weeks is too short in terms of getting over one match and trying to prepare for another.
The_DOC (Galway) - Posts: 706 - 21/08/2018 10:54:54 2135170 Link 0 |
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McGrath acted in good faith by bringing the players back later than usual. He admitted it himself that he got it wrong. It's a shame than his reign ended like that. He was a very good manager for Waterford and came in at a very important time in the development of this set of player. I think Waterford will go close again over the coming year. There is too much talent there and some of the underage winning forwards should get more game time from next year onwards. I am really looking forward to seeing what way the new manager sets up the team. I would like to see Power get his chance. Killarney.87 (Tipperary) - Posts: 2513 - 21/08/2018 12:23:37 2135219 Link 0 |
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No need to be trialling two refs...there's 4 intercounty refs at each game, 1 ref, 2sideline officials and a 4th official...the 2 linesmen should be utilised more and advise the ref in the middle. 1 thing does need changing and been said, no teams should be playing more than 2 weeks in a row apart from that can't think of anything else tipp11 (Tipperary) - Posts: 353 - 21/08/2018 13:10:26 2135237 Link 0 |
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Davy is brilliant at making an immediate impact in year 1 and 2 and then it just seems to taper off for him. I think it was 2015 when Cork narrowly beat Clare in Thurles in a qualifier and the conservatism with how Clare played was astonishing. Conor McGrath was dropped back into midfield and aimless ball was lobbed down on O'Donnell. I remember thinking, this is so far removed from what Clare were doing in 2013. You could feel the frustration in the Clare supporters that night. Killarney.87 (Tipperary) - Posts: 2513 - 21/08/2018 13:49:30 2135262 Link 0 |
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2 weeks is too short? Really? So basically you are saying we need to abolish replays? We either have replays, or extra time / free taking competition, we can't have both. If there is a replay, there will always be a semi final team with an extra week. I actually think I would rather 2 weeks than 3 for a lead-in, 3 weeks drags everything out. Teams get over 1 match and prepare for another within 2 weeks all the time. StoreysTash (Wexford) - Posts: 1732 - 21/08/2018 13:50:17 2135263 Link 0 |
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I see your point but a final is different, give a team a right chance to use a week as recovery then the second week to try opposition related tactics in raining etc., then the final week as a recovery/prep week then a final. Why do we need a replayed semifinal? I think the only replays should be for finals whether it be provincial or all Ireland, the rest should be sorted on the day - maybe not by free taking but by some means, extra time, additional extra time then maybe frees? The_DOC (Galway) - Posts: 706 - 21/08/2018 15:38:41 2135319 Link 0 |
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Derek is definitely a people manager and student of the game. That is not to say he doe not understand the game but would be the first himself to say he is still learning. I can see him going back to building Harty Cup teams at De LaSalle again and bring those players to the top. He will appear again at county level. If not in Waterford some where else. One day when Davy is finished in Wexford he would be a good fit. He may have error'd with bring back the team late in 2018 but that did not accidentally break Tadgh's collar bone. Barry Coughlan's broken bones in his hand is another story. Best left alone. Terrible run of luck. Them's are the breaks. Again not criticizing Derek but I believe you will see a more flamboyant Waterford in 2019. That is what we know. Unfortunately it did not win us an All-Ireland either except for 1959. A team that should have won three. Canuck (Waterford) - Posts: 2660 - 21/08/2018 21:12:31 2135441 Link 0 |