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2021 National Hurling League

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Replying To galwayford:  "A great and important win for Gaillimh today. Gaillimh abú."
Ye looked good too

Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 16029 - 16/05/2021 19:05:29    2342477

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Replying To Ulsterman:  "Though we lost today there's a lot for us to take away from the game. We didn't drop the head or take a 25 point hammering. We stuck in, took the game to Kilkenny and showed we are starting to compete. It's as much a mental battle as it physical and skill. We have the ability in Antrim, we have been lacking in the other 2 but we are vastly improving in these. It may take us a season or two to really come up to this level but there's bright days ahead for Antrim hurling. A shout out to our footballers as well yesterday. There's such a vast reservoir of potential in Antrim which Croke Park MUST start helping a lot more than it is."
Was great to see Antrim knocking in 3 goals , which were taken with confidence and aplomb! Westmeath also performed well against Waterford today. I was rooting for Antrim to knock on another few goals. Cody was worried! Antrim are playing with fire and no little skill. This could be the year of a few major upsets!

Rockies (Cork) - Posts: 947 - 16/05/2021 21:03:44    2342544

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Replying To Rockies:  "Was great to see Antrim knocking in 3 goals , which were taken with confidence and aplomb! Westmeath also performed well against Waterford today. I was rooting for Antrim to knock on another few goals. Cody was worried! Antrim are playing with fire and no little skill. This could be the year of a few major upsets!"
The big upset today was surely Down's win over Carlow. Carlow were in Liam McCarthy 2 years ok (albeit by far the weakest side) while Down are a Christy Ring Cup side. The game was in Ballycran which is a hike for Carlow but a surprise none the less.

bennybunny (Cork) - Posts: 3917 - 16/05/2021 23:07:31    2342604

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Replying To Cockney_Cat:  "Good post and well played today But, the 'vast reservoir of potential in Antrim' needs not just Croke Park to help, but also yourselves. Don't let these green shoots fade."
Indeed CC. We have known for a while that ultimately Antrim had to get it's own house in order and we are. We now have a far more focused, professional set up in the county that is dynamic, forward thinking and knows what we have to do. Over the past few years or so the coaching and youth set ups within the clubs and county have vastly improved. Belfast in particular has seen a massive surge in Gaelic Games interest and it's fantastic to see. I reiterate that we need far more input and resources from Croke Park not only to improve the games in Antrim and Belfast BUT also because it can only benefit the Association as a whole. A strong competitive Gaelic Games scene in Ireland's second city and county is a massive bonus to the entire GAA.

Ulsterman (Antrim) - Posts: 9818 - 17/05/2021 01:28:38    2342623

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Replying To Rockies:  "Was great to see Antrim knocking in 3 goals , which were taken with confidence and aplomb! Westmeath also performed well against Waterford today. I was rooting for Antrim to knock on another few goals. Cody was worried! Antrim are playing with fire and no little skill. This could be the year of a few major upsets!"
Rockies, we really did compete with the Cats especially in the second half. We scored 3 goals and could, and should, have scored another 3. Our fellas are now competing physically with the top counties, we struggled badly in this before, and they are playing with a confidence I haven't seen in an Antrim squad in a long time. Our skills set is far better and we are playing with our heads up and not the rabbit in the headlights mentality we had before. Darren Gleeson and his management team have been brilliant for the county.

Ulsterman (Antrim) - Posts: 9818 - 17/05/2021 01:37:07    2342624

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Replying To Rockies:  "Was great to see Antrim knocking in 3 goals , which were taken with confidence and aplomb! Westmeath also performed well against Waterford today. I was rooting for Antrim to knock on another few goals. Cody was worried! Antrim are playing with fire and no little skill. This could be the year of a few major upsets!"
I don't think there will be any major upsets this year. Yes, it's great to Antrim and Westmeath progress, and great for hurling in general. But Kilkenny fielded an experimental team, with a few players making their debuts. Afterall, it's the League. Let's wait until the Championship to see how much real progress has been made.

Cockney_Cat (UK) - Posts: 2812 - 17/05/2021 09:13:38    2342653

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I can honestly say, the first bit of hurling I saw this weekend was the Wexford match this morning and by the sounds of it, I haven't missed much other than free taking contests.
Sad to see. Managers can blame the rule book as much as they want but it isn't the rule book that has players diving for frees at even the smallest contact. Players and managers need to work out what sort of game they want too.

StoreysTash (Wexford) - Posts: 1845 - 17/05/2021 15:33:33    2342817

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Replying To Cockney_Cat:  "I don't think there will be any major upsets this year. Yes, it's great to Antrim and Westmeath progress, and great for hurling in general. But Kilkenny fielded an experimental team, with a few players making their debuts. Afterall, it's the League. Let's wait until the Championship to see how much real progress has been made."
2 debutants and TJ rested? Wasnt your 1st 15 championship lineup but probably 10 of the starting 15 against Antrim will get regular championship gametime this year.

Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 16029 - 17/05/2021 16:41:53    2342864

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Replying To StoreysTash:  "I can honestly say, the first bit of hurling I saw this weekend was the Wexford match this morning and by the sounds of it, I haven't missed much other than free taking contests.
Sad to see. Managers can blame the rule book as much as they want but it isn't the rule book that has players diving for frees at even the smallest contact. Players and managers need to work out what sort of game they want too."
Agreed the new breed of player has alot to answer for. Poorly executed tackling at best or bad dirty little fouls at worst on the 1 hand and players diving and rolling around on the other. "Manliness" in short supply either way.......

Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 16029 - 17/05/2021 16:44:00    2342865

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Be great to get back to talking about some actual hurling, wouldn't it!

Good matches in store this weekend.
The Southeast El Classico will have hair skin and nail flying in Nowlan Park. Always a good game between these 2, home advantage could swing it for KK.
Tipp Galway, Tipp to shade it in spite of a bouyant Galway coming to town.
Dublin Antrim, 2 good showings by Antrim so far but Dublin to shade it here.
Waterford Limerick, I'm just going to dive right in here and say Limerick to win.
Cork and Clare to also register victories.

Weather not looking good, so many dogfights ahead over the weekend.

StoreysTash (Wexford) - Posts: 1845 - 21/05/2021 11:10:52    2343842

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Storeystash I just want to watch and enjoy th e hurling from now on but I've a feeling in the next couple of weeks there will be an awful lot of talking points..

CTGAA10 (Limerick) - Posts: 2527 - 21/05/2021 13:01:23    2343883

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Replying To StoreysTash:  "Be great to get back to talking about some actual hurling, wouldn't it!

Good matches in store this weekend.
The Southeast El Classico will have hair skin and nail flying in Nowlan Park. Always a good game between these 2, home advantage could swing it for KK.
Tipp Galway, Tipp to shade it in spite of a bouyant Galway coming to town.
Dublin Antrim, 2 good showings by Antrim so far but Dublin to shade it here.
Waterford Limerick, I'm just going to dive right in here and say Limerick to win.
Cork and Clare to also register victories.

Weather not looking good, so many dogfights ahead over the weekend."
Hard to argue with your predictions. Galway most likely to ruin the accum....

Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 16029 - 21/05/2021 13:06:58    2343890

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Cork v Westmeath Cork
Tipperary v Galway Galway
Limerick v Waterford Limerick

Dublin v Antrim Antrim
Clare v Laois Clare
Kilkenny Wexford Wexford

MicktheMiller (Offaly) - Posts: 421 - 21/05/2021 16:07:46    2343955

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Replying To Viking66:  "Hard to argue with your predictions. Galway most likely to ruin the accum...."
Heard Galway are resting a number of players your predictions ate looking even better. I'd say we have the best chance to upset them now

Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 16029 - 21/05/2021 16:40:52    2343969

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Replying To Viking66:  "2 debutants and TJ rested? Wasnt your 1st 15 championship lineup but probably 10 of the starting 15 against Antrim will get regular championship gametime this year."
Yes, but what has that go to do with my reply to "This could be the year of a few major upsets"
I said "I don't think there will be any major upsets this year" and "it's the League. Let's wait until the Championship"

Come the Championship, and with a match fit first 15, I would expect Kilkenny to bet Antrim by far more than 7 points.

Cockney_Cat (UK) - Posts: 2812 - 21/05/2021 17:06:15    2343972

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Replying To MicktheMiller:  "Cork v Westmeath Cork
Tipperary v Galway Galway
Limerick v Waterford Limerick

Dublin v Antrim Antrim
Clare v Laois Clare
Kilkenny Wexford Wexford"
Hope you are right about the game in Nowlan Park Mick!

Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 16029 - 21/05/2021 17:19:35    2343975

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Massive test for Galway this Weekend against Tipp...lots of changes in the Galway team with all the speed merchants on the bench...C Mannion, Niland, Loftus, Ja Mannion etc.
Looks like Mr O'Neill is going for brute power,strength and physicality and the old fashion long direct acurte ball into the forwards with all 6 forwards holding their own position.
Hopefully its goodbye to sweeper style, tip tap, short passing with lads running around chasing shadows all over the field completely out of position.

katser (Galway) - Posts: 2604 - 21/05/2021 18:43:00    2343996

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Replying To Cockney_Cat:  "Yes, but what has that go to do with my reply to "This could be the year of a few major upsets"
I said "I don't think there will be any major upsets this year" and "it's the League. Let's wait until the Championship"

Come the Championship, and with a match fit first 15, I would expect Kilkenny to bet Antrim by far more than 7 points."
I would too. I didnt say I wouldn't. But, for example, 1 covid outbreak in any senior intercounty squad could ruin that counties chances this year. I think there is more chance of an upset this year than usual in league or championship that's all I said.

Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 16029 - 21/05/2021 18:44:15    2343997

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Replying To Viking66:  "
Replying To Cockney_Cat:  "Yes, but what has that go to do with my reply to "This could be the year of a few major upsets"
I said "I don't think there will be any major upsets this year" and "it's the League. Let's wait until the Championship"

Come the Championship, and with a match fit first 15, I would expect Kilkenny to bet Antrim by far more than 7 points."
I would too. I didnt say I wouldn't. But, for example, 1 covid outbreak in any senior intercounty squad could ruin that counties chances this year. I think there is more chance of an upset this year than usual in league or championship that's all I said."
Is there a final in division 2A?

If Offaly beat Carlow they'll probably go unbeaten with a very high score difference.

skirge7 (UK) - Posts: 254 - 21/05/2021 22:19:23    2344063

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Looking forward to see how Robert Byrne gets on at half back for Tipperary, he's a class bit of stuff.

Bon (Kildare) - Posts: 2358 - 21/05/2021 22:35:22    2344065

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