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Replying To Cockney_Cat: "I'd love this comment to be put up on the wall in the OG's dressing room. Although, I doubt St Thomas's will be thinking the same way." It's just simple facts. When you can get over facing a forward line with Hutchinson, Fitzgerald, Peter Hogan and the Mahonys, there is a lot less quality in the O'Loughlin Gaels forward line. galway19 (Galway) - Posts: 828 - 17/12/2023 17:18:41 2517206 Link
Replying To galway19: "Thomas' should win the final. The three county boys at the back for O'Loughlins are obviously class players but they have no forwards of any quality really." Lmao….yet somehow they won out in Kilkenny, Leinster, etc, and now into the All Ireland Final?!? "SOMEONE" is scoring for them. I wonder who the favorites are? Trump2020 (Galway) - Posts: 2388 - 17/12/2023 18:06:31 2517211 Link
Replying To galway19: "It's just simple facts. When you can get over facing a forward line with Hutchinson, Fitzgerald, Peter Hogan and the Mahonys, there is a lot less quality in the O'Loughlin Gaels forward line." Hutchison and Hogan are the only 2 championship level starters in that list. Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 15068 - 17/12/2023 19:31:05 2517221 Link
Replying To Trump2020: "Lmao….yet somehow they won out in Kilkenny, Leinster, etc, and now into the All Ireland Final?!? "SOMEONE" is scoring for them. I wonder who the favorites are?" Thomas' are favourites obviously. 4/6 to lift the cup. galway19 (Galway) - Posts: 828 - 17/12/2023 19:42:25 2517223 Link
Replying To PoolSturgeon: "And people were saying Ballygunner "should" win before a ball was pucked yesterday too." I had no problem with Ballygunner being favorites. They're an awesome outfit. Loaded with talent. Awesome achievement by Thomas' to beat them. Trump2020 (Galway) - Posts: 2388 - 17/12/2023 21:24:47 2517237 Link
Replying To galway19: "It's just simple facts. When you can get over facing a forward line with Hutchinson, Fitzgerald, Peter Hogan and the Mahonys, there is a lot less quality in the O'Loughlin Gaels forward line." That Hutchinson is a pure monster. Every time he got the ball my heart skipped at least 10 beats. Sigh. Trump2020 (Galway) - Posts: 2388 - 17/12/2023 21:27:55 2517238 Link
Replying To galway19: "Thomas' are favourites obviously. 4/6 to lift the cup." Ballygunner were even stronger favourites yesterday. I'd expect OLG to be better in the final and wouldn't be surprised whichever way it goes. They've come out on the right side of a few very tight games. Croke Park will probably suit them better too. I hope Thomas's can get it done, but I see it as very close to call. WanPintWin (Galway) - Posts: 2253 - 17/12/2023 22:14:21 2517244 Link
I'd put Thomas favourites too but I'm never too comfortable playing a kilkenny team in any final. Galway9801 (Galway) - Posts: 1942 - 17/12/2023 22:14:22 2517245 Link
Replying To galway19: "Thomas' should win the final. The three county boys at the back for O'Loughlins are obviously class players but they have no forwards of any quality really." I've only watched two OLG games, the leinster final and the all Ireland semi final, and it was their efficiency in front of goal, as opposed to defence or midfield, that more than anything seemed to get them over the line Galway9801 (Galway) - Posts: 1942 - 18/12/2023 05:36:06 2517252 Link
Intriguing final where you could make a good case for either side Both teams are stronger in defence than attack, midfield looks 50/50 on paper though David Burke could sway things there Hard to see there being much in it at the long whistle, might be worth having some money on the draw Toms attack will have to up it from open play though, relying on Cooney from the dead ball is unlikely to cut it as you'd imagine OLG will be more streetwise and at least make the Toms forward earn his score instead of fouling almost instinctively as Ballygunner seemed prone to doing at the back when they didn't secure the ball first. The likes of Lawlor, Deegan and Butler in the OLG defence ought to be too smart to fall for that Stool Pigeon (Galway) - Posts: 906 - 18/12/2023 11:58:58 2517285 Link
Replying To Galway9801: "I've only watched two OLG games, the leinster final and the all Ireland semi final, and it was their efficiency in front of goal, as opposed to defence or midfield, that more than anything seemed to get them over the line" Have to say I don't think they were especially efficient coming down the stretch, they wasted plenty of possession, though they were certainly more efficient than Cushendall were and of course nerves play a factor in a tight finish so wayward shooting is to be expected in that scenario Stool Pigeon (Galway) - Posts: 906 - 18/12/2023 12:01:11 2517286 Link
Replying To Galway9801: "I'd put Thomas favourites too but I'm never too comfortable playing a kilkenny team in any final." I don't know about that as OLG had a hard old road to get to the Final yet passed every test. I admit that they don't have all the household names like Ballyhale does but they get the job done. I'll be a coward and just call it a toss up. Trump2020 (Galway) - Posts: 2388 - 18/12/2023 12:51:24 2517290 Link
Replying To Trump2020: "I don't know about that as OLG had a hard old road to get to the Final yet passed every test. I admit that they don't have all the household names like Ballyhale does but they get the job done. I'll be a coward and just call it a toss up." I'll use an old hurling euphemism- the winners will be whoever turns up on the day! Seriously though small things like a bit of luck, a refs decision, a key injury on the day might swing it one way or another. Deegan, a player who I used to think of as overrated, has really impressed me at 6 for OLG. Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 15068 - 18/12/2023 13:32:14 2517301 Link
Replying To Viking66: "I'll use an old hurling euphemism- the winners will be whoever turns up on the day! Seriously though small things like a bit of luck, a refs decision, a key injury on the day might swing it one way or another. Deegan, a player who I used to think of as overrated, has really impressed me at 6 for OLG." I like Deegan too but Lawler is a real beast. Trump2020 (Galway) - Posts: 2388 - 18/12/2023 16:10:28 2517320 Link
Lawlor is a savage hurler. KK don't as such play a sweeper, but rather go man for man in defense. Any player who has "limited" Aaron Gillane in two consecutive AI finals the way Lawlor has, says enough: Gillane is deservedly HOTY year 2023 and an AS 2022, but Lawlor has his measure (to date). A relative of mine knows Deegan: class guy. Paddy is AS material, just that Diarmuid Byrnes and Kyle Hayes happen to be what he's up against. The times we live in, tough on Deegan. I hope we get a final somewhat like the two semi-finals: heart and hand stuff and not a puck of the ball in it. Overall, I'd prefer to see St. Thomas prevail. I've always had great time for David Burke, and that just increased after this weekend. Mind you, were it Cushendall in the final, I'd have a different outlook. Anyway, just be happy in Ireland's Gaeldom, and go spend JP's Swiss francs for Xmas. foreveryoung (USA) - Posts: 2146 - 18/12/2023 18:00:13 2517334 Link
Replying To Galway9801: "I'd put Thomas favourites too but I'm never too comfortable playing a kilkenny team in any final." I think the odds on the match will tighten as we get closer to the game. It's a bit mad that Thomas's are odds on favourites. It's a finely balanced contest imo. Tom's picked up a good few injuries on Saturday. Will they all heal up in the 4 weeks? Also in extra time Toms brought on players as subs to replace players who had previously subbed them. It doesnt indicate that there is much depth to the squad outside the first 15. It's a game that could go either way I think. PoolSturgeon (Galway) - Posts: 1989 - 19/12/2023 09:44:10 2517372 Link
Replying To PoolSturgeon: "I think the odds on the match will tighten as we get closer to the game. It's a bit mad that Thomas's are odds on favourites. It's a finely balanced contest imo. Tom's picked up a good few injuries on Saturday. Will they all heal up in the 4 weeks? Also in extra time Toms brought on players as subs to replace players who had previously subbed them. It doesnt indicate that there is much depth to the squad outside the first 15. It's a game that could go either way I think." Hopefully both teams will be at full strength on match day. I agree with your post about the odds in that it will tighten as we approach match day. Victor Manso didn't have a great game so maybe he's due for a big one. Let's hope so. Great to see David Burke back and he played the whole match which is miraculous. Trump2020 (Galway) - Posts: 2388 - 19/12/2023 11:49:05 2517379 Link
Replying To foreveryoung: "Lawlor is a savage hurler. KK don't as such play a sweeper, but rather go man for man in defense. Any player who has "limited" Aaron Gillane in two consecutive AI finals the way Lawlor has, says enough: Gillane is deservedly HOTY year 2023 and an AS 2022, but Lawlor has his measure (to date). A relative of mine knows Deegan: class guy. Paddy is AS material, just that Diarmuid Byrnes and Kyle Hayes happen to be what he's up against. The times we live in, tough on Deegan. I hope we get a final somewhat like the two semi-finals: heart and hand stuff and not a puck of the ball in it. Overall, I'd prefer to see St. Thomas prevail. I've always had great time for David Burke, and that just increased after this weekend. Mind you, were it Cushendall in the final, I'd have a different outlook. Anyway, just be happy in Ireland's Gaeldom, and go spend JP's Swiss francs for Xmas." Stop will you. Paddy Deegan isn't a distant cousin of AS material Stool Pigeon (Galway) - Posts: 906 - 19/12/2023 13:39:32 2517391 Link
Great performance from St Thomas and hopefully they do the business in the final. I find it very interesting the contrast in structures of varying counties. One thing that struck me is that the 2 big club finals in hurling and camogie are between Kilkenny and Galway sides. The 2 Kilkenny clubs in question are big city clubs , Dicksboro and OLG , while the 2 Galway clubs are very rural, Sarsfields and St Thomas' , and with success fuelled by a few families. The biggest difference in many ways between Kilkenny and Galway hurling is the penetration levels in the city. Galway city with a population of 4 or 5x of Kilkenny city has 2 senior clubs ( out of 24) . Kilkenny city has a population of about 22K and has 3 major clubs (out of 12), James Stephens and the aforementioned 2. All three reached senior QF this year.. All 3 are part of only 5 teams who have won KK championships in the last 20+years , the other 2 being Clara and , of course BHS. Ballyhale are another story and I would classify them as a club of an ilk that resembles Corofin and St Thomas. They resemble Corofin in that it is a large sprawling rural area in the heart of tradition , but close to centres of population with quick and easy access to KK and Waterford. Probably doesnt quite enjoy the huge population of Corofin but it also has the St Thomas' family type contribution with the Reid's and extended Fennelly clans. Sorry I digress a little on Ballyhale but what I'm trying to say is that if it wasnt for them I feel that the 3 city clubs would have a big stranglehold on proceedings in KK. The point is that football and hurling success continues to drift towards the centres of population. Yes there will always be exceptions and pro rata participation will always be higher in rural areas which somewhat levels the playing field but I fear if we dont start to get more of a return from the city we may struggle to be at the to table in either code ( note I do recognise that football is not hit quite as hard as hurling in terms of this issue). anotheralias (Galway) - Posts: 974 - 19/12/2023 15:11:06 2517401 Link
Replying To Trump2020: "Hopefully both teams will be at full strength on match day. I agree with your post about the odds in that it will tighten as we approach match day. Victor Manso didn't have a great game so maybe he's due for a big one. Let's hope so. Great to see David Burke back and he played the whole match which is miraculous." You could count the number of Conor Cooney's and David Burke's trophy wins over KK sides of any level in Croke Park on the fingers of one hand. In stark contrast, Lawlor and Deegan must be running out of fingers with Leinster title wins over Galway. Regardless of the odds, you can be damn sure that OLG are not expecting to lose this final. Pope_Benedict (Galway) - Posts: 4006 - 19/12/2023 15:21:28 2517403 Link