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Leinster Senior Club Hurling

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Starts next weekend. I'd fancy Crokes to beat Raharney and Ballyhale to beat MLR. Couldn't call the other one between Clough and Rapparees,

Semi finals are winners of Crokes/Rahrney and Rynaghs v Ballyhale/MLR.

Dublin teams other than Cuala have been invariably disappointing outside the county but i reckon the standard has improved and would give Crokes a decent shout.

I thought they looked very good against Cuala in both the group stage and the semi final when their defence was excellent. Na Fianna psyched them a bit in the final by pulling defenders out of their comfort zone but they came good in the end.

Would love to see them and Ballyhale in the final.

Who do people fancy?

BarneyGrant (Dublin) - Posts: 2524 - 22/11/2021 20:29:58    2390384

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raharney

mickcunningham (Westmeath) - Posts: 1799 - 23/11/2021 08:55:20    2390398

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Replying To mickcunningham:  "raharney"
Great to hear from our hurling expert but hope you are right

jobber (Westmeath) - Posts: 1445 - 23/11/2021 09:50:30    2390402

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Very hard to see past Ballyhale, but stranger things have happened. They usually tend to improve as the campaign progresses, so catching them early might be the way. MLR obviously have good pedigree, but I can't see them containing Ballyhale.
Kilmacud would have the best shot at stopping them in my view.

WanPintWin (Galway) - Posts: 2037 - 23/11/2021 09:51:13    2390403

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Replying To BarneyGrant:  "Starts next weekend. I'd fancy Crokes to beat Raharney and Ballyhale to beat MLR. Couldn't call the other one between Clough and Rapparees,

Semi finals are winners of Crokes/Rahrney and Rynaghs v Ballyhale/MLR.

Dublin teams other than Cuala have been invariably disappointing outside the county but i reckon the standard has improved and would give Crokes a decent shout.

I thought they looked very good against Cuala in both the group stage and the semi final when their defence was excellent. Na Fianna psyched them a bit in the final by pulling defenders out of their comfort zone but they came good in the end.

Would love to see them and Ballyhale in the final.

Who do people fancy?"
Crokes will easily account for Raharney. Too much firepower and will have the backs to stick to the doyles. Game over

Raparees although new to it have loads of prep time and should win although may be rusty after their commanding win in Wexford for first time in 41 years. Clough can score big but also can concede a lot

Ballyhale to win both games on other side. Would expect Rynaghs to test them as they have completed 3 in a row now but havent been good enough to date and struggled over the line in offaly.

Ballyhale Kilmacud final. Usual winners. Fennelly/s to sign off in style

CasKD (Westmeath) - Posts: 38 - 23/11/2021 10:22:06    2390409

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Winner of MLR and Ballyhale will win Leinster.

MLR at home so I fancy them.

And Raharney will beat Crokes.

carlovia (None) - Posts: 1517 - 23/11/2021 10:27:28    2390410

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Replying To CasKD:  "Crokes will easily account for Raharney. Too much firepower and will have the backs to stick to the doyles. Game over

Raparees although new to it have loads of prep time and should win although may be rusty after their commanding win in Wexford for first time in 41 years. Clough can score big but also can concede a lot

Ballyhale to win both games on other side. Would expect Rynaghs to test them as they have completed 3 in a row now but havent been good enough to date and struggled over the line in offaly.

Ballyhale Kilmacud final. Usual winners. Fennelly/s to sign off in style"
The Doyle's will still do damage up front against Kilmacud regardless I reckon. It will be more about keeping them out at the other end for Raharney.

Dheen (Westmeath) - Posts: 770 - 23/11/2021 10:39:48    2390412

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Rapparees physically are a small enough team so don't think winter hurling will suit them, also missing their main ball winning forward on Saturday Nick Doyle as he's playing All Ireland League Rugby with Enniscorthy, has played football for Wexford too, serious all round athlete.

I think MLR is a tricky game for Ballyhale, if they overcome that they'll be hard to stop.

bostonredsox (Wexford) - Posts: 4368 - 23/11/2021 11:14:41    2390420

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Will be interesting to see how Crokes deal with the Raharney forward threat. Their defence until the final was formidable. They've obviously tried to emulate Limerick in that respect and have the physicality and discipline but Fianna definitely caught them unawares with how they set up and really should have closed that out.

I did see the Wexford final but teams that haven't won a county for a long time seldom do well in Leinster. Although Rapparees have had good while to get themselves back up for this one.

BarneyGrant (Dublin) - Posts: 2524 - 23/11/2021 11:22:41    2390422

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Noone since Oulart have done well for Wexford, I think? Would be great to see MLR put it up to Ballyhale.

keeper7 (Longford) - Posts: 4088 - 23/11/2021 18:38:39    2390505

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Replying To wexico15:  "Rapparees physically are a small enough team so don't think winter hurling will suit them, also missing their main ball winning forward on Saturday Nick Doyle as he's playing All Ireland League Rugby with Enniscorthy, has played football for Wexford too, serious all round athlete.

I think MLR is a tricky game for Ballyhale, if they overcome that they'll be hard to stop."
Just looked at the betting. Ballyhale are favourites to win all Ireland at 11/8 and Leinster at 4/9.

Probably a fair reflection. Ballyboden were no match for Ballyhale in 2018 - beaten 20 points or thereabouts in the final - and wouldn't fancy Crokes to beat them but might get closer, even just on the basis that they are better defensively.

Actually Boden were fortunate enough now I recall to beat Clonkill so Crokes won't be taking anything for granted on Saturday.

BarneyGrant (Dublin) - Posts: 2524 - 23/11/2021 20:00:55    2390512

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I can't see past Ballyhale. Was talking to one of their backroom team just before the county final and he says they are flying at the moment. So much talent and dept there, I don't think there's a squad in the leinster championship to compete with. Looking forward to it .

Bon (Kildare) - Posts: 1898 - 23/11/2021 21:04:24    2390520

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Replying To Dheen:  "The Doyle's will still do damage up front against Kilmacud regardless I reckon. It will be more about keeping them out at the other end for Raharney."
They'll shut them out easy enough I'd say. Haven't been going that well from play this year but they'll need to be disciplined or they'll be punished from dead ball alright.
They held Burke fairly well from play seems to be inside with the full forward line they struggled against na fianna

CasKD (Westmeath) - Posts: 38 - 24/11/2021 07:41:10    2390528

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Replying To BarneyGrant:  "Will be interesting to see how Crokes deal with the Raharney forward threat. Their defence until the final was formidable. They've obviously tried to emulate Limerick in that respect and have the physicality and discipline but Fianna definitely caught them unawares with how they set up and really should have closed that out.

I did see the Wexford final but teams that haven't won a county for a long time seldom do well in Leinster. Although Rapparees have had good while to get themselves back up for this one."
Problem is most of the Rapps team were playing senior club football right up to the knockout stages since they won the county hurling final. Would still be hoping they win though and they should improve for the next game if they do. Very hard to see past Ballyhale although MLR are a great team and played some excellent hurling in the Carlow Final. Crokes were very lucky to win Dublin I dont think they will have it easy against Raharney either. Hoping for a RappsvMLR final!

Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 11734 - 24/11/2021 10:19:36    2390541

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Replying To CasKD:  "They'll shut them out easy enough I'd say. Haven't been going that well from play this year but they'll need to be disciplined or they'll be punished from dead ball alright.
They held Burke fairly well from play seems to be inside with the full forward line they struggled against na fianna"
Fianna changed their entire set up. The starting full forward line which included Burke (although named centre half) scored 2 - 14 or something?

But main factor in their almost winning was having brought Seán Currie out to the right wing well out from goal. Scored 7 from play, Crokes never really got a handle on that and it was only Fianna's misjudged substitutions when they thought they had it won and then panic that lost it. So, Crokes by no means world beaters but Hayes is huge asset to any team.

They are physically imposing and aggressive but don't think their defence would be up to stopping Shamrocks on a going day. And a high free count be curtains!

BarneyGrant (Dublin) - Posts: 2524 - 24/11/2021 10:38:37    2390545

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Replying To keeper7:  "Noone since Oulart have done well for Wexford, I think? Would be great to see MLR put it up to Ballyhale."
They were the last predominantly hurling club to win Wexford. There are only really 3 in the county. Since they won it last its been won by genuinely dual clubs who wouldve been reaching the knockout stages in the senior club football championship also, with the exception of Gorey who reached the knockout stages in the club intermediate championship this year.

Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 11734 - 24/11/2021 10:42:34    2390546

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Replying To Bon:  "I can't see past Ballyhale. Was talking to one of their backroom team just before the county final and he says they are flying at the moment. So much talent and dept there, I don't think there's a squad in the leinster championship to compete with. Looking forward to it ."
That's it. Their forward line is incredible for a club team. 4 of the 6 who lined out in the county final were Adrian Mullen, TJ Reid, Colin Fennelly and Eoin Cody, all top class intercounty forwards. The other 2 were Eoin Reid who also hurled with the county and Cuddihy who I believe had played underage for Kilkenny.
To think that this forward line also once included a certain H Shefflin.

WanPintWin (Galway) - Posts: 2037 - 24/11/2021 11:30:56    2390564

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Replying To WanPintWin:  "That's it. Their forward line is incredible for a club team. 4 of the 6 who lined out in the county final were Adrian Mullen, TJ Reid, Colin Fennelly and Eoin Cody, all top class intercounty forwards. The other 2 were Eoin Reid who also hurled with the county and Cuddihy who I believe had played underage for Kilkenny.
To think that this forward line also once included a certain H Shefflin."
Amazing for what is a small enough parish.

Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 11734 - 24/11/2021 13:40:50    2390594

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Replying To Viking66:  "Amazing for what is a small enough parish."
Absolutely alot of the same families too. The Mullen's and Fennelly's are 1st cousins same with Cody's and Evan Shefflin both nephews of Henry. 3 Reid's on the team too.

bostonredsox (Wexford) - Posts: 4368 - 24/11/2021 13:47:21    2390596

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Replying To BarneyGrant:  "Starts next weekend. I'd fancy Crokes to beat Raharney and Ballyhale to beat MLR. Couldn't call the other one between Clough and Rapparees,

Semi finals are winners of Crokes/Rahrney and Rynaghs v Ballyhale/MLR.

Dublin teams other than Cuala have been invariably disappointing outside the county but i reckon the standard has improved and would give Crokes a decent shout.

I thought they looked very good against Cuala in both the group stage and the semi final when their defence was excellent. Na Fianna psyched them a bit in the final by pulling defenders out of their comfort zone but they came good in the end.

Would love to see them and Ballyhale in the final.

Who do people fancy?"
Can't see past a Crokes and Rynaghs final :-D

tiobraid (Tipperary) - Posts: 4119 - 24/11/2021 14:00:10    2390602

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