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Limerick Hurling Thread 2025

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Nicky Quaid will be a huge loss in 2025 , will make regaining Liam McCarthy more difficult, Could be hard to stop Cork in 2025.
Limerick playing Antrim tomorrow night ( not sure of venue ) In challenge match , Antrim playing a number of games in mid west over 4 days , Limerick , Clare & Sixmilebridge amongst the opponent's.

OpenStand (Limerick) - Posts: 723 - 09/01/2025 22:18:43    2585272

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Replying To OpenStand:  "Nicky Quaid will be a huge loss in 2025 , will make regaining Liam McCarthy more difficult, Could be hard to stop Cork in 2025.
Limerick playing Antrim tomorrow night ( not sure of venue ) In challenge match , Antrim playing a number of games in mid west over 4 days , Limerick , Clare & Sixmilebridge amongst the opponent's."
Ya there is no doubt Nicky will be a massive loss, the best keeper in the counrty for the last decade IMO. I still think Jason Gillane holds the no. 1 jersey at the moment but have a felling Kiely isnt his biggest fan. When I was announced that Shane Dowling was back on the panel as a GK I must admit I was set against the idea but chatting to a few lads over the Chritmas who would know a lot more than me I am warming to the idea.
I have siad on this platform before and I am going to stick to it, Conor Hanley Clark is the future for Limerick hurling (as GK). I was so impressed with him for the U20s and with UL last year. hes has an unbeleavible pair of hands and his stricking is a joy to watch. I would say he will spent this year gaining experiance and wont see a whole pile of game time.

Ballyknockill (Limerick) - Posts: 25 - 10/01/2025 09:41:04    2585304

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Nickie is a huge loss, however at least we know about it now, with time to prepare and select the best next man up. I think the fight amongst the three goalies for the starting position is one of the things, I'm most interested in watching over the course of the league.

I do feel we are blessed with forwards we have currently and we can compete with anyone on that front. I am happy with the midfield options we have also have. I would like to see more fellas putting pressure on the on the incumbents on the half back line and full back line however. While Morrissey, Nash, Byrnes, Hannon and Hayes are fantastic, if we are missing any one of them for any reason our defence would be weakened significantly (Nash was a massive loss in the All Ireland Semi Final) . I would love to see somebody put their hand up and put real pressure on them over the course of beacuse of the mileage on them I feel they are more prone to injury or absence.

LimerickandProud (Limerick) - Posts: 102 - 10/01/2025 10:47:52    2585313

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Replying To OpenStand:  "Nicky Quaid will be a huge loss in 2025 , will make regaining Liam McCarthy more difficult, Could be hard to stop Cork in 2025.
Limerick playing Antrim tomorrow night ( not sure of venue ) In challenge match , Antrim playing a number of games in mid west over 4 days , Limerick , Clare & Sixmilebridge amongst the opponent's."
any idea where that challenge is on openstand, thanks

higgins (Limerick) - Posts: 254 - 10/01/2025 14:26:31    2585364

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Replying To LimerickandProud:  "Nickie is a huge loss, however at least we know about it now, with time to prepare and select the best next man up. I think the fight amongst the three goalies for the starting position is one of the things, I'm most interested in watching over the course of the league.

I do feel we are blessed with forwards we have currently and we can compete with anyone on that front. I am happy with the midfield options we have also have. I would like to see more fellas putting pressure on the on the incumbents on the half back line and full back line however. While Morrissey, Nash, Byrnes, Hannon and Hayes are fantastic, if we are missing any one of them for any reason our defence would be weakened significantly (Nash was a massive loss in the All Ireland Semi Final) . I would love to see somebody put their hand up and put real pressure on them over the course of beacuse of the mileage on them I feel they are more prone to injury or absence."
Big question for me is will the appetite be there again?
We have plenty of guys that while still relatively young, have a lot of mileage
We could have won the AI last year - the margins were tight - but some key players were slightly off
Finn, Byrnes, Lynch, Mike Casey, Hannon all struggled a little at times. Can they get back to their best?
Some of their problems were down to injury but for some tit could be age. Will Hannon continue to start?
Two years ago Sean Finn was the best corner back in the country- and by some distance. If he could get back to that level it would be some boost
Peter Casey and DOD will be like new players for us
But Kyle Hayes could be a huge loss
We need Cathal O Neill and likes of Shane O Brien, Adam English, O Dalaigh to continue to improve and push to start or even lead the team ( O Neill in particular) Cathal Coughlans career seems to have stalled - big year for him
And as others have said goalkeeper is key, and any one of the 3 could start.

No disrespect to Clare but I think Cork are the biggest threat. They have plenty of improvement in them while Clare may be at their peak.
Expectations for Tipp and Galway will be low - which will suit them
It's hard to see Kilkenny improving a lot but they will benefit from the weaker side of the draw and are favorites to win Leinster even not at full tilt
Should be a great year

Yadse (Limerick) - Posts: 63 - 11/01/2025 02:46:30    2585429

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Replying To higgins:  "any idea where that challenge is on openstand, thanks"
Challenge v Dublin tomorrow Sunday in Rathkeale at 1o'clock.

Áthasorm (Limerick) - Posts: 2 - 11/01/2025 11:32:03    2585463

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After last year I think this team needs a bit of a freshening up and get some younger legs into the team. If the team is rejuvenated we can certainly be involved at the latter stages of the championship. Providing we have no injuries (a big presumption I know with the recent injuries we had) and depending on form I'd like to see this team.
Jason Gillane
Sean Finn
Dan Morrissey
Fergal O'Connor
Diarmuid Byrnes
Barry Nash
Kyle Hayes
Darragh O'Donovan
Cathal O'Neill
Gearoid Hegarty
Cian Lynch
Adam English
Peter Casey
Shane O'Brien
Aaron Gillane
Alot of experience on the bench aswell but that team looks refreshed and very mobile again.

updwell (Limerick) - Posts: 859 - 11/01/2025 12:09:57    2585471

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Replying To Yadse:  "Big question for me is will the appetite be there again?
We have plenty of guys that while still relatively young, have a lot of mileage
We could have won the AI last year - the margins were tight - but some key players were slightly off
Finn, Byrnes, Lynch, Mike Casey, Hannon all struggled a little at times. Can they get back to their best?
Some of their problems were down to injury but for some tit could be age. Will Hannon continue to start?
Two years ago Sean Finn was the best corner back in the country- and by some distance. If he could get back to that level it would be some boost
Peter Casey and DOD will be like new players for us
But Kyle Hayes could be a huge loss
We need Cathal O Neill and likes of Shane O Brien, Adam English, O Dalaigh to continue to improve and push to start or even lead the team ( O Neill in particular) Cathal Coughlans career seems to have stalled - big year for him
And as others have said goalkeeper is key, and any one of the 3 could start.

No disrespect to Clare but I think Cork are the biggest threat. They have plenty of improvement in them while Clare may be at their peak.
Expectations for Tipp and Galway will be low - which will suit them
It's hard to see Kilkenny improving a lot but they will benefit from the weaker side of the draw and are favorites to win Leinster even not at full tilt
Should be a great year"
On paper it's true Cork would appear to have more to give given their age profile but Corks biggest challenge will be getting out of Munster. Cork were abolsutely blessed to escape Munster last year. They have to travel to Clare and Limerick next season and that in itself is a massive challenge. Limerick will be favourites next year and rightly so but I would expect we will be there or thereabouts. Clare's age profile is slightly exaggerated I think. Yes the likes of Conlon are nearing the end but if we were as reliant as people think on the older fellas we would not have won the All Ireland last year as the number of subs used by both teams in the final was unreal. Taylor back this year to full fitness will be a big boost for us.

Hard to look past Clare, Limerick and Cork this year with KK also in the mix but they have quantity issues imo whereby they just don't have the impact of the bench you need to compete for the ultimate prize.

LohansRedHelmet (Clare) - Posts: 2684 - 11/01/2025 12:27:51    2585472

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Replying To Ballyknockill:  "Ya there is no doubt Nicky will be a massive loss, the best keeper in the counrty for the last decade IMO. I still think Jason Gillane holds the no. 1 jersey at the moment but have a felling Kiely isnt his biggest fan. When I was announced that Shane Dowling was back on the panel as a GK I must admit I was set against the idea but chatting to a few lads over the Chritmas who would know a lot more than me I am warming to the idea.
I have siad on this platform before and I am going to stick to it, Conor Hanley Clark is the future for Limerick hurling (as GK). I was so impressed with him for the U20s and with UL last year. hes has an unbeleavible pair of hands and his stricking is a joy to watch. I would say he will spent this year gaining experiance and wont see a whole pile of game time."
I'd be thinking aswell that Dowling wasn't brought back in to make up the numbers, kiely could well be planning to start him. Hanly Clarke never looks like the fittest guy in the world. I'd like to see Gillane get the jersey.

Bon (Kildare) - Posts: 2115 - 11/01/2025 14:45:20    2585490

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Replying To Bon:  "I'd be thinking aswell that Dowling wasn't brought back in to make up the numbers, kiely could well be planning to start him. Hanly Clarke never looks like the fittest guy in the world. I'd like to see Gillane get the jersey."
McCarthy is a good keeper too.

Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 14298 - 11/01/2025 18:33:20    2585532

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Replying To Áthasorm:  "Challenge v Dublin tomorrow Sunday in Rathkeale at 1o'clock."
Limerick v Dublin game changed to UL tomorrow Sunday at 5.00 p.m.

Áthasorm (Limerick) - Posts: 2 - 11/01/2025 21:30:23    2585554

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Replying To Áthasorm:  "Limerick v Dublin game changed to UL tomorrow Sunday at 5.00 p.m."
Thanks Declan for the outstanding leadership both on and off the field..an absolute gent in every way.

CTGAA10 (Limerick) - Posts: 2423 - 12/01/2025 17:11:22    2585646

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Replying To CTGAA10:  "Thanks Declan for the outstanding leadership both on and off the field..an absolute gent in every way."
Clear sign from management that he will have to fight hard for his starting place come Championship
Any one of Hannon, Hayes, WOD, Cathal O Neill could be center back
And a big sign of faith in Lynch from management

Yadse (Limerick) - Posts: 63 - 12/01/2025 17:51:47    2585649

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Replying To Yadse:  "Clear sign from management that he will have to fight hard for his starting place come Championship
Any one of Hannon, Hayes, WOD, Cathal O Neill could be center back
And a big sign of faith in Lynch from management"
A sign that Limerick mean business. They'll be serious contenders again this year. Limerick ain't going anywhere.

endgame (Roscommon) - Posts: 2308 - 12/01/2025 18:17:05    2585650

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Replying To Yadse:  "Clear sign from management that he will have to fight hard for his starting place come Championship
Any one of Hannon, Hayes, WOD, Cathal O Neill could be center back
And a big sign of faith in Lynch from management"
What about Barry Nash, he seems to have all the attributes for a sitting centre back playmaker but we probably need his pace and height and ability to get up and down the pitch from the full back line when required.
Have never seem him play there and you could see it but you would be robbing Peter to pay Paul.
Similar to Hayes. He would without doubt would be brilliant there but we would be making a big attacking sacrifice moving him into the middle. Hannon is only 32 and never relied on pace so if he could train well and avoid injury and without the responsibility of captaincy he can now focus fully on himself and potentially have another great season. If fit he's still the best option imo. We struggled tactically with the Cork long bombs right down the middle twice last year but was that more of a tactical mistake on the line or did the responsibility lie with Hannon. I would say 70% was tactical we left ourselves open, we knew where Cork were targeting but we didn't try to negate it until it was too late in the second half. Also Nash would have had the hurling intelligence as well as the extra pace to cover the spaces that other corner backs may not see.

I watched the semi final against Cork again, Cork had just about the better of the game but we seemed to create more scoring chances and missed so many relatively easy scores on the day, especially in the first 25 mins. Shoulda woulda coulda though :) Roll on 2025

Fitzy01 (Limerick) - Posts: 412 - 14/01/2025 13:00:45    2585841

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Replying To Fitzy01:  "What about Barry Nash, he seems to have all the attributes for a sitting centre back playmaker but we probably need his pace and height and ability to get up and down the pitch from the full back line when required.
Have never seem him play there and you could see it but you would be robbing Peter to pay Paul.
Similar to Hayes. He would without doubt would be brilliant there but we would be making a big attacking sacrifice moving him into the middle. Hannon is only 32 and never relied on pace so if he could train well and avoid injury and without the responsibility of captaincy he can now focus fully on himself and potentially have another great season. If fit he's still the best option imo. We struggled tactically with the Cork long bombs right down the middle twice last year but was that more of a tactical mistake on the line or did the responsibility lie with Hannon. I would say 70% was tactical we left ourselves open, we knew where Cork were targeting but we didn't try to negate it until it was too late in the second half. Also Nash would have had the hurling intelligence as well as the extra pace to cover the spaces that other corner backs may not see.

I watched the semi final against Cork again, Cork had just about the better of the game but we seemed to create more scoring chances and missed so many relatively easy scores on the day, especially in the first 25 mins. Shoulda woulda coulda though :) Roll on 2025"
I looked at the match against Cork when it was on over Christmas as well.

In fairness to Cork they looked at the Limerick Team in front of them and came up with a game plan to put us on the back foot and it worked.

We got caught out a couple of times because Cork were keeping the ball away from Kyle at all costs. Normally when Kyle moves Barry Nash (being an unbelievable reader of the game closes the space and covers for him). Mike Casey is an out and out defender who was trying to nail down his own man rather than worrying about space or covering for others.

I feel If we had Barry Nash, Peter Casey and a fully fit Darragh O Donovan to chase down Darragh Fitzgibbon, we could have had them, but you can't win them all.

LimerickandProud (Limerick) - Posts: 102 - 14/01/2025 14:16:43    2585863

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I was only thinking the same about Nash myself after last Sundays game against Dublin, I remember he came on for Hannon early in the 19 semi aganist KK. I think he went to wing back and Dan slotted in centre but he gave a MOM display the same day even tho we were beaten.
If we are replacing Hannon, and that is a big IF ( I would love to see him come back fresh and nail down the no. 6 spot) I would go with Kyle. I agree with you in relation to taking away his attacking threat but he would be some force sweeping over and back the HB line and there would be nothing coming down the middle because of his size and pace. you could negate his attacking threat woth O Neill IMO. played very well there for a period last year.

Ballyknockill (Limerick) - Posts: 25 - 14/01/2025 14:33:46    2585867

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Wouldn't mind seeing this starting 15 for match v cork
Gillane..f o Connor..s Finn,b Nash
C Coughlan..w o donohue,d morrissey
A.English.d o Donovan
G hegarty,c lynch,k hayes
D o dalaigh,a gillane.a o Connor..
I want to see fellas really putting their hands up especially those who are on panel for last 3/4 years..we all know about m Casey,p Casey,t morrissey,d reidy,s Flanagan and d Hannon..I'd hope to see c Thomas,e hurley,e stokes,e o Leary get time also during the league..I'd expect cork to go very strong and try and beat us but hopefully not..looking forward now to this one,could be fairly firey.

CTGAA10 (Limerick) - Posts: 2423 - 15/01/2025 14:56:36    2585983

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Hayes was always talked up as a potential center back for Limerick - even when he was in the forwards
I guess the argument for is his physicality, and playing CB its harder to play around him like Cork did in the semi last year
Dont think he is as good a ball distributor as Hannon, and the big unknown is whether his legal difficulties might mean he doesnt even play this year.
Nash I am sure is a possibility, but he adds a different dimension to our FB line. Richie English is retired, Finns form still TBD, and Casey seems to be slowing down so not sure we have as many options in FB line as the half back line.
Management knows these players inside out and I am sure they have plenty of options in mind

And maybe Hannon is coming to the end, but he will still play a role - without captaincy and if fully fit he could nail down that starting spot again.

Yadse (Limerick) - Posts: 63 - 15/01/2025 15:35:00    2585989

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Hayes was always talked up as a potential center back for Limerick - even when he was in the forwards
I guess the argument for is his physicality, and playing CB its harder to play around him like Cork did in the semi last year
Dont think he is as good a ball distributor as Hannon, and the big unknown is whether his legal difficulties might mean he doesnt even play this year.
Nash I am sure is a possibility, but he adds a different dimension to our FB line. Richie English is retired, Finns form still TBD, and Casey seems to be slowing down so not sure we have as many options in FB line as the half back line.
Management knows these players inside out and I am sure they have plenty of options in mind

And maybe Hannon is coming to the end, but he will still play a role - without captaincy and if fully fit he could nail down that starting spot again.

Yadse (Limerick) - Posts: 63 - 15/01/2025 16:03:24    2585997

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