2017 all Ireland hurling championship preview

Sport
41

To paraphrase Snoop Dogg, Clare without Davy is like Harold Melvin without the bluenotes - ye’ll never go platinum

42

Chip Waterford and Clare, with limerick in the long grass

43

Don’t think there will be much expectation in Clare this year. Am not saying they won’t be there or thereabouts but noone will get too upset and the new management will get a year to bed in. Dito Limerick. If we can get out of 1b twill ease the pressure on Kiely and give him some wriggle room in the championship.
Pressure on Tipp will come from inward. They are the best around at the moment and complacency will be their main challenge.
Galway will fancy themselves and will attract the least attention which will suit them.
Personally I think the pressure is on Waterford next season. They are in a similar position to Limerick after 2014. They ran Kilkenny to the edge and they will see that as progress. The emphatic under 21 win will not helpthe pressure.
However I would not judge Waterford in terms of how they performed against Kilkenny. I would judge Waterford based on theTipperary demolition of Kilkenny in the final. Another six points would not have flattered Tipp. Therefore expectation in Waterford could be a tad premature.

44

Agree with alot of that but the Waterford bit I do not. Its a game (the goals) McGrath won’t get wrong again. Tipp are further ahead at the moment but there is a few sides with some talent there.

45

I certainly don’t think Waterford would collapse like that to Tipp again. But as I said I wouldn’t judge Waterford on that game. My basic point was that Tipp were able to dish out a beating to Kilkenny which is something that Waterford couldn’t despite having them on the rack in both games.
But there is a huge asterisk after everything I wrote as we all know that a number of teams have threatened to make the breakthrough in the last few years only to fail miserably. The chief culprits being Limerick and Galway.

46

A young Waterford team battered kk in the 1st game and were very close in the replay

47

Correct. It might be the experience they need to go one better. But Waterford should not expect based on their performances against Kilkenny alone.

1 Like
48

I’d say the two games v Waterford did take a bit out of Kilkenny too but that said, each game should be judged on its own merits. I do think Waterford would have given Tipp a better test in the final than what KK did.

49

Wouldn’t disagree with that. I also think that McGrath is an astute manager who learns as he goes and on that basis I would expect to see Waterford go well next year.

50

Waterford have great team. No 3 . and its not because ye won the U21. they have proved they are at the top table with class.

51

A lot will depend on how they winter. If they go the way they went after 2010, they won’t win the AI.

52

Rumour has its half of them are in calf already

53

We’ll see. If I hear of the bus service to Lar’s place making a comeback, I’ll start getting hopeful.

54

Apparently the vodka is shite

1 Like
55

Hopefully McGrath is staying on for next year

56

Ah he will.

57

who would you rank 4 and 5

58

Kilkenny
Clare

59

Eight more months of reading this shite.

4 Likes
60

Ah well, there’ll be a bit of crack Thursday night after the draw.