2023 AI Hurling Final Limericks v KK

It looked like Kilkenny needed TJ to make a miraculous catch and Limerick obviously knew that too and would do anything to stop it. Kilkenny didn’t really have any real options when they did go short, it’s a tough gig to play through the lines when the opposition are ready to press right up because they know you can’t go long.

I still think the balance of the Kilkenny team is slightly off. John Donnelly at this point is not a workhorse midfielder and wasn’t a good replacement for Fogarty in midfield. And then Fogarty wasn’t a good replacement for Blanchfield either, Blanchfield having been KK’s best half-back all year long, a massive loss. I think Cillian Buckley would have been the best replacement tbh, but obviously the wedding aspect wasn’t ideal.

And I think that, while Mullen can get space to shoot from midfield, he was needed as a forward today. I don’t know whether Kilkenny have a linkman type midfielder, I know they have legs in the likes of Cian Kenny… I don’t rate Alan Murphy tbh, I think it was a crazy sub bringing him on, not suited for that kind of battle.

But tbh, the puckout thing into the wind. That’s not really an individual thing, that’s a shape/structure thing… obviously you need individuals who can contest in the air and also win dirty ball, and a goalkeeper who can put puckouts with the right trajectory on them and make the right decisions. But it’s difficult for all teams, and Limerick are a lot further down the road with this group of players than Lyng is with his side. That part may improve in time. Is Murphy the best goalkeeper for that? I’m not 100% sure, I think his decision-making on where to land puckouts can be questionable at times… but then he can produce miraculous saves.

I really like Tom Phelan, he caused Byrnes serious bother in the first half particularly. But there is still a bit of a reliance on TJ as a playmaker that you’d be a little worried when he goes. Are the likes of Timmy Clifford & Billy Drennan going to fill the void in the next couple of years?

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O’Neill striking over that last point from his own 65 with a bare flick of his wrists. Unreal.

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I’d say Casey wasn’t even looking for the last couple he hit.

Hold on they’res only one county with wristy hurlers a fundamentally useless team wouldn’t have one of those

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One off his left, one off his right. One effortless, one he had to work his socks off to get the shot away. Both class.

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@Locke do not retire your username. As an esteemed and much respected poster to the forum, you’ll be a terrible loss. Commiserations e-pal.

Lets settle this once and for all, if, and the big if Limerick do 5 in a row, you can buy and wear a Limerick jersey as a forfeit. Looking forward to the power rankings after the first round of the NHL in 2’24.

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Huw Lawlor is a rolls royce fullback

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No plan B

I’m good with that. If the leader of the @limericks @balbec gives the all clear then we have an agreement.

Maybe I’m paying a bit off the forfeit already; I’ve our Limerick nephew here sleep in the nook of my arm after minding him for the night. He’s 11 months old and if he isn’t a prop for Young Munsters in 20 years time I’ll be amazed. The size of him!!

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I’m good with this. The @Locke brand is too valuable to lose from tfk.

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Spring, Summer, Autumn, Winter, rain, sweltering heat, front door, back door, round robin, full house, Big Rob Ryan, mullockers, tippy tappy teams, ACLs, ten points up, ten points down… whatever the challenge these boys deliver. What a story

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It’s the best team of my lifetime anyway playing at its peak. Remarkable team. Kilkenny played well too, gave everything they had. Made no difference. I’d imagine it’s the best team to ever play the game apart from Galway in 1980, but it’s all opinion only.

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I wondered the same. Limerick seemed to have an extra man in every line by the end, like they did against Galway, but like kk in their pomp, they absolutely dominated the Half back line, and kk just kept pucking it at them. Simple enough call to push up and stack the hb line when herity was pucking into that wind, but still.
Honestly just a great side at their peak. I though kk were game as dogs, but to have a chance you need absolutely minimal wides, and every bit of luck, which didn’t happen. The only chance you’d have is to put enough daylight between the teams that you could weather the storm which would be 10 points I’d reckon.
Big question really is whether minor sides coming through other counties want it enough to make the sacrifices necessary to get big strong and fit enough to match them. Galway, I’m not sure we are ever really driven enough tbh.

There’s not that much dirty ball once Limerick hit their straps, they catch everything, and it’s hard to repeatedly compete in the air against a lad 4 inches taller.

The right colours for you as well

In fairness to Kilkenny they have a top class goalkeeper and corner back. Lawlor is a Rolls Royce of a full back. They have a serviceable half back line and midfield but their forwards are not up to the level required. The starting forward line got 1-4 from play. 4 starting forwards didn’t score from play. The forwards scored 0-7 from play in last years final. Work rate and hooking and blocking is all well and good but forwards have to score as well.

Edit 1-3 from play. Not 1-4.

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Yeah once LK are out of Munster you might as well put the ribbons on Liam. Cork and Clare away will be good trips.

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Maybe 4 clean catches in the second half? Most ball hits the ground.

Doesn’t matter what era it is, if you’ve a dominant Half back line you will go a long way to winning a game. Limerick completely shut down Kilkenny. Byrnes made a few brilliant catches, WOD settled down after his yellow. I thought for a few minutes after that he might lose the head and Hayes was Hayes. Imagine being a goalie and looking out at those three wondering where you’re going to put the ball. Monsters of men.

Peter Casey is a great player. Would have definitely been MOTM two years ago only for his injury. As someone said, all his points were different yesterday but equally brilliant and important.

It’s going to take a huge effort from whoever to take them down. I don’t know who will. The only chance is if Limerick take their eye off it in Munster.

The car knew

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