True that, there’d be one place between these sides in any reasonable rankings. 10th and 9th. This is incredibly overhyped, I fear Tipp will bring them back to earth with a bang
I enjoyed that article and Christy had a decent one last week about Wexford too, which was a bit more insightful and nuanced than I’ve seen elsewhere.
Brennan has done a smashing job with Laois and I think he owes them another season after this one, especially with them coming back to MacCarthy Cup level in 2’20. I think he’s the potential next Wexford manager, as I feel Davy will only do one more year after this one so the timing would be perfect.
He also has experience managing in the Joe McDonagh Cup, which could be vital for us in 2’21.
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Davy won’t do another year. He has got as much as he can from this bunch.
I agree with your general point, but I think you do have to credit Laois & Brennan too. Dublin have hammered them in pretty much every Championship game since 2005, I think.
Laois didn’t even reach the Joe McDonagh final last year. Carlow looked alright this year but still didn’t really challenge.
So I think you have to credit Laois in that sense, they’ve improved an awful lot especially in the context of the trouble following the Roddy King incident. Decent style of hurling too.
The Limerick posters are terribly rattled by Tipperary’s soft path to the final.
They thought they’d gotten one over Tipp by throwing the round robin game and then destroying them in the Munster Final.
And now Tipp are going to stroll into the AIF regardless.
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Wonder will they look to make Leinster an eight team competition. Two groups of four, top two going through to the semi finals. Something like the below
Wexford
Galway
Carlow
Westmeath
Kilkenny
Dublin
Laois
Antrim
Worst team relegated. Would give the likes of Carlow and Laois at least some chance of bridging the gap and getting two games a year against Liam McCarthy opponents while mitigating the threat of relegation somewhat. Argument against it is that you are diluting the championship but it is in essence a four horse race as it stands anyway. With semi finals teams would still get 5 games in order to win Leinster.
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Given the swell of su$$ort and g$$dwill in Wexford Davy may well stay. It is a huge motivating factor for a professional manager.
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Well you’ve got at least one point right in that post
Cork v Kilkenny should be a cracker.
Last year Kilkenny had played 2 tough games on the trot against Galway and on their 3rd week out tore into Limerick and it went to the wire. It’s knockout time and Cody will have them primed.
Cork’s pace will trouble them but if KK push up on them and force them long and into a battle I think KK can come out the right side… Walsh’s ability to break ball will be a loss for Cork - I thought O’Mahony might have got a more advanced role yesterday but it was Fitzgibbon that was pushed on and O’Mahony to Midfield. Bill Cooper dropping deep and crossing paths with Wally Walsh could be a great dual … But I presume KK will try isolate Walsh on Coleman?
Cork still have defensive concerns -but KK dont have the quality of old outside of TJ – Do they man mark TJ and if so, who does it? - I presume Cadogan will be left on Fennelly?
Alan Cadogan is a huge addition for Cork this year tho - when he’s going well he is unplayable - his speed and ability to create space really pulls deferences apart —
On paper it’s Cork all day but if they allow themselves get pulled into a scrap you’d have to favour KK.
Form lines in Leinster have been a bit off but not by much. We should get a good insight into relative standards of both when Kilkenny face Cork this weekend.
What position has Walter Walsh been playing mostly in the matches he has played this year?
I’ve only seen about 10 minutes of KK games and a few highlights but I think he was centre forward last day against Wexford.
Target man.
Cody has reverted to thirteen inside his own 45 whactics.
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I presume he will be put on Coleman?
Switching between wing forward and centre forward, if my memory serves me correct.
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Teej might tell you. He is the architect of the reinvention of kk hurling.
But it’s more the defence who dictates who’ll mark the attacker, unless you’re Tipp and sending Lar Corbett out to man mark Tommy Walsh.
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I’d say Cork will set up with Coleman on Richie Leahy or whoever and they’ll stick someone bulkier like Joyce, if he’s playing, on Walsh.
Usually named at wing forward, he seems to roam around wherever the ball looks like it’s going to reenter the atmosphere.
That’s exactly what will happen. Wally will follow Coleman all over the field and Cork will send Cooper deep to follow Walsh.