Heard that on Sunday Sport yesterday. Was talking to a man today who said they brought twenty (20) buses down to Kilkenny for the occasion. Must have played a series of blitzâs too. You could hear the vuvuzela type horns blowing in the ground. The noise sounded like a camogie final in Croker.
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Ian Byrne would be a good free-taker too but he never really cemented his place again after going abroad for a couple of years. Was shaping up to be a good player for Wexford back around 2014.
Darragh OâDonovan is the best midfielder in the country. Chin must be something elseâŚ
The league stage of the League is probably better now but it doesnât mean as much to win the competition itself as it used to.
Winning the League used to be a big enough deal back in the 1990s. It isnât now, or very rarely is.
In football League finals were a genuinely big deal from about 1987 up to 1994, peaking in 1993 with the Dublin v Donegal draw and replay which were absolute grudge matches in front of over 60k each day.
Interest in the hurling league finals peaked around then too with Limerick v Tipp in 1992 and the Cork v Wexford trilogy in 1993 which were contested at championship intensity, there was serious disappointment for Wexford losing that.
The 1997 knockout stage saw a real drop off in interest in the hurling because it was played after the teams involved had been eliminated from the championship, but 1999 was played in the normal time frame in May and saw a real drop off in interest in the knockout stages of the competitions in both codes with Cork v Dublin in Cork drawing just 9k to the football final and Tipperary and Galway playing off the hurling league final in a challenge match like atmosphere in Ennis.
There have been good League finals since in both codes but itâs rare that you get a good match and decent spectator interest.
Kilkenny v Cork 2002, and Tipp 2003, 2009 and 2014 were fine matches but werenât huge spectator draws.
In hurling Clare winning in 2016 against Waterford in a replay was probably the last time there was a meaningful final where both teams treated it as a big deal in and of itself and to hell with the consequences.
In the 21st century the best football League finals were the Derry v Meath draw in 2000 and Dublin v Kerry in 2017, which carried extra oomph as Dublin were on a record unbeaten run and going for five League titles in a row, and because the teams had drawn in Tralee a month previously.
Armagh v Wexford in 2005 was reasonably well attended and Mayo beating Kerry in 2019 was worthwhile for Mayo as it meant they got to win a national title in Croke Park. Dublin v Kerry 2016 had 80k at it but that wasnât because of the football.
The biggest problem the League faces now is teams routinely not trying a leg in the knockout stages. Thatâs why semi-finals were done away with in football. This was never a problem in the 1990s.
Like, Mayo openly threw the towel in after about 15 minutes of last yearâs football final.
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Not forgetting Guiney also.
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TG4 is great. Where else would you see Doire v A Dun in the hurling and action from Corrigan Park. Corrigan Park is a great GAA ground.
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Antrim hurlers strangely opting for black shorts.
They might have been having their period
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Hoping to head up there on Sunday. Have never been to that ground.
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Itâs a great ground to visit. Get up there early and visit Milltown Cemetery which is only around the corner. The various Republican plots are well worth seeing (PIRA/OIRA/INLA) Point the car car facing and leave through New Barnsley and Turf Lodge.
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Have Waterford amassed 4 reds? What was the sending off for Saturday?
Thankfully itâs not the Limerick bullies getting these reds or fannies like @peddlerscross , @carryharry and @Malarkey would be losing their minds
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Surprised they didnât analyse that red in forensic detail.
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Thereâd be a 2 hour special if the big bad bully boys were at it.
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Jack Fagan for 2 yellows v Dublin
Stephen Bennet v Dublin
Michael Kiely v Laois
Jamie Barron v Tipp.
Not sure what it was for. I havenât seen anything but I heard he gave a lad a dig.
If heâd given them a kick heâd only have got a yellow.
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Very surprising TG4âs cameras didnât spot it.
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I couldnt believe Davy threw Barron under the bus on Sunday Sport last night.
Primetime special
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Completely impartial of course
What did Davy say?
He said it was a sending off.
Whatever it was couldnt have been as bad as Kyle Hayes v Galway but John Kiely stood by his man.