I would have Turloughmore and Clarinbridge ahead of St Thomasās. I think their race is run.
Worth noting that Na Fianna only lost by a point to OLG without DĆ³nal Burke in last years Leinster Final too. The pedigree was there. There was a feeling they hadnāt fired all year, saved the best for the big day after flattering to deceive against the Martins and Loughrea.
Iād be wary of Niall Oā CeallachĆ”in over Dublin. I think the knowledgeable @Fat_Pox rates him quite highly and heāll have a far better inside knowledge of the Dublin club scene than MOāD. Hopefully heās slightly underwhelming like the last All-Ireland winning Dublin club manager (Mattie Kenny).
2 Likes
I dont often agree with Woolie Parkinson but I think there is an air of Jim Gavin about OāCeallachain.
He has a calm demeanor on the sideline but thereās a ruthlessness/steeliness behind it all Iād say. Very intelligent too and is a high achiever in his day job.
Dublin came to Fethard on the BOICMC on Saturday and were there to win.
I think theyāll win Leinster within two years.
1 Like
NOC is a serious operator. A real high functioning individual. I will be really disappointed if he doesnāt make Dublin kick on. Leinster is incredibly weak at the minute and there is a provincial title there for grabs.
Its a massive boost for Dublin hurling. When Cuala won their titles back in 17/18, they were far ahead of any other team in Dublin. There is nothing between Crokes and NaF. Lucan are slightly behind them but coming with underage success. Cuala or Vincents could beat anyone or their day too. Iāll be disappointed if another Dublin club doesnāt win a Leinster in the next few years.
8 Likes
Loughrea are bottlers. I wouldnāt back them with your money, not to mind my own.
Iād agree with all that except Iām not quite sure Dublin have the players. We will need some of our young prospects to step up. Iām talking about the likes of Conal o Rian, Ollie Gaffney, Diarmuid o Dulainn. Also we could do with the Aj murphy, and colin currie and kevin burke making the step up from good club players to good county players.
1 Like
He has the sort of resting sad face that can undermine an inter-county managerial career.
I suppose James Horan was largely able to overcome this but he never got the big one and perhaps that resting sad face was the lack of that extra 2% you need to push you over the line.
OāCeallachain does look a bit like Jim Gavin though. A sad looking Jim Gavin.
Kilkenny are at a very low ebb, Wexford may as well disband and Galway are Galway.
I think it would be a failure if they dont win Leinster in two years.
It think they have the players. Just there is no one to play at 6. Solve that and they could be could be a real outfit. A pity Oā Donnell went footballing.
1 Like
Itās time for Con to come home
2 Likes
TFK exclusive
1 Like
Ballyhaleās position is totally dependent on who they get back from Australia, Iād nearly have them no.1 with everyone available, purely on winning mentality etc. Ala Real Madrid in the Champions League but theyāve no strength in depth at all if a few are unavailable.
3 Likes
Agreed.
With everyone back and firing theyād be top 3 for sure but we donāt know whoāll be around,
If theyāve the same team/panel as 2024, then they probably arenāt top 10. Iāve split the difference on it.
Shefflin might try and guilt trip a few into coming home later in the year.
I think ye need to cool the jets on Dublin, they could win Leinster in the next few years as almost every team in the championship are in a state of transition but wouldnāt say its more likely than the other contenders, club success doesnāt always translate to intercounty and there underage has been reasonable the last few years without been exceptional.
If Con plays, Dublin win it.
Simple as.
Iāve had a rethink. FOTF Paddy Doyle @Big_Dan_Campbell is the man for the role.
1 Like
They are too old. Only have 16/17 players ot the standard required. Too many players of 30+. They will come again but not trying to squeeze the orange again with this generation
The sage @Malarkey will know
1 Like
A crazy decision from O Donnell. Much better hurler. Likely wont even start with the footballers
They have Jake Mullen and a couple more coming on stream in 2026.
There is still a good core of Mullen, Cody, Corcoran, Shefflin, Mason who are coming into their prime to build the team around, plus the Reidās and Holden at the back.
If they get out of Kilkenny, they likely become favourites for the All Ireland given their pedigree and aura that surrounds them, Its as simple as that.
If Ballyhale Shamrocks can finish top two in 2025 group and land a nice quarter final draw, they could arrive in semi finals with juice in their legs. A last hurrah would not be out of the question. Henry Shefflin going back in, with two excellent selectors in Mark Aylward and Eoin Reid, is a great help.
Butā¦ A lot of work to do. Joey Holden is obviously back. I hear Brian Cody and Conor Phelan ā and hopefully RĆ³nan Corcoran ā will be around in late summer/autumn. They key point will be having 19/20 live bullets. We have 4/5 lads that need to be nervous of their starting place before best can be got out of them. There probably also needs to be a few positional switches to feeshen up lads.
POSSIBLE 2025 TEAM
Dean Mason
Dara Mason/Conor Phelan
Darragh Corcoran
Brian Butler/Killian Corcoran
Killian Corcoran/Evan Shefflin
Joey Holden
Richie Reid
RĆ³nan Corcoran
Paddy Mullen
Brian Cody/Eoin Kenneally
Adrian Mullen
Liam Barron/Eoin Kenneally
TJ Reid
Eoin Cody
Niall Shortall
This scenario would deliver about five usable subs, which is crucial.
The 2024 juvenile season proved decent for Ballyhale Shamrocks. They won out at U14 B, U16 B and Minor C. I expect them to start being highly competitive, again, at U21 A in 2028. Then they should be there or thereabouts at U21 A for ten years.
Ballyhale Shamrocks have serious talent coming between U16 in 2024 and U9 in 2024 ā and maybe further back. The young lads in those nine vintages will be, in 2039, between 31 years of age and 24 years of age. I have hopes that they will drive winning four or five Senior titles in the 2030s. Just hope I am around to see what happens.
8 Likes