FAO of John Allen

Iā€™ve been positive about Allen since he started. Massive improvement on what Oā€™Grady put together. Clearly hasnā€™t put much emphasis on the league having lost the two finals, but performances brought out for championship and he is bringing munster back to limerick this year!

Dancing on the pitch at full-time with strangers. Magical. Thank you John Allen and all the squad. Warriors today.

When are people going to realise that the league means fuck all when it comes to championship hurling.

It is embarrassing for the clued in limerick supporters. On a day with so many heros that the originator had to open a thread deifying a cork man. Hannibal , mousey, project x , can one of ye take over here FFS?

well done John Allen.

A gentleman. Would Be great to have himself and JBM do battle on the sideline in the munster final. Allen played hurling and football with the great JBM with the Barrs and Cork and was in JBMs backroom team in 1999. The battle between them would add an extra dimension to the Munster Final.

Agreed. This thread should be dedicated to JP.

What praise for John from Donal Ɠg on The Sunday Game.

This is our night so leave it to us. We know our limitations. And donā€™t forget how ye got on the last time ye played us in the Championship.

I donā€™t think people have fully appreciated the absolute managerial brilliance that was on show today. In fact it may be years before Allen gets the credit he deserves.

Itā€™s been clear to anyone with even a small knowledge of the game that Limericks biggest problem was they couldnā€™t win any ball in the half forward line. Rather than attempt to fix this issue though Allen, in probably one of the greatest tactical master-strokes of all time, decided to use it to our advantage. The plan unfurled in a number of stages.

Stage one: Start Breen and Hickey in the two half forward positions. Stupidly some questioned why you would start those two when they have shown time and again that they are unable to win any ball in the half forward line.
Stage two: Put Breen on the best defender Tipp have Maher. Again the less shrewd supporters questioned the logic of this decision on the basis that Breen is utterly shit. How foolish they must feel today.
Stage three: Hit all of the puckouts in the first half down on top of Breen. Why would you hit all of the ball in the direction of their best player and our worst they wondered. What idiots.

It worked perfectly, Limerick were destroyed under the puckouts and Maher cleaned up on Breen. What Tipp didnā€™t realise however was that this was all part of the plan.

With about 40 mins gone Allen subbed Breen, then shortly after subbed Hickey. Limerick now had some half forwards capable of winning possession while the Tipp backs were exhausted from over possession in the first half. Then the players, that many foolish people argued should have started, came on and turned the game around for Limerick, fully vindicating John Allens decision making in the process.

i thought by picking hickey today at wing forward allen had one eye on silencing tommy walsh in AI final?..

The hurling equivalent of rope a dope !

I canā€™t keep up with it all. Iā€™m just home now after a few beers, sipping on a Sol beer after a sambo and watching the Sunday game. Iā€™ve listened to , Limerick youā€™re a lady twice now since I got home and Iā€™m sure my neighbours are pissed off with my singing my head off, but fuck em.

Up the ra.

1 win in the Munster Championship is not a success. the disappointment of thurles last year is quickly forgotten by the happy losers.

a third season in Division 1b is not a success. happy losers consider this acceptable.

Anything less than an All Ireland victory is a disappointment.

John Allen did well today. However, an All Ireland victory is the only success that he will me measured against.

the Happy Loser brigade will disagree with me but obviously I have no regard for their opinion.