Hurling League 2014

I’m wondering if you are mixing up the Richies? Richie Power only started his first league game on Sunday, before
that he came on as a sub in the second half against Dublin and against Waterford. He has scored 6 points from play.
Richie Hogan has played mostly in midfield except for the Galway game where he started centre forward and to be fair he has looked impressive in all the games. He has scored about 12 points from play

[QUOTE=“glasagusban, post: 925216, member: 1533”]I should have had Fennelly ahead of Harnedy or maybe Sutcliffe.

It is bias, I would want a Limerick player in there somewhere, in fact I said at the outset I picked it based on my favourite players. It’s a completely personally subjective choice anyway so strange you make a big deal out of it. But wait and see. Downes was on fire throughout the club championship and hardly a ball has come in his vicinity during the league that he didn’t get a positive result out of. He’s brilliant in the air, our best ball winner and our best goal threat. Who are the three class forwards ahead of him? Watch him this summer and see if you change your mind.[/QUOTE]
He’s a very good player, but not better than Harnedy, bias aside. I will watch out for him, DOG has a history of making big men better.

[QUOTE=“BeTimberin, post: 925243, member: 675”]The ffs comment was the omission of Shefflin. Still a marquee top class forward any day.

I’m not sure I can hold Lehane in the same esteem as Harnedy. Hoggy, imho, is a rolls royce hurler and while I agree that Noel McGrath had an indifferent year past he was very good the last 2 games and will have a better year I believe[/QUOTE]
Really I was basing it over last years championship and what I have seen of club, Fitz and league since, which really means I only got about 70 mins of Shefflin.
Hence Watson and Lehanes inclusions.

Clearly too much mothering

he wouldnt survive in my neighborhood

I had Harnedy in my original pick. Why do you always bring everything back to Harnedy? I wouldn’t trade him for Harnedy given the choice but we’ll see over the next two years who’s better. Or not if O’Grady continues the trajectory he currently has us on.

I think Harnedy was actually under rated last year and a more spectacular Horgan got more credit than he deserved. Some of harnedys play was Shefflin-esque (note I’m not saying he is good as him before lads lose the plot). He brings others into the game so well and he ha added physicality and goal scoring to his game. He Is a real star. Downes is not as good as him from my limited viewing.

Downes is nowhere near Harnedy, Harnedy is the only player I would currently consider as a suitable substitute for John Conlon. Horgan is perhaps over rated as a player, although I don’t think so, his point in the drawn game when the need was greatest deserved to win an AI, but certainly not as a free taker, he is easily the best free taker in the country

I’m only saying people are over rating him in relation to Harnedy. Truth is we’d be goosed without either.
Horgan and Harnedy would walk in the Clare team, to say anything else in mental. Clare’s forward line is a super unit, but individually both Cork players are better than most if not all depending where you put Kelly.

Cork had/have nowhere near the work rate or balance though tht Clare have.

[QUOTE=“caoimhaoin, post: 925292, member: 273”]I’m only saying people are over rating him in relation to Harnedy. Truth is we’d be goosed without either.
Horgan and Harnedy would walk in the Clare team, to say anything else in mental. Clare’s forward line is a super unit, but individually both Cork players are better than most if not all depending where you put Kelly.

Cork had/have nowhere near the work rate or balance though tht Clare have.[/QUOTE]
That last line is why i’m reluctant to say where a player from another county would fit in the forwards, there are very few who match the defensive abilities of any of our starting forwards bar whomever plays at 14 because they aren’t required to defend in reality.
Good and all as Harnedy,Horgan and Lehane are, they are purely attacking players.Look at the first goal in the replay, Harnedy left Donnelan run on his own and no one could catch him once he got going. Versus McGrath coming out from corner forward and hooking Lehane after the throw in.

Horgan infuriates me all the same, his mechanics and athleticism are exceptional but he should really do more in games.

Kelly,McGrath and Podge are all on the same level as Harnedy and Horgan in fairness but there are only so many players of that type you can have in a team.
In a hypothetical situation where the two Cork lads transferred, they would probably spend months adjusting to the various styles that the rest of our forwards have played for years.
It took Tony Kelly more than a year and a lot of games to fully adjust to playing as a forward in those systems.

TBF I think Harnedy’s workrate is improving constantly. Last year was his first year after all.

[QUOTE=“Bad Winner, post: 925293, member: 2406”]That last line is why i’m reluctant to say where a player from another county would fit in the forwards, there are very few who match the defensive abilities of any of our starting forwards bar whomever plays at 14 because they aren’t required to defend in reality.
Good and all as Harnedy,Horgan and Lehane are, they are purely attacking players.Look at the first goal in the replay, Harnedy left Donnelan run on his own and no one could catch him once he got going. Versus McGrath coming out from corner forward and hooking Lehane after the throw in.

Horgan infuriates me all the same, his mechanics and athleticism are exceptional but he should really do more in games.

Kelly,McGrath and Podge are all on the same level as Harnedy and Horgan in fairness but there are only so many players of that type you can have in a team.
In a hypothetical situation where the two Cork lads transferred, they would probably spend months adjusting to the various styles that the rest of our forwards have played for years.
It took Tony Kelly more than a year and a lot of games to fully adjust to playing as a forward in those systems.[/QUOTE]
Ya some fair points, but you can train work rate, you cannot teach what Lehane and Horgan have in particular. Horgan Lehane will be better than Horgan as he is coming at a more developmental stage to this high tempo hurling. That’s taking nothing from some of the Clare players who have great skill, but the sheet physicality (and flat out power an pace) allied to te skill makes their scope very wide.

But you need to stop scores as well and that’s cork issue at the moment.
Even though they won’t admit it I think the dual thing is just stunting the development of both hurling and football teams.

[QUOTE=“Midshipman Asha, post: 925273, member: 1508”]I’m wondering if you are mixing up the Richies? Richie Power only started his first league game on Sunday, before
that he came on as a sub in the second half against Dublin and against Waterford. He has scored 6 points from play.
Richie Hogan has played mostly in midfield except for the Galway game where he started centre forward and to be fair he has looked impressive in all the games. He has scored about 12 points from play[/QUOTE]
I am going mad.

Another atrocious article by Breheny today in the indo with a totally anecdotal piece on injuries. Nice follow up to his brutal effort on hurling issues recently.

big shout out for the Kerryhurlers who beat Carlow in the divison 2 league final today.

Offaly next week, is it?

yep bandage. Tipp man Eamon Kelly has Kerry in great shape and form. U d never know!

Shane Nolan, the Boyles, Daniel Collins , Tadhg Flynn and David Butler ( tipp) are good hurlers who will not be overawed in Offaly’s company

[QUOTE=“kerry1891, post: 927621, member: 1379”]yep bandage. Tipp man Eamon Kelly has Kerry in great shape and form. U d never know!

Shane Nolan, the Boyles, Daniel Collins , Tadhg Flynn and David Butler ( tipp) are good hurlers who will not be overawed in Offaly’s company[/QUOTE]
How is John O’Keefe going for Kerry? Butler is a fine hurler to have.

[QUOTE=“kerry1891, post: 927621, member: 1379”]yep bandage. Tipp man Eamon Kelly has Kerry in great shape and form. U d never know!

Shane Nolan, the Boyles, Daniel Collins , Tadhg Flynn and David Butler ( tipp) are good hurlers who will not be overawed in Offaly’s company[/QUOTE]

I would love it if you beat them.

Did Carlow go a portion of the league without the MLRangers contingent? But I imagine they would have been back for the final.
Will Kerry give Offaly a good rattle?