17 was a great year for hurling and the presence of at least one other top top team in Tipp means it wasnât at all soft
Galway are a great team, one of the strongest all round teams Iâve ever seen, but there was a few very good teams last year that wouldnât have been poor All Ireland champions, certainly not a soft one.
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Just feel Wexford are missing a small bit of guile in the forward line. If they had a player like Noel McGrath or a Tony Kelly who could pull the strings and create space for others they would definitely be more viable All Ireland contenders. Someone who can eke a goal out of nothing.
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I wouldnât say that Joe. Tipp always prone to an early round upset. Wouldnt be surprised to see Limerick there or thereabouts. A resurgent Clare this year will be very hard beat. Any team that goes down to Nowlan Park and win has to be taken seriously irrespective of time of year.
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I feel we have that player, heâs currently injured but will be ready to go come championship.
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We definitely lacked speed in attack at the business end last year when it was primarily Morris, McDonald, Guiney and Chin up there. The latter is quick when he gets going but our really nippy / fast attackers (McGovern, Dunne, Dunbar) were either long term injured, coming back from injury / out of favour or a bit raw.
Dunne seems to be blisteringly quick as he showed in Nowlan Park last year and Walsh Park last week. I also rate Dunbar but he didnât go that well yesterday. I think heâll be more prominent as the pitches get better and he gets more experience/chances. He had a nice catch above the Cork corner backâs head yesterday in the first half and a resulting effort which was cleared off the line.
Weâre placing a lot of hope on Rory OâConnor being that player you mention @johnnysachs. He can play anywhere from 8-15 and is a playmaking, point scoring, free taking, goal scoring type.
I also worry that we lack pace in defence if one or two of our first choice players get injured. To use an oft used TFK term Damien Reck has great cut for a young lad and attacks everything from corner back with serious pace. We donât really have similar cover for him and he went off injured yesterday again.
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Wexford wonât fear anyone. Not sure they would take tipp playing well, or galway playing well, but hurling throws up odd results. I honestly think any of the top five or six could either win it, or go out early.
I havenât a clue.
Itâs hard to judge the speed of anyone this time of year, though Cork looked to have some flyers. I think itâll take a big enough side to win these days and wexford are certainly that, and more.
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I think Corkâs attack is much better than their defence. I reckon their defence can be exposed and theyâll concede plenty. That said, an open game probably suits them as they can be very streaky - they score heavily and quickly when everything clicks. Thatâs more likely to happen on a faster, harder summer pitch too. I just sense that theyâre a little bit flaky though and they have a bit of a soft underbelly when the pressure ratchets up.
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I think youâre right, but I think they are tough, just a bit light.
I think, and hope, wexford are better this year than last, and can go a long way. The round Robin doesnât suit the smaller counties though, especially if theyâve had a tilt at the league.
KK could yet bludgeon their way a fair distance unfortunately.
Wexford and Galway are the teams to beat they are physically miles ahead of everyone
Tipp again the team to beat for me.
Tip Wexford Galway
Are you tipping Wexford to be in the top 2, id hardly have them top 6 for the summer
To be a top six team come the summer all Wexford have to do is be better than Dublin and Offaly which they will.
Are Wexford a (physically) big team now? I thought they were very light-looking in the flesh last year
Wexford are a serious team & will take some beating. Tipp are the only team that can stop them. Wexford for the league & Leinster & Tipp for the AI.
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Thereâs no prize for sixth place, Iâd rank Wexford Sixth or seventh at the moment, this muck hurling isnât the same game at all
I thought cork would make a better fist at the all Ireland last year after Munster but no
Galway were streets ahead of Cork last year