This should be a belter of a game on Sunday. A local derby and probably the two best teams in the country this year with Cork’s new management team still settling in. Shefflin has been named in the team in place of Eoin Larkin. I know losing a league final isn’t fatal to a team’s championship ambitions but I hope Waterford don’t flop and take a battering.
I think everyonbe in Ireland is willing Waterford on. A team with a lot of talent who have yet to fulfil their potential. You get the feeling that if they win one the they could win many…
I’m not willing them on. I’ve never been to Waterford but there’s something that annoys me about the place. I wouldn’t be horribly upset if their hurlers won, you can’t help but feel a little sorry for them, but I’d still prefer if they were beaten. It’s irrational but there ya go.
Half Time
Waterford 0-11 Kilkenny 0-9
Very even first half. Waterford looking the better side with their half back line on top. McGrath has scored two long range frees. Mullane gone in full forward with Shanahan into the corner.
Shefflin missed a 14 yard free - unbelievable.
Cmon Waterford…hope they’ll destroy the cats.
Waterford won it - 20 points to 18
Great scenes. Great for hurling.
Browne, McGrath, Kelly, Prendergast, Flynn, Mullane, Shanahan - alll great players, great to see them finally get some silverware
Man of the match was their left-half back Aidan Kearney. Superb throughout.
Delighted for Waterford, hope they can repeat it during the summer and win the all ireland (but only if, and it’s a big if, Wexford don’t win it hi5 )
Delighted for them. The vast majority of the team are from city based clubs so it proves there’s hurlers everywhere - not just in rural areas. Dublin take note. They play with swagger and are off the cuff and brilliant to watch. Great for the game.
on the topic of hurling commiserations to Leitrim’s stickmnen on coming out the wrong side of a 1-11 to 1-10 scoreline against Fermanagh in Sligo yesterday.
Clement Cunniffe (who else) top scored for Leitrim with 1-8
The attendance yesterday wouldn’t suggest that raven.
In fact nor would any actual facts support that.
Why the need to post all that crap on a thread about the national hurling league? Does it hurt you so much to see favourable publicity and a cracking match of hurling? Are you such a self-hating republican that you’d enjoy the demise of the GAA (not that it’s even a remote possibility).
For the record the dominance of a small number of counties in hurling is nothing new. 3 counties have won 83 out of the 119 championships. So has hurling been dying on its feet for a 100 years?
And hurling is getting a revamp next year. So whose head is in the sand?
raven, did you see the Munster Final last year where Cork beat Tipperary by one goal and Cusack made two smashing saves from Eoin Kelly, one in either half? To say they never stretched themselves is plainly incorrect but I don’t expect you to change your mind as when you adopt a stance you tend to stick to it - even when you’re blatantly incorrect.
If you look at any sport there’s generally only a handful of teams, or individuals in sports like golf and tennis, that have a realistic chance of winning a title at the start of the season/event so it would seem strange to imply that this relates to hurling only.
However, it is true that 2 of the traditional 3 super powers have raised the bar in recent years and they’re to be applauded for this as the standard at the top level now is magnificent. It’ll take a significant effort from the likes of Waterford, Galway, Tipp, Wexford and Clare to bridge that gap and that’s why yesterday’s result was all the more impressive.
Then at the level below that it’s encouraging to see the likes of Carlow minors contesting a Leinster Final in 2006 and the results that Dublin and Wicklow had in the league this season.
Finally, if you thought the last 2 Leinster Finals were joyless or soulless then you must have been facing the wrong way or lost in the toilets in 2005 when Kilkenny beat Wexford by 0-22 to 1-16 in an absolutely cracking game of hurling. As you were there, allegedly, you’ll probably remember it for Eoin Quigley’s overhead point from midfield, one of the greatest ever scores in Croke Park’s marvellous history.
So if what’s happening in recent years is the same as what has happened in all championships why is it dying on its feet? Crowds are down as well are they? How do you explain the increase in attendances then? Could it be that you’re talking through your hole?
Average attendances:
2004 Munster Championship 28,800
2005 Munster Championship 31,100
2006 Munster Championship 34,000
2005 Hurling Qualifiers aggregate attendance: 49,000
2006 Hurling Qualifiers aggregate attendance: 73,000
There’s nothing as irrational as bitterness.
Eh read the post again. There is an average per game for the last 3 Munster championships.
Nobody ever said that 2 teams were dominating was good for the sport. Simply pointed out that:
- this has been the case since inception with only 3 real powers
- the sport isn’t dying on its feet
- you have your “facts” wrong.
What’s the point in debating issues with you when you resort to mindless crap like “bogstick?” It’s petty, pathetic, unoriginal and boring.
If you’re going to post don’t include “facts” that you’ve invented.
I’ve been at all of those finals too and 2004 when Cork were too powerful for Kilkenny was the only one not in doubt right up to the last minutes. I thoroughly enjoyed all of them for various reasons and thought they were excellent occasions. Could it be that you’re not an avid hurling supporter and it might be wise to give up your ticket to somebody who’d appreciate it more?
Last year the best games were the ones you pointed out. Munster Final, Tipp-Waterford and Cork-Limerick quarter finals, Waterford-Cork semi final and the Kilkenny-Cork final. I also thought the Kilkenny-Clare semi was very entertaining. That’s quite a healthy proportion of good games for the business end of any competition. Compare it to the recent Cricket World Cup, the current European Cup in rugby for example. I don’t think your point adds up.
Fair enough.
You probably should keep coming. It’ll help you get used to the pitch dimensions when that stadium gets finished in Tallaght.
He’s unbelievable. If only he was as good with the larger ball.
Terrible name though
You’re some cunt Rocko. Stay out of the place.
