They are very consistent on PV in their condemnation of âCummins-ballâ
There are very few people who get âworked upâ about the Dublin hurling team, no more than there are many people who get âworked upâ about the Kildare hurling team or the Kerry hurling team or the Waterford hurling team or the Wexford football team or the Clare football team or the Limerick football team or the Tipperary football team or even the Cork football team. This has always been the case.
The few people who get âworked upâ about these teams get âworked upâ in the manner of âwe could be betterâ or âpeople need to support the teamâ. But thereâs never a blood letting after a bad defeat. Thereâs never real blame, real bitter blame. Thereâs never anger. Thereâs acceptance.
When youâre second fiddle, youâre second fiddle. There would even be a perception within these teams themselves that they are second fiddle and expectations tempered accordingly. Second fiddle teams are always prone to collapses. They know there wonât be public anger at a collapse.
Like, thereâs nobody there to fulfil the role of a Dublin hurling Andy Comerford. Thereâs neither an outlet nor a market for a Dublin Andy Comerford.
If Dublin lose to Cavan in the football, which they probably will, there will be hell to pay and it will become a reference point of humiliation for several years going forward.
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I heard Wally Walsh recounting a story recently where Brian Cody did it to him against Waterford in a game which went to extra-time. Mustâve been 2013 or 17â.
Iâd agree with that.
Donoghue must get a lot of credit here. He had his homework done from the Salthill match and turned a lot of Dublinâs strengths into weaknesses. He had his team ready for battle when it mattered most after some indifferent displays.
I was hot on Galway at the start of the year and knew from the get go that they trained harder than anyone else last Winter but seeing them v Dublin and Kildare coupled with the way the U20 panned out, I thought the wind had gone out of them. But that was a big enough statement last night and I liked the way they celebrated afterwards. Its a tangible reward for them. They could string a good few Leinster titles together in the coming years.
On Dublin its a potentially damaging enough loss. I said during the week, their time to win was NOW, and they didnât. OâCeallachain is a very brave manager, and isnât afraid to make bold calls, (even starting Brendan Kenny yesterday was left field) but maybe he needs to be a bit more conservative/settled in selection.
They should probably refuse to come past Portlaoise for the Clare game and try engineer a double header in Croke Park for the Quarter Finals if they can.
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I said it before but Cathal Mannion is basically the perfect hurler
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Iâd imagine a double-header in Thurles is the most likely scenario for the quarter finals with Dublin v Clare and Offaly v Cork/Limerick on the bill.
He scored a point in a League match v Limerick last year under lights when Galway were a rabble and it was the most aesthetically beautiful point you could ever wish to see.
The shape he put on the ball was unreal.
Padraic hit a free last night from his own full back line and pinged it 80 yards to one of the half forwards taking out about three Dublin men in the process. It was absolutely class.
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Iâd say your right, but Dublin coming down to a Munster venue to play a Munster team, rarely ends well.
They should angle for Croke Park if they can at all.
Canât see them getting Croke Park. Last year worked out for them as Limerick wanted to play there but they wonât drag Clare or Cork/Limerick up there and a standalone quarter-final is unlikely, although Portlaoise would be a fair venue if it was.
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You could easily hold a double header of Limerick v Offaly and Clare v Dublin in Portleix.
Limerick people know theyâd steamroll Offaly, Offaly people know theyâll be steamrolled.
Clare v Dublin is the opposite of box office. Clare are perceived to be not going well which is a drag on support, but not badly enough enough that they wonât beat Dublin, who will bring about 867 supporters.
I was at the game yesterday and Galway started very slick like they were in the 1st 15 minutes of the league game v Limerick. Those 15 minutes convinced me theyâd have a say this year. The amount of fumbles and mis pickups by Dublin allowed Galway to keep putting on scores and the dubs had very little movement from their forwards . When Galway are on it they are excellent
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I thought the movement of Galway yesterday was top class. That Darragh Neary has some pace and the 2 Mannions are just class. Dublin were awful. The high ball into Hetherton wasnât working.butbtgey kept persisting with it.
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Not another boring double header in that shit hole. Fuck the double header, Clare v Dublin should be in Portlaoise. Offaly v Limerick or Cork can be played in Tullamore⌠everybody wants Offaly to be back so give them home advantage.
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Clare and Dublin should be half way, in the Gaelic Grounds.
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Newbridge is about half way.
They were whooping and hollering when Cahill ball which isnât far off Cummins ball won the AI for them last season
Grand to be at home with your principles watching on d telly anyway 
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Would prefer Tullamore for Clare-Dublin too. Fuck Portlaoise. The Pearse Stadium of the midlands.
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Put it on in Nowlan Park, itâs not currently being used.
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I hope the biffs get beaten back to the 60sâŚ
My guess
Cork v Offaly Thurles
Clare v Dublin Portlaoise