I think Nash is very similar to Downes. I donāt think heās any better yet really. I am surprised Downes doesnāt make the bench, but there you go.
Similar style-wise, Iād agree. A better hurler though.
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Are you prepared for the inevitable lambasting?
I donāt know about that. At the same age Downes was better than Nash now. Arguable that Downes has gone backwards and Nash is better now. I wouldnāt write off Downes making a return again. Of course plenty would but there are lots of examples of players that make a belated return to form.
A good 17 posts of lambasting coming Iād say.
What do I have to do myself to get a good lambasting?
Write 4 paragraphs on the short and concise thread
Alan Dempsey is the best hurler in Limerick and should be starting for Limerick.
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Probably one of the best club hurlers
No he is not. Downes isnāt related to that level.
The only reason Dempsey isnāt a part of the squad Iād imagine is he dropped himself off the panel at least twice. You wouldnāt blame anybody for doing when your the 27th man or whatever there isnāt much glory in it. Itās a ridiculous commitment and little reward. That why Iād say kiely put in a lot of younger lads to expose them to that level and knew theyād stick out. Also kiely needs lads to commit from November. Itās pain losing lads after the league after all that trainning.
Downes exploded onto the scene below in Ennis, every time he got the ball, he looked like he was going to score. And obviously continued that into Championship against Hutchinson.
I donāt think we made best use of him in 2013, he had a good game against Tipp in 2014 and that really needed to be a time for him to kick on while the team was going well. He finished the year poorly, then he had a few injuries which hindered his progress.
Heās still one of the best club hurlers around but I just donāt think heās come on as a player much. I know heās your clubman and all; and Iād have great time for him, always have, but he still has major limitations and itās very frustrating.
Nash is frustrating too, but heās a very well-rounded hurler. Iād say that he is the best scoretaker in the county bar Casey. Tom Morrissey has spoken recently about how he got the jersey in Mallow and held onto itā¦ Nash had the jersey last year, he was flying at full-forward. He left the panel and he hasnāt got it back; and he needs to do a lot of work to force himself in again.
Tbf to Downes and Dempsey maybe if kiely had them at 18/19 things would be different
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It really is a shame the injury setbacks Downes had, heās been forever coming back from injuries after missing the season before, this year included. Comparing Nash to Downes at the equivalent levels, say at u21 or in early years for the senior team, Nash has had nothing like the impact Downes did. Similarly when Downes broke into the limerick team first he was having a far bigger impact in a much weaker team than Flanagan now (lambasting alert). Na P in recent years have had him fairly stationary at full forward bombing high balls on top of him, not getting the best out of him IMO, heās good in the air but better running onto the ball. I think weāll see a lot more out of him under Beary. Iād never be one to write off a player and Iād always leave the door open for him, plenty of examples of players that had loads of chances but delivered eventually for Limerick, even if just for a few seasons. I am surprised heās not making the bench but you canāt argue with Kiely as long as the team is performing well.
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Nash has a swagger about him that none of the other forwards have. Looks lazy but can turn fair quick and pick a ridiculous pass out of nowhere. He has all the talent.
Agree.
Couple of points on that though; Nash was a real star at minor level, I would say better than Downes.
Downes only really had the one big year at 21s in 2011; his performance against Clare was class, but so was Nashās against Wexford in the '15 final, he was sensational. So Iād disagree there.
Obviously Downes made a bigger impact in 2011 than Nash has at senior level but that doesnāt necessarily mean Downes is a better player. Teejeās last two years were a write-off for all concerned, including Downes but also the young lads.
Downesā best attribute is his power & running at defences. Also Nashās best attribute.
Downesā biggest weakness is his decision-making, his use of the ball. Nashās is probably off-the-ball movement, creating space for himself & others.
I wouldnāt write Downes off completely, but itās not really a case like Mulcahy, for example; who was hard done by a system that didnāt suit him. I just donāt think Downes is as good as our other options. No shame in that.
He had both as U21s in 2011 when he was the coach.
No wonder theyād good seasons.
Downes has offered far more than Nash at U21 and senior level. I would say Downes has scored in the vast majority of games that he has been involved in, even coming on as a sub. I donāt even really understand why the comparison between the two is always made, to me they are very different players, Nash to me is more about a swagger and is inclined to look for the Hollywood pass, Downes is often brute force and inclined to look for the Hollywood score. Downes is not a natural worker though, far more of a an old school breaker/hammer, whereas Nash can graft when he is in the mood. Kiely undoubtedly loves this.
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