The definition of classic is both teams hurling at their highest level with each team testing the other defensively, offensively and psychologically
Yesterdayâs game was not anywhere near that. Cork were awesome when Tipp looked like a beaten docket. Tipp were awesome when cork took foot off the pedal.
Psychologically getting up for that 2nd half would be considered low hanging fruit from a Tipp POV. A shot to nothing. I would not go over board on that yet. Just like I wouldnât on Cork either who should have sunk them when they had the hand on their throat.
Tipp advantage over Cork now is they play a weakened Waterford where as Cork play a strong Limerick
Waterfordâs championship will effectively be over next week on the June Bank Holiday weekend when they lose their âhome gameâ to Tipperary. Thereâs a certain symmetry to that as I think Iâm correct in saying that Kerry aside the last home Munster Championship game Waterford hosted was at Walsh Park against Tipperary on the June Bank Holiday weekend of 1996.
Like every change to the hurling championship since 1997 and the football championship since 2001, the latest raft of changes will primarily strengthen the stronger teams. The likes of Wexford, Waterford, Limerick and Clare even when they have a strong side really only have 12-13 players of the standard and are always carrying a few to begin with.
What is the hurry in playing off 20 games in the space of 5 weeks by the 17 June when after that on the 9 weekends up to and including the All Ireland Final on 19 August, you have just 7 games left - Munster and Leinster Finals (both on the same day now), two quarter finals, two semi finals and the final. Is it to the clear the decks for Super 8 football for July and August where instead of watching Dublin hand out one quarter final hammering, we can look at Dublin hand out three quarter final hammerings to the likes of Tyrone, Monaghan and Roscommon.
This format is a glorified second league, which begs the question why wasnât the league just scrapped completely rather than get pushed back to the depths of winter in late January and February. If they were going with this âChampions Leagueâ style format championship, have these game every two to three weeks so weâd have a better chance of seeing most teams field their best hurlers rather than a war of attrition as to who can best sustain a casualty list - which is inevitably going to be the traditional superpowers, which are either amongst the most populous counties and/or the counties with the most hurling clubs.
No truer words spoken.
It was stupid from Moran but never a red.
Tony Kelly must have been watching the soccer the night before. Crying on the ground like he was dying.
merciful hour.
My Tipp work colleagues are most concerned that their Slievenamon terrace supporters have fallen away.
They were impressed with the Limerick scoreboard ultras last week and think that their own bunch have deserted them.
Saturday night qualifiers in July were the best thing about the old championship. Think Tipp v KK in '13, Tipp v Galway in '14, KK v Waterford last year. Go back to Galway v Cork in '08.
Now we have the likes of Dublin, Offaly and Waterford after Sunday who are only going to be fulfilling fixtures for a finish. Couple of token games for Joe McDonagh teams to get humiliated in.
And this structure allows teams to be knocked out on score difference which is the exact opposite of what championship is supposed to be about.
Can they change it back after this year or is it set in stone for 2 more years?
All set up for Waterford to drive a nail into Tipps coffin next weekend as those limp wristed Corkies failed to do last week. Derek has a planâŚAt least he better have after the fucking about he has been at all year.
I wouldnât hold out much hope for Waterford next week. Losing becomes a habit and Waterford are in a Kildare like meltdown at the moment. 2 managers in Derek McGrath and Cian O Neill who overthink and over complicate things yielding negative results, losing supporters and players walking away.
Will be interesting to see if Waterford stick with a sweeper again next week given their defensive injuries. Fives played there any time De Burca was unavailable and given that they have a week turn around it would be tough to just switch someone else in there given the absentees.
Play Foran at centre forward and Devine at full and put the lines of Ryan, OâHalloran and Dunford in the forwards with serious pace and just go at it. Hard to see them doing that though.
@Fagan_ODowd can you take a stab please at naming a Waterford starting 15 for next week against Tipp, knowing as we do there a heap of Waterfords better players out injured?
Apparently Maurice is a major doubt now too. They are well and truly screwed and it will be a case of keeping the scorelines some way respectable for the rest of the championship.
