Munster SHC 2021

PhattPike · May 3, 2021, 9:51pm

Anything is possible and all that but I can’t see Clare winning it. The other four all have a reasonable shout.

EstebanSexface · May 3, 2021, 9:53pm

Clare were robbed not to be in an AI final in 2018 and aren’t that old. A lot of shit gone on since but they’re a dangerous animal if they get momentum. They’ve got genuine class around the field

Ashman · May 3, 2021, 9:54pm

Clare will beat Waterford

EstebanSexface · May 3, 2021, 9:55pm

I’d say they would if all things were equal. Hard to know what fire Lohan can light under them, they seem to be an odd bunch

Breaking_my_balls · May 3, 2021, 9:58pm

Clare don’t have enough quality defenders. You could argue they have no top quality defender.

PhattPike · May 3, 2021, 9:58pm

If this was a normal year I’d be surprised to see that happening tbh. Think they are where we were a few years ago where there is a serious dip once you go past the starting 15.

kerry1891 · May 3, 2021, 9:59pm

Breaking_my_balls:

Let’s look at each side

Clare - The off field shambles has to have an effect on team prep. And though it will probably galvanise the squad to a certain extent, I think it’ll hinder them as much. That aside, they don’t have the players. Colm Galvin was always key and his involvement seems up in the air. Conlan is a year older. Kelly won’t have a season like that again. What way will Duggan return? Too many question marks over defence. Jack Browne is incredibly over rated and Pat O’Connor is past it. Lohan will have them well up for it but I can’t see them beating Waterford.

Cork - Much better off without likes of Anthony Nash, Conor Lehane, Aidan Walsh et al, lads who had consistently failed to deliver. Collins is a better keeper. They’d be better off getting rid of Eoin Cadogan too. Failure to bring through some of the recent 20s players in the past few years going to hamstring them now for a year or two as they transition. As decent as those 20s teams were I didn’t see a whole pile standing out as obvious candidates there either though. They had a decent corner back, Roche was it, but some of the forwards suffer from the same old problems as the those they’ll be replacing. Physicality is a huge issue and when you watch some of the club hurling down there and listen to some of the Cork based pundits (Landers and Donal O’Grady the worst 2) it’s easy see why, never stop looking for rule changes and frees. Too soft in general, can’t see them beating Limerick.

Tipp - Some serious hard calls to be made by Sheedy and others… Stay loyal to the 2006/07 Minor crop who delivered one last title in 2019 or start the transition now? Bonner, Paudie Maher, Bubbles, Noel McGrath… a lot of these lads don’t look like they’ve much left in the legs. I simply cannot see that group of Tipp players matching the current Limerick side, they don’t have the legs or athleticism or physicality in the close exchanges and on top of that, they have been out thought and out hurled by them regularly in the past few years much and all as people will tell you they are more natural hurlers. There has been zero evidence of that in 2018 (granted Tipp were a shambles) 2019 in the sun or 2020 in the monsoon. However… if Tipp can bring through the likes of Cadell into a regular starting spot, if Jake takes up the mantle up top, if Morgan can be bedded into the defence, where’s Jerome Cahill gone? They’ll start to come again. Few years away yet though.

Waterford - Improved a huge amount last year and I’d expect them to be better again this year. Have all the attributes to match the best teams, especially athleticism and pace but they lack a pair of forwards. Dessie improved them no doubt but they’re still short up there. Shane Bennett just might make the difference depending on how he returns. So much to admire in how they play, they will definitely be up there but I’m not sure if they will be able to cover the improvements Limerick expect to make too.

Limerick - Apparently, Limerick players and management were not wholly satisfied with their overall performance in 2020. They felt they never hit top gear and it’s hard to argue with that. Goal scoring a huge area to improve on. Personnel wise, Kyle Hayes looks set to stay at 7, giving Limerick another weapon to attack with from deep as seen at times last year. I think they’ll develop this in 2021. Limerick have Richie English back in the mix and Mike Casey on the road back also, so more options are available in the defence. Up front, Minor star Cathal O’Neill could find a bit of game time in the league and if he settles into anything like the form he can show he could very well force his way into plans in the inside line. Plans were to ease him in over the next year or so but signs are he’s well able physically for things. It’s hard to see past Limerick at present. I wouldn’t think there is much interest in the National League so it’s possible we’ll see experimentation there. Obviously strong favourites for Munster and All Ireland titles.

Aidan Walsh has a good record against Limerick, nominated for man of the match in the 2014 Munster final and was excellent again for them when Cork beat them again in 2019 in the munster round robin, he wasnt on the panel in 2018 for that all ireland semi final which Limerick won. most here like to say he is \was useless but I go against the grain on that one

EstebanSexface · May 3, 2021, 10:01pm

David McInerney is top quality, in my opinion of course. Morey isn’t bad. Cleary is good. They aren’t stellar alright.

Look. Tony Kelly will always give you a chance

Breaking_my_balls · May 3, 2021, 10:01pm

He wasn’t useless. He just wasn’t of the standard required on a consistent basis.

Special_Olympiakos · May 3, 2021, 10:01pm

Jack Browne would walk into the Cork, Tipp and Waterford team.

EstebanSexface · May 3, 2021, 10:02pm

Jack Browne is one of the biggest liabilities playing senior intercounty hurling

kerry1891 · May 3, 2021, 10:02pm

I share the view of Special_Olympiakos on this i.e. Antrim have a good chance v the Dubs , got shot down for it a few weeks ago on the leinster champiionship thread

Breaking_my_balls · May 3, 2021, 10:03pm

David McInerney was absolutely top quality. No doubt about it. But not in the past 3 to 4 years. A shadow of his former self.

I disagree on Morey. Great going forward but a poor defender. Cleary is one paced and has been found out several times. He’s better at 6 than 3 though.

PhattPike · May 3, 2021, 10:03pm

Think Morey is gone? McInerney was fantastic when he first came on the scene but has really gone off the boil imo.

Breaking_my_balls · May 3, 2021, 10:03pm

He’s distinctly average

Special_Olympiakos · May 3, 2021, 10:04pm

Distinctly underrated imo

kerry1891 · May 3, 2021, 10:04pm

that a fairer assessment, I am unsure if they have better options and perhaps should not have cut him adrift, he certainly disrupted Limerick in the air in 2019 and would not have won that match without him

EstebanSexface · May 3, 2021, 10:04pm

Lohan putting Cleary at 3 is bizarre. He’s a fine centre back. McInerney was very good at full back. He could nullify a fella. Moving him into midfield. Again. Absolutely bizarre. Morey is sticky enough

EstebanSexface · May 3, 2021, 10:05pm

he’s been moved from pillar to post. I can’t remember him having desperate bad days. He’s always decent and sometimes spectacular

Aristotle · May 3, 2021, 10:05pm

McInerney is a very good hurler, but I wouldn’t say he’s a great ‘defender’. Morey is similar; loads of pace and a fair bit of hurling but not a natural defender.

Cleary is solid, a fine player. But it looks like they need him at centre-back and full-back.

I actually think Browne is decent, probably does give away too many frees. Oisin O’Brien is Clare’s best natural full-back line player but isn’t available for selection.