National Hurling League 2020

Rasputin11

ReginaldSmythV wrote: »

Playing in the Leinster Championship for ten years still won’t do what’s needed for the likes of Carlow or Westmeath. That’s the sad reality.

20 odd years in the Six Nations hasn't done much for Italy.

Billy Ocean

Rasputin11 wrote: »

20 odd years in the Six Nations hasn't done much for Italy.

not a like for like scenario, Italys best spell was the mid to late 90s before they joined the six nations, they were better than Ireland back then.

Off topic a pity Limerick Waterford isn't been shown live on eir sport given the original fixture was due to be shown live.

grbear

grbear wrote: »

Maybe I'm placing too much value on his opinion but my thinking has been influenced heavily by listening to Cheddar Plunkett on The GAA Hour. He has consistently said that the likes of Laois need to be getting more high quality matches if they want to improve. Colm Bonnar has been banging the same drum for Carlow and the Westmeath manager has expressed similar sentiments. If the GAA is serious about growing hurling from a nine team championship into a ten or eleven team championship over the next fifteen to twenty years then the counties most likely to make the step up need to be listened to by the stronger counties. The level of support for this change seems to indicate that's happening. Apart from the 5% nay sayers. Cranky buggers.

From a Galway perspective the revised championship has been great as we are finally getting consistent home games at Pearse Stadium. There's some griping at board level about Galway not getting a big enough cut of the gate receipts but there's no question that hosting the likes of Wexford in Galway has been a positive development.

Tend to agree. This has to be a long term project for say Westmeath whereby in ten years their minors are competitive with the other counties and can be fed into the senior set-up.

Mantis Toboggan

[Deleted User] wrote: »

Tend to agree. This has to be a long term project for say Westmeath whereby in ten years their minors are competitive with the other counties and can be fed into the senior set-up.

Westmeath along with Antrim and Offaly probably the most potential, laois will always be decent and Carlow with just 4 senior clubs have little scope for improvement.

Danno

Chalk McHugh wrote: »

Absolutely. Window dressing is all it is. Doesn't benefit anyone involved. The fact remains there is just 4 Leinster counties that have genuine aspirations of winning Leinster or an All Ireland. The rest, as hard as they try, are nowhere near the 'elite' standard.

Fourteen years ago Westmeath beat Dublin at Portlaoise in the Leinster Championship quarter finals at Portlaoise by two points. Three years later they were in the 2009 final and lost by 2-00 to Kilkenny, two years later they were back in the final of 2011 and again lost to Kilkenny who were shooting the lights out against all around them in those years - and two years later than that they finally won a final in 2013 by beating Galway by twelve points.

That same fourteen years ago, Offaly were only two years over their last Leinster final appearance. Nobody that day in May 2006 would have predicted that Dublin would become a force whilst Offaly would slide all the way down to the Christy Ring Championship (the third tier Championship - which was the Nicky Rackard Championship of 2006).

What is needed (as has been shown by the money and work put into underage hurling in Dublin) is for investment in Laois, Offaly, Carlow and Westmeath hurling to bring those counties up to the standard that today's Dublin team is. Instead, shuffling Galway into Leinster has only papered over this glaring neglect. Galway would be better served in an extended All-Ireland Championship and the Leinster counties behind Dublin would be better served with a shot at their provincial title.

Dyr

Danno wrote: »

What is needed (as has been shown by the money and work put into underage hurling in Dublin) is for investment in Laois, Offaly, Carlow and Westmeath hurling to bring those counties up to the standard that today's Dublin team is. Instead, shuffling Galway into Leinster has only papered over this glaring neglect. Galway would be better served in an extended All-Ireland Championship and the Leinster counties behind Dublin would be better served with a shot at their provincial title.

Dublin hurling would not be the standard these counties should aim foe, hurling is a distant second in club and county right across Dublin and it shows despite the resources put into hurling. The likes of Offaly and Antrim are mostly hurling territories at grass roots they can and should do better.

Danno

Bambi wrote: »

Dublin hurling would not be the standard these counties should aim foe, hurling is a distant second in club and county right across Dublin and it shows despite the resources put into hurling. The likes of Offaly and Antrim are mostly hurling territories at grass roots they can and should do better.

I’m not saying that is where the counties themselves aim for, obviously they should be aiming to be the best.

What I’m saying is that outside investment should be funnelled in to these counties until they reach a level in around of where Dublin are at presently.

You’ve got to establish a cut off point for outside investment and allow the counties to finish the “last mile’ themselves.

Once outside investment has brought these counties so far, outside investment goes to the next promising set of counties.

Mantis Toboggan

Should be a decent game but hard to look past a comfortable limerick win.

Mantis Toboggan

The size and speed of limerick is phenomenal, like the kk team of old.

letsseehere14

Is there any redeeming thing about Pearse Stadium?
From experience a horrible place to get in and out of.
From watching this and other games from there on TV, the sun always seems blinding and makes it impossible to follow the sliotar and distinguish the teams apart.
And by the looks of the pitch and what always seems to be a gale force wind trough the place, a horrible place to play a game too.

PTH2009

QFs
Galway vs Wexford (coin toss for home advantage)
Kilkenny vs Waterford (coin toss for home advantage)

Limerick and Clare in the semi finals

Anyone knw the semi final draw

Mantis Toboggan

Antrim two late goals to draw with Offaly! That's Offaly out AFAIK.

Happyilylost

letsseehere14 wrote: »

Is there any redeeming thing about Pearse Stadium?
From experience a horrible place to get in and out of.
From watching this and other games from there on TV, the sun always seems blinding and makes it impossible to follow the sliotar and distinguish the teams apart.
And by the looks of the pitch and what always seems to be a gale force wind trough the place, a horrible place to play a game too.

Pitch is top class. As for blaming the stadium for the sun... that seems a little unfair... always a gale, and traffic is a pain. Most in Galway would prefer it elsewhere.

Rasputin11

Mantis Toboggan wrote: »

Antrim two late goals to draw with Offaly! That's Offaly out AFAIK.

6 up after 6 minutes of injury time, staggering collapse.

Chalk McHugh

Galway gave Tipp a bit of a pummeling in.that second half. Too many Tipp players disappeared without much of a fight. I dont see much pace in that Tipp forward line. Lovely strikers and skills but the two McGraths, Bubbles, Forde dont have blistering pace and the Galway backs devoured them. A worrying collapse by Tipp but Galway were very hungry and will have a big say in the All Ireland this year. A 15 point turnaround against the All Ireland champions is a good days work.

Chalk McHugh

Rasputin11 wrote: »

6 up after 6 minutes of injury time, staggering collapse.

No excuses. Antrim were already in final. Offaly at home. 6 ahead in injury time. A huge collapse and another year in the hurling wilderness.

conor05

Chalk McHugh wrote: »

No excuses. Antrim were already in final. Offaly at home. 6 ahead in injury time. A huge collapse and another year in the hurling wilderness.

Sure kerry bet Offaly anyway so it is what it is.

Two best teams in the final kerry v Antrim

letsseehere14

Chalk McHugh wrote: »

Galway gave Tipp a bit of a pummeling in.that second half. Too many Tipp players disappeared without much of a fight. I dont see much pace in that Tipp forward line. Lovely strikers and skills but the two McGraths, Bubbles, Forde dont have blistering pace and the Galway backs devoured them. A worrying collapse by Tipp but Galway were very hungry and will have a big say in the All Ireland this year. A 15 point turnaround is the All Ireland champions is a good days work.

I think its a bit early for any team to be worried and the conditions this time of year make games and performances hard to judge. Galway did look good today in the fitness, pace and motivational terms.
But this obsession with pace has been around a few years now, I remember was it Cork that Tipp played first last year and I was listening to Saturday Sport. Nearly everyone was banging on about Corks pace and youth, speed, athleticism and any word they could think of and how tipp were done and didnt have any of those things, they were too old and too slow. Needless to say the match predictions that day from the 'experts' on the radio didnt age well.

I expected Limerick (because of the drama we saw in the county pre-Christmas), Waterford, Wexford and Clare to be in the knockout stages, because of the top teams, these needed it most. Clare and Waterford after last years disappointment and Wexford because Davy need to keep that feel good momentum going. Cork and Tipp, probably doesnt affect their motivation, confidence or Championship planning at all.

Chalk McHugh

letsseehere14 wrote: »

I think its a bit early for any team to be worried and the conditions this time of year make games and performances hard to judge. Galway did look good today in the fitness, pace and motivational terms.
But this obsession with pace has been around a few years now, I remember was it Cork that Tipp played first last year and I was listening to Saturday Sport. Nearly everyone was banging on about Corks pace and youth, speed, athleticism and any word they could think of and how tipp were done and didnt have any of those things, they were too old and too slow. Needless to say the match predictions that day from the 'experts' on the radio didnt age well.

I expected Limerick (because of the drama we saw in the county pre-Christmas), Waterford, Wexford and Clare to be in the knockout stages, because of the top teams, these needed it most. Clare and Waterford after last years disappointment and Wexford because Davy need to keep that feel good momentum going. Cork and Tipp, probably doesnt affect their motivation, confidence or Championship planning at all.

Worrying in that the same happened to Galway in League final couple of years back. Tipp were pummelled from start to finish and had no answer. Their season never really recovered. Im sure that would have been in the minds of some Tipp players today but once Galway upped the pace and tempo Tipp had no answers. It was very similiar to that Leagur final hammering. A 15 point turnaround today is not good for Tipp no matter how its dressed up.

letsseehere14

Chalk McHugh wrote: »

Worrying in that the same happened to Galway in League final couple of years back. Tipp were pummelled from start to finish and had no answer. Their season never really recovered. Im sure that would have been in the minds of some Tipp players today but once Galway upped the pace and tempo Tipp had no answers. It was very similiar to that Leagur final hammering. A 15 point turnaround today is not good for Tipp no matter how its dressed up.

Hard to see how its comparable. This was a league group match in early March, played in Galway in awful conditions. Tipp were leading by about 7 at half time but were facing into the wind the second half and Galway got the run when they needed and made better use of the conditions. fair enough it was a winner takes all for another league game but in terms of timeline in preparation for the championship and where teams are in their plan its not comparable to a league final 4 weeks out from the championship.
The league final youre talking about was one sided from start to finish if I remember correctly, Galway dominated from start to finish, Tipp lead by 7 here at half time.
We beat Galway by 8 (same as Galway won by today) a couple of weeks ago and amassed a hell of a lot of wides alone the way, 15 in all I think, league group game, at home, couple of weeks in the difference but thats more comparable with today than the 2017 league final. Were you saying Galway should be worried then?

Chalk McHugh

letsseehere14 wrote: »

Hard to see how its comparable. This was a league group match in early March, played in Galway in awful conditions. Tipp were leading by about 7 at half time but were facing into the wind the second half and Galway got the run when they needed and made better use of the conditions. fair enough it was a winner takes all for another league game but in terms of timeline in preparation for the championship and where teams are in their plan its not comparable to a league final 4 weeks out from the championship.
The league final youre talking about was one sided from start to finish if I remember correctly, Galway dominated from start to finish, Tipp lead by 7 here at half time.
We beat Galway by 8 (same as Galway won by today) a couple of weeks ago and amassed a hell of a lot of wides alone the way, 15 in all I think, league group game, at home, couple of weeks in the difference but thats more comparable with today than the 2017 league final. Were you saying Galway should be worried then?

Not nice for Tipp to be hammered by Galway again. That League final hammering is still fresh in my memory. Im sure the Tipp lads still remember it so disappointing to be hammered again by the same tea. I like Tipp myself but that was brutal today in second half. I understand it's early days but i wasn't one bit impressed with Tipo last weekend and felt Waterford (even with a man less) were the bettrr team for large parts. Only for lots of poor wides they could have beaten a sluggish looking Tipp. So thats two poor enough performances in succession.

Lets wait and see but my optimism for Tipp has reduced a bit. Getting out of Munster will be hard enough. Beating Waterford in the first match looks a tougher prospect by the game. As it stands i'd fancy Waterford to possibly nick a big win there.

statesaver

letsseehere14 wrote: »

Is there any redeeming thing about Pearse Stadium?
From experience a horrible place to get in and out of.
From watching this and other games from there on TV, the sun always seems blinding and makes it impossible to follow the sliotar and distinguish the teams apart.
And by the looks of the pitch and what always seems to be a gale force wind trough the place, a horrible place to play a game too.

No, not a bloody thing.

BloodyBill

Chalk McHugh wrote: »

Galway gave Tipp a bit of a pummeling in.that second half. Too many Tipp players disappeared without much of a fight. I dont see much pace in that Tipp forward line. Lovely strikers and skills but the two McGraths, Bubbles, Forde dont have blistering pace and the Galway backs devoured them. A worrying collapse by Tipp but Galway were very hungry and will have a big say in the All Ireland this year. A 15 point turnaround is the All Ireland champions is a good days work.

Totally agree. Look at the way Limerick ran them into the ground last year in the Munster final. If you let them hurl they ll kill you but if you run them they struggle. Weve known that for years. You cant let Tipperary dictate the terms of combat..win that and your half way there.

letsseehere14

Chalk McHugh wrote:

Not nice for Tipp to be hammered by Galway again. That League final hammering is still fresh in my memory. Im sure the Tipp lads still remember it so disappointing to be hammered again by the same tea. I like Tipp myself but that was brutal today in second half. I understand it's early days but i wasn't one bit impressed with Tipo last weekend and felt Waterford (even with a man less) were the bettrr team for large parts. Only for lots of poor wides they could have beaten a sluggish looking Tipp. So thats two poor enough performances in succession.

Chalk McHugh wrote:

Lets wait and see but my optimism for Tipp has reduced a bit. Getting out of Munster will be hard enough. Beating Waterford in the first match looks a tougher prospect by the game. As it stands i'd fancy Waterford to possibly nick a big win there.

No doubt there could and probably will be a suprise in Munster this year, could be ourselves Cork or Tipp tbh. Although Clare have a tough schedule. Wouldnt suprise me at all.
I just think a game from 3 years ago doesn't have as big a mental effect on the All Ireland champions as you do. We got an absolute hammering off Tipp in 2015, it was disgusting, then we were embarrassing against a 14 man tipp team in 2016, a game if we had a bit of ambition we could have won. Those games didnt do us any harm in the Munster final last year and they were championship matches.

Chalk McHugh

letsseehere14 wrote: »

No doubt there could and probably will be a suprise in Munster this year, could be ourselves Cork or Tipp tbh. Although Clare have a tough schedule. Wouldnt suprise me at all.
I just think a game from 3 years ago doesn't have as big a mental effect on the All Ireland champions as you do. We got an absolute hammering off Tipp in 2015, it was disgusting, then we were embarrassing against a 14 man tipp team in 2016, a game if we had a bit of ambition we could have won. Those games didnt do us any harm in the Munster final last year and they were championship matches.

Only time will tell. Limerick certs to come out of Munster imo. Hard to pick another two. I'd possibly go for Cork and Tipp but nothing would really surprise me.

Billy Ocean

letsseehere14 wrote: »

Is there any redeeming thing about Pearse Stadium?
From experience a horrible place to get in and out of.
From watching this and other games from there on TV, the sun always seems blinding and makes it impossible to follow the sliotar and distinguish the teams apart.
And by the looks of the pitch and what always seems to be a gale force wind trough the place, a horrible place to play a game too.

seems the galway county board want a presence in the city where GAA isn't the top dog, Tuam seems the undoubted home of football up there while i think athenry and ballinasloe are the traditional hurling venues.

Grats

Tipp gave away 21 frees today, Galway 12. Had Galway fouled as much as Tipp we'd have had over 40 frees, similar to the Tipp v Cork match. The refs got a pasting in the media for awarding so many frees. Galway showed that the refs are not necessarily to blame.

Anthony Daly and Derek McGrath were very critical of the refs on The Sunday Game. But selectively analysed just FOUR throw ball incidents in that Tipp v Cork match and completely ignored the other 38 foils.Then went on to hammer refs without apportioning any blame on players - or the way they're being sent out to foul at all costs.

Unfortunately that's the way hurling is gone.

Happyilylost

Billy Ocean wrote:

seems the galway county board want a presence in the city where GAA isn't the top dog, Tuam seems the undoubted home of football up there while i think athenry and ballinasloe are the traditional hurling venues.

Not sure it's what our county board want. It's the only fit for purpose stadium in Galway. Great work in Tuam so hopefully that will be able to hold a few more league games going forward. Championship for stadium in Galway outside for Pearse Stadium is not a current reality.

Billy Ocean

Grats wrote: »

Tipp gave away 21 frees today, Galway 12. Had Galway fouled as much as Tipp we'd have had over 40 frees, similar to the Tipp v Cork match. The refs got a pasting in the media for awarding so many frees. Galway showed that the refs are not necessarily to blame.

Anthony Daly and Derek McGrath were very critical of the refs on The Sunday Game. But selectively analysed just FOUR throw ball incidents in that Tipp v Cork match and completely ignored the other 38. Then went on to hammer refs without apportioning any blame on players - or the way their being sent out to foul at all costs.

Unfortunately that's the way hurling is gone.

disagree completely,with the exception of 2 or 3 the standard of intercounty refs is very poor, too many whistle happy, too fussy and apply no common sense.

TheMilkyPirate

When is the coin toss for home advantage done?

conor05

TheMilkyPirate wrote: »

When is the coin toss for home advantage done?

I presume it’s tomorrow morning

Grats

Billy Ocean wrote: »

disagree completely,with the exception of 2 or 3 the standard of intercounty refs is very poor, too many whistle happy, too fussy and apply no common sense.

You disagree that players aren't to blame for the fouls blown, plus the many that aren't????

Had today's ref blown equal number for both teams you might argue that he was fussy, or whatever. But Galway committed 12, and Tipp their usual quota!

Until we acknowledge that hurling is slipping down the football route, it will end up there fast. And the refs won't be to blame.

Rasputin11

Grats wrote: »

You disagree that players aren't to blame for the fouls blown, plus the many that aren't????

Had today's ref blown equal number for both teams you might argue that he was fussy, or whatever. But Galway committed 12, and Tipp their usual quota!

Until we acknowledge that hurling is slipping down the football route, it will end up there fast. Abd the refs won't be to blame.

There's surely some Twitter stat man, who breaks down what the frees are awarded for? The spare arm is a pure scourge at this stage.

Banner2theend

Lots of anger in Offaly over the performance of the ref in their crucial Division 2 game against Antrim. This will be a huge talking point in the coming days I feel. Having led by 6 points, Antrim got two late goals and snatched a draw. Let's just say that the ref was on the excessive side 're added time in both halves. The draw sees Antrim v Kerry in the Division 2a final, with the winners set for Division 1 NHL hurling in 2021.

The debate 're poor referees is a huge issue in the GAA. But this thread is about the NHL 2020 and this has been another bad day for Offaly hurling.

Time is always added on and the team that loses always moans. Fact of life and they’d need to get over it and look closer to home.

Banner2theend

ReginaldSmythV wrote: »

Time is always added on and the team that loses always moans. Fact of life and they’d need to get over it and look closer to home.

Agree with all the above, the fact that Offaly didn't have the composure to close out the game should be the main focus for Michael Fennelly and the management team, along with his players, rather than throwing insults towards the referee, who to be fair according to reports was bad for both teams.

conor05

Banner2theend wrote: »

Agree with all the above, the fact that Offaly didn't have the composure to close out the game should be the main focus for Michael Fennelly and the management team, along with his players, rather than throwing insults towards the referee, who to be fair according to reports was bad for both teams.

Kerry bet Offaly and Antrim drew with Offaly so it’s a Kerry v Antrim final.

Everything else is irrelevant now.


Big prize for Kerry or Antrim playing division 1 hurling in 2021.

Mantis Toboggan

Really thought that Mick Fennelly would have been able to sort out the mess that is Offaly hurling.

Billy Ocean

Grats wrote: »

You disagree that players aren't to blame for the fouls blown, plus the many that aren't????

Had today's ref blown equal number for both teams you might argue that he was fussy, or whatever. But Galway committed 12, and Tipp their usual quota!

Until we acknowledge that hurling is slipping down the football route, it will end up there fast. And the refs won't be to blame.

plenty of the frees awarded today were harmless in my opinion, hurling is in a great state the championships of the last 2 or 3 years have been as good as any we can remember yet the attitude of the of the referring in the last few weeks suggest there's major issues in the game. Can fathom how you think hurling is going down the football route....

Billy Ocean

Happyilylost wrote: »

Not sure it's what our county board want. It's the only fit for purpose stadium in Galway. Great work in Tuam so hopefully that will be able to hold a few more league games going forward. Championship for stadium in Galway outside for Pearse Stadium is not a current reality.

Hindsight is 20/20 and when pearse stadium was redeveloped in 2002/2003 maybe those resources should have went into tuam and a venue in the hurling heartland.

Grats

Billy Ocean wrote: »

plenty of the frees awarded today were harmless in my opinion, hurling is in a great state the championships of the last 2 or 3 years have been as good as any we can remember yet the attitude of the of the referring in the last few weeks suggest there's major issues in the game. Can fathom how you think hurling is going down the football route....

Harmless, soft, call them what you want but there are simply way too many. And remember refs don't even blow them all. Of course there are poorish refs but they don't foul.

Mantis Toboggan

Grats wrote: »

Harmless, soft, call them what you want but there are simply way too many. And remember refs don't even blow them all. Of course there are poorish refs but they don't foul.

Problem is lot of the soft frees given today won't be given in the championship. Its the lack of consistency. Hurling needs to flow, advantage rule isn't used enough.

threeball

Billy Ocean wrote: »

Hindsight is 20/20 and when pearse stadium was redeveloped in 2002/2003 maybe those resources should have went into tuam and a venue in the hurling heartland.

Should still happen. Pearse is worth a fortune. Sell it, clear the debts and redevelop a proper 15 to 20k stadium in athenry with CP standard pitch.

MfMan

letsseehere14 wrote: »

Is there any redeeming thing about Pearse Stadium?
From experience a horrible place to get in and out of.
From watching this and other games from there on TV, the sun always seems blinding and makes it impossible to follow the sliotar and distinguish the teams apart.
And by the looks of the pitch and what always seems to be a gale force wind trough the place, a horrible place to play a game too.

Quite a few actually. It's one of the more pleasantly-located stadia in the country, with ample scope to kill time before and after a match along the seafront. The facilities in it are good and the much-improved pitch is generally quite dry. Very few visibility problems in it for spectators.

The two main faults leveled at it are

(a) that there's always gale force winds blowing at it (there isn't); show me the GAA ground in Ireland, a small island on the edge of a large ocean, that isn't affected by wind at any time. (See inland Omagh last week).

(b) it's a nightmare to get in and out of. Yes, it is. And actually more the former than the latter. A crowd of > 10k usually gums up traffic, particularly to those who don't know the proper routes. (Trade secret, use Eyre sq.) Not the only stadium to suffer from this fault; e.g. Croker, PUC, McHale park when Mayo and Galway meet.

ReginaldSmythV

ReginaldSmythV wrote: »

Time is always added on and the team that loses always moans. Fact of life and they’d need to get over it and look closer to home.

Or you could stop the clock for time wasting and injuries and then well... the times the time.. but sure that would make too much sense.

gilberto_eire

gilberto_eire wrote: »

Or you could stop the clock for time wasting and injuries and then well... the times the time.. but sure that would make too much sense.

Time keeping should be taken away from referees completely.

But the fact remains that it you’re 6 points up in a game you need to win then you can only blame yourself.

BloodyBill

MfMan wrote: »

Quite a few actually. It's one of the more pleasantly-located stadia in the country, with ample scope to kill time before and after a match along the seafront. The facilities in it are good and the much-improved pitch is generally quite dry. Very few visibility problems in it for spectators.

The two main faults leveled at it are

(a) that there's always gale force winds blowing at it (there isn't); show me the GAA ground in Ireland, a small island on the edge of a large ocean, that isn't affected by wind at any time. (See inland Omagh last week).

(b) it's a nightmare to get in and out of. Yes, it is. And actually more the former than the latter. A crowd of > 10k usually gums up traffic, particularly to those who don't know the proper routes. (Trade secret, use Eyre sq.) Not the only stadium to suffer from this fault; e.g. Croker, PUC, McHale park when Mayo and Galway meet.

I'd agree with most of that except the Wind section. It's the only stadium I know of built beside the Atlantic,like on a beach. It blows a gale there more than any other stadium in Ireland. How you can single out a single episode of wind in Omagh is mad. Yes it does get windy at other stadiums. That's a given but by god does it blow way more in Pearse Stadium.

To say Salthill is no windier than anywhere else is madness, especially to pick out a single example during a storm for comparison.

Dyr

ReginaldSmythV wrote: »

To say Salthill is no windier than anywhere else is madness, especially to pick out a single example during a storm for comparison.

I wonder why its called Salt hill?

Luimneach2018

ReginaldSmythV wrote: »

Time is always added on and the team that loses always moans. Fact of life and they’d need to get over it and look closer to home.

Something I found amusing from 2018;

I was in Croke Park for both semi finals, I remember at the end of the drawn extra time in the Galway v Clare game a large section of Galway fans let their disgust be known by booing the referee for ending the game 45 seconds after the announced added time, time during which Clare scored their equaliser. (A Galway player had gone down injured during the added time for nearly a minute so the referee was correct.

They weren't complaining three weeks later however in the 10th minute of the 8 minutes added time when they were desperately chasing an equalising (or winning) score in the final! (The 10 longest ******* minutes of my life!!)

Not having a pop at Galway though, every county would probably have reacted the same.

Very bad form by Duignan though to be making such a big deal out of it. He should understand by now that the number of minutes announced is always a minimum. I understand it hurts to throw a game away like that but he's been around long enough now, like you say, Offaly need to look at themselves rather than blaming external factors.