All Ireland Senior Hurling Championship (Liam McCarthy Cup) 2021

Rosita · 24-07-2021 6:26pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117656594#Comment_117656594

If they get Dublin in the QF then there'll not be a Limerick-Cork final.

Repo101 · 24-07-2021 6:55pm

Don't think any of the teams will be afraid each other in the QFs. Both Cork and Waterford will probably be hoping for Dublin but I'd rather be playing KK in a semi final than Limerick. Still can't see any of these teams beating Limerick over 70 mins.

PTH2009 · 24-07-2021 7:03pm

Croke Park ruled out for the QF because of the Football finals in Ulster and Leinster. Ulster is on next Saturday and Leinster next Sunday

External Association · 24-07-2021 9:21pm

I know this is the championship thread but Gwan Laois!!

Hard luck Westmeath, sending off was game changing. Great year for ye and we're both in the McCarthy next year.

ShamoBuc · 24-07-2021 9:41pm

Westmeath were clearly the better team and would probably have went on to win comfortably enough.

Red card was a complete game changer. Laois grew in confidence and chipped away at the lead. Westmeath not goaling from the penalty was costly but Laois held on for a great win for them.

The Golden Miller · 24-07-2021 9:53pm

Cork coming along nicely under the radar, no one will fancy them to do Limerick. But that's when Cork are at their most dangerous. Best technical hurlers, they'll win it from here

External Association · 24-07-2021 10:10pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117657356#Comment_117657356

Laois took their chances when it mattered. I wouldn't say Westmeath clearly the better team. When you argue the best team lost there's a danger of Davy Fitz syndrome kicking in!

As Brian Cody always maintains, when you look at the final score board, the team that has the most scores is the better team.

The sending off is part and parcel of the game. You can't stand on a player's back. And the evolution of any game, after a sending off can't be predicted like a science.

The Westmeath goalie misjudging the ball allowing Laois score a soft goal was a serious key moment too. Enda Rowland inspired confidence his opposite number didn't.

PJ Scully scored amazing frees that would be raved about if Tony Kelly scored them.

It was a hard game for Laois to get up for after coming so close to Waterford last weekend.

MisterAnarchy · 24-07-2021 10:11pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117657387#Comment_117657387

You were right with Italy winning the euros so I hope you are right with Cork too.😃

dastardly00 · 24-07-2021 10:12pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117657387#Comment_117657387

You've either been out in the sun for too long today or had too much beer... or both.

External Association · 24-07-2021 10:18pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117657387#Comment_117657387

Can Cork win ball in the half forward line against the top teams.

They have beaten no team who won an All Ireland since 2014 yet. Clare are a good team but no one would rate them top 4.

Croke Park doesn't suit them that well, it's a little tighter than Thurles.

Another big question is Cork's temperament. On several occasions since 2008 they've lost games they were predicted to win, and should have won. Have they lost their bottle and renowned self belief??

All right for fans and players to whistle in the dark but who would you back in the last 5 min of a game.. a Kingston Cork over a Cody Kilkenny? Over a Sheedy Tipp. A Kiely Limerick. Even a Cahill Waterford. Hard to see Cork clearing 3 obstacles.

Joe_ Public · 24-07-2021 10:20pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117657387#Comment_117657387

Like the old mushrooms! I like watching them and the way they've one eye continuously on going for goal. Nobody would begrudge Patrick Horgan getting his hands on some silverware anyway!

RamonD3 · 24-07-2021 10:27pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117657492#Comment_117657492

Definitely agree re Horgan, probably the player I've most enjoyed watching from outside my own county since Paul Flynn. Reminds me of him too, capable of anything.

breezy1985 · 24-07-2021 10:33pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117657387#Comment_117657387

Have the people of Cork ever been able to do anything under the radar ?

ShamoBuc · 24-07-2021 10:33pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117657445#Comment_117657445

At the time of the sending off, Westmeath were clearly the better team and the scoreboard reflected it.

If it stayed 15 v 15 I very much doubt Laois would have been close to Westmeath at the end..

As I said, the red card was a game changer.

External Association · 24-07-2021 10:37pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117657532#Comment_117657532

It would be disingenuous of me to say it didn't help Laois.

Westmeath were the better side at the time but there is the chance Laois would have lifted it anyway. Not a huge chance but chance nonetheless. We'll never know.

External Association · 24-07-2021 10:53pm

While on the subject of sending offs. This 'ye wouldn't have won only for the sending off' sh*te is BS.

If it's a contentious sending off and two yellows, one soft. Fair enough.

But when there's a clear sending off resulting from a player's stupidity and lack of discipline, as with Westmeath tonight, the player is at fault and the team he plays for. The opposition should be commended as a more disciplined outfit on the day. They can only beat what's infront of them. Tonight the losing team gave away far more frees also.

In rugby we'd be commending discipline under Joe Schmidt.

The Golden Miller · 24-07-2021 11:49pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117657482#Comment_117657482

The way I see it is no one will outdo Limerick with a physical approach. Cork are the only team who play true hurling. I think with confidence they can outwork Limerick with the ball if on form. When Limerick won their first recent All-Ireland, they beat Cork in the semi. Around the 55 minute mark Cork hurled them off the field, and I believe lost due to psychology, not that Limerick were better, bottled it.

The pressure of winning an All-Ireland for Cork is huge after so many years, but pound for pound are hurlings most successful team. They'll get it right eventually. But that semi final showed, if Cork can hit form, outhurl and hurt Limerick from a technical stand point.

If they get a nice run and get confidence they'll be dangerous I think. At the very least will have purple patches in games where they'll outhurl the opposition. They've struggled for confidence the last while, but it will click again

Realt Dearg Sec · 25-07-2021 12:04am

"The pressure of winning an All-Ireland for Cork is huge after so many years, but pound for pound are hurlings most successful team"

I'm dying to know what this means.

The Golden Miller · 25-07-2021 12:13am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117657791#Comment_117657791

Well simply Cork are traditionally the best and most successful team. Led the roll of honour for circa 80 years. Kilkenny surpassed them recently but come from Leinster i.e easier provence, granted it was stronger at points.

In essence, Tipp and Cork split Munsters, less chances to convert All-Irelands, Kilkenny had about 30 extra chances. You'd have to assume had Cork swapped positions with Kilkenny in Leinster would have 40+ All-Irelands i.e pound for pound. Some won't agree, but Cork have the strongest hurling tradition imo, and have always played the most skillful hurling

Realt Dearg Sec · 25-07-2021 12:59am

"You'd have to assume"

Indeed.

breezy1985 · 25-07-2021 1:33am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117657758#Comment_117657758

"True hurling" what a load of absolute complete and utter crap.

Surely true hurling is what they played in the 1890s which is nothing like what Cork play

Akrasia · 25-07-2021 1:44am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117657961#Comment_117657961

What? Cú Chulainn first recorded in writing about 800 years ago

External Association · 25-07-2021 2:02am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117657758#Comment_117657758

I know what your saying. But Limerick have come on a lot since 2018, when they had a lot of players 20-23, who are now in their prime 23-26. Cork are too flaky for me to win 3 on the trot.

They're still in 2013 mode, look lovely and stylish and pacy. But the big guns won't let them play.

Very like how KK shut down Tipp in the replay of the 2014 all-ireland.

External Association · 25-07-2021 2:06am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117657824#Comment_117657824

A fair lot of assumptions😂

Maybe without the Tipp rivalry to drive them on they would have been a team like Wexford in Leinster. That would be my assumption🤣

You're a massive county with a 540,000 population, surely that would make KK and Tipp 'pound for pound' higher achievers per playing numbers? I think that's a fair assumption!

Allow Tipp and Kilkenny to have as many club hurling players as Cork to chose from and see how many more all-irelands each would have, and how many less Cork would have.

breezy1985 · 25-07-2021 9:36am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117657968#Comment_117657968

Limerick dont play true hurling because be dont belt stones down wolfhounds throats every now and then :)

zetecescort · 25-07-2021 9:50am

Cork COULD cause an upset yet this year but can't see us beat 3 sides ranked above us in a row to win it out. I think only Horgan, Cadogan and Harnedy of yesterday's team is over 25 so we are a young side and hopefully the good results at underage continue and the young players continue to gain experience and confidence.

threeball · 25-07-2021 11:10am

I think there's no better than a 10% chance that anyone but Limerick win this years championship. Most of the teams have been pretty disappointing with none putting in a pace setting performance up to now.

Kilkenny are probably the best of the rest but they've struggled to put away Wexford and Dublin. Cork were so so against Clare but it was a lot less physical than other teams would make it. Dublin scrapped over the line against Galway even though Galway were horrendous. Waterford nearly got caught and lose a 15pt lead by Galway, who only decided to bother playing in the last 20mins. Tipp blew a 10pt lead to end up comprehensively beaten as well as looking old in the 2nd half of the Limerick game.

Bar a real off day for Limerick I don't see anyone left to beat them.

farmerval · 25-07-2021 11:39am

Kilkenny will be interesting, Wexford ran them extremely close, but didn't look much against Clare. It's very hard to get a form line on Leinster.

I think Kilkenny's defence is suspect. Padraig Walsh seems to rely on a few Hollywood moments in games. When they're under real pressure the defence crumbles. Although having said that Cody is building again, suddenly there's a discernible change to the KK team. Problem for them right now are the likes of Billy Ryan and Leahy, they flatter to deceive, play well as subs and don't fire as starters.

For my money no-one will out muscle Limerick this year. Cork if only a tiny possibility if they got another go at Limerick might take them, (weird logic I know) just Cork play a completely different game to anyone else. But saying that I don't see Cork getting to a final.

Fred Astaire · 25-07-2021 1:07pm

Cork win one game and a few on here speculating that they are the only team who could stop Limerick? That is vintage Cork.

Christ. They'd be comfortably seen off by any of Limerick, Kilkenny or Tipperary. They better hope they draw Dublin or their Championship run ends next week.

No bottle or heart in that team. No winners either. Just proven bottlers and lads who time and time again when the chips are down have wilted. Haven't won a Championship game in Croke Park since they beat Dublin in 2013. Lost 6 of their last 7 All Ireland Semi Finals.

PTH2009 · 25-07-2021 1:14pm

The GAA really do drag out things. QF draw could easily have be done last night

External Association · 25-07-2021 1:17pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117658911#Comment_117658911

It's madness. And a game they won with a brilliant last minute save yesterday. No disrespect to Clare but I don't know would anyone rate them top 4. Clare who only beat Laois by a point in last year's qualifiers. Clare who haven't won an AI or Munster since 2013 and 1998 respectively.

Cork will eventually turn things around with the underage talent they are producing and their age old pedigree. But it's 2 or 3 years away. Nothing they have done this year suggests anything different.

ShamoBuc · 25-07-2021 1:41pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117658911#Comment_117658911

Cork did what they had to do yesterday, they won. Comparing this team with teams of the last decade is lazy posting in essence. This is a changed team from that in 2013, only a small few still around. There are a lot of good hurlers coming through now that give a lot of hope for Cork. Might not happen this year, but the future is bright for Cork hurling as recent Munster and All Ireland U20 titles hint at.

Down to 14, Clare coming back strongly and Cork showed enough bottle and didn't wilt, even down to 13 at the end. There's credit due to them for the win,

Cork won't fear that Tip team that completely fell apart against Limerick.

Cork won't fear that Kilkenny team that were pushed all the way by Wexford, which then lost to Clare. Getting through to play them would be fine with me.

Cork will respect their next opponent and I reckon will give as good as they get and have every chance of a win, no matter who they draw.

Any team playing Limerick would be an underdog, clear favourites , but clear favourites don't always win.

Interesting few weeks ahead.

skaface · 25-07-2021 1:48pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117658551#Comment_117658551

"Waterford nearly got caught and lose a 15 pt lead by Galway, who only decided to bother playing in the last 20 mins"..

Waterford would have won comfortably with 15 players.. Played the full second half with 14 men, withstood everything Galway threw at them, and still won by 4 pts.. Galway weren't allowed plsy y.. They wete completely outplayed.. Serious character in this Waterford side.. Tipp were 10 pts up against Limerick at half time and were turned over completely in the second half, even with a full team.. And if we're talking about players getting sent off, the referees are making it up as they go along, because with Gleeson from Waterford getting a straight red yesterday, Gillane should have got one last weekend..

In fairness Cork were very lucky to win yesterday, Clare should have beaten them at the end, only for a great save by the Cork goalie.. They're far from the finished article

Mac_Lad71 · 25-07-2021 2:23pm

When a goalie makes a great save that's not lucky...it's just good goalkeeping.

By your logic Clare were very lucky that Cork only took 3 of the 7 goal chances they created.

I agree that Cork are far from the finished article but were the better team over the 70 plus minutes and deserved their win.

I fail to see how anyone who watched the game could say Cork were lucky and Clare should've won.

breezy1985 · 25-07-2021 3:41pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117658938#Comment_117658938

Maximizing media exposure. Its pretty smart really

threeball · 25-07-2021 6:17pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117659046#Comment_117659046

Waterford could have been beaten by Laois. They ran up a score against a hapless Galway performance and still nearly got caught. The red was deserved so let's not talk about what they would or wouldn't do with 15.

Christy Browne · 25-07-2021 6:25pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117660073#Comment_117660073

Let’s not talk about what they would or wouldn’t do with 15, but they ‘could’ have been beaten by Laois and ‘nearly’ got caught by Galway. If me aunt had balls….

threeball · 25-07-2021 7:01pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117660099#Comment_117660099

Whats your point? They were down to 14 and they were ran close by both. Everything there is factual. Assuming what they'd do with 15 is just conjecture.

JeffKenna · 25-07-2021 7:12pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117660073#Comment_117660073

I'm not really sure it's your place to decide what is discussed on a discussion forum?

Montys return · 25-07-2021 9:42pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117660073#Comment_117660073

Your original point is like something a12 year old would come out with.

"Only hurled for 20 mins and still nearly won", silly stuff. Waterford were very poor against Laois but totally different performance yesterday.

Been conceding a lot of goals all year and that is a big concern, it got Galway back into the game. But even when Galway looked like they had them pegged back, they got the next three points and last point after yet another goal.

If you can't give them credit for the performance and put it all down to Galway being poor then you need to take the blinkers off and move beyond the bitterness.

prishtinaboy99 · 25-07-2021 9:51pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117657387#Comment_117657387

With a competent management team maybe. Yesterday for once they got a few of the matchups right but I don’t have confidence in them. The backs look a tight compact unit thanks to DOG.

They will fall short again unless the management make bold moves to address the midfield and half forward line. Ideally a midfield of Coleman and TOM with fitzgibbon wing forward. The league was the time to try these combinations not an AI QF but it is what it is. Damien Cahalane won’t make it back the next day so don’t even expect TOM to be pushed to midfield.

The Next hopefully competent management team have a conveyer belt of serious talent coming through but 2021 is a step too far with the dithering sideline.

Rustyman101 · 25-07-2021 9:54pm

Canning heading off in a sling n coming back without a bother.... joke, Galway flogging a waterford player n getting a yellow 1st min 2nd half.....gillane yellow same offence.... Galway were poor no doubt but credit to wat entire 2nd half @ 14 men.

25-07-2021 9:58pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117659046#Comment_117659046

Tbf, Limerick in 2018 needed a "lucky" save from Quaid to beat Cork. These moments can define championships. Those are the moments that the winning teams tend to get...