Mod note Post #1 - All Ireland Senior Hurling Championship 2022 (Liam McCarthy Cup)

Fine with me

If this weekend is anything to go by the only throws that are penalised will be between the two 65s. Refs haven't the balls to blow for blatant throws around the goals.

Well the obvious answer is for umpires to call more than just scores. Gillane for instance gets pulled about 10 times a game and umpires stand round like numpties doing nothing about it

Correct. So many throw balls in today's two matches and hardly any blown. Every team may follow suit.

Unless Waterford have about two more gears, in terms of defensive tactics and commitment, they won't beat Limerick in the All-Ireland series. Too big, too strong, too developed in tactical formations and execution. They're a big strong python that strangles the life out of a team's space. All credit has to be given to the management of the Limerick team for taking the league for what it is at this stage of their project and the squad listening to the same voice/tactics, for what six years? Changed it up again, a few tweaks here and there, some fresh faces, a little tune-up on a well-oiled machine. Limerick will get better as the year goes on.

Cork look like a team who haven't grabbed the nettle and got rid of the old characters. Still not enough youth involved to invest in the future. Kingston and his management team ain't up to it. Lehane, club form and all, is not up to it at that Limerick level. Neither is Horgan. Not anymore. A lot of dead wood in that Cork team.

Waterford, unlike Cork, have learned from their Limerick maulings, in formation and approach. But they've never really broken the Limerick lines before, never mind consistently enough to get the goals to really get Limerick worried. Limerick have always shepherded Waterford where they want them to go - contained them. And I can see the same thing happening again.

I know it's only the first round and kinks will be ironed out. But Limerick have not only looked the best team around, they look like the team who can improve most too. Waterford still trading on emotion too much. Limerick are a cold-blooded machine - that's ultimately what it looks like. But it's just smarts on the ball and that's it. I think, what's becoming evident to me in the last year or so, is that the smarts on the field is even better than the smarts on the line and there's no other team that can say that at the moment. You can talk about all the white boards you want, but for me those Limerick players, particularly 1-9 are well able to read the opposition and adjust. It's year 6 and it still works.

There was an overhead throw for Waterford's first goal. Completely ridiculous stuff.

If the refs are to blow for throws or even blatant throws the game would be a never ending free taking competition. Itc crying out for a rule change that is desperately needed. The refs have an impossible job to do.

Jaysus lads there's some shite being spoken here. Firstly, it was only the first round & limerick have already won the AI apparently. Secondly, i can guarantee you if Waterford beat limerick next week, you'll all be saying limerick were just shadow boxing & they'll beat Waterford when it matters. Thirdly, Cork are shite. Fourthly, there is no way anyone can really tell when a hand pass is legitimate. The players are so quick at it now that the strike is too hard to see. Calum lyons was pulled for a throw when there was a clear strike. Somettimes the strike is not even clear in a slow motion so there's not a hope of the ref seeing it in live action.

'All benefitting Waterford'. I saw plenty of decisions going both ways. And that was definitely not a throw for the goal. Today's players spend hours perfecting handpasses so they look seemless.

You make a statement that theres no way a ref can tell whether its thrown or not? Telling us what we already know doesn't solve the issue. What exactly is your point so?

I genuinely think Hoggy is one of the most over-rated hurlers in history.

To my mind, Mullane is a bigger legend not to have won the AI.

Another new reg obsessed kilkenny lad with barrett, get over 2019, jesus.

RTE should cop on and not have panelist’s on that are from counties involved. Yesterday took the biscuit altogether. Dowling and og cusack supposed to be neutral on live TV about both their own counties and then late you have McGrath and sheedy again supposed to be neutral on their own counties. Surely they could Organise it to avoid having panelist’s from participating counties…??

I know they didn't. Just an observation on my part.

You'd often hear pundits refer to him as the great Patrick Horgan. I just don't see it

Maybe the best Cork player to not win one (so far) but that's about as far as I'de go.

Most of that Waterford team along with most of the 90s Limerick team could be on the list.

Certainly 2 of the best teams not to win an All Ireland

Hurling doesn’t require a strong or all Ireland winning cork side……plenty of counties go through phases like they are experiencing…….cork GAA obviously took their ‘eye off the sliotar’ back in early 00’s……blinded by tradition/self belief into thinking success will ‘just continue’ on because they are ‘cork’ and don’t need the ‘grass roots’ work that other smaller and less successful counties have and continue to do…?

For sure.