National Hurling League 2025 Discussion

They are well into the second half already

With only 2 games left it's hard to see Clare avoid relegation

EDIT: Clare have 3 games left

Hard to say half mast when you had 12 players on the field yesterday who started the AI final.

Clare as well today had a strong team out and were very poor by all accounts. Interesting weekend of results.

I saw Kerry play Kildare a couple of weeks back and they looked completely out of their depth. Kildare way better conditioned and streets ahead in terms of attacking play.

Looks like the momentum is gone from Kerry. Seems to happen to the almost Liam McCarthy teams a lot where the bubble really bursts when they don't make that final breakthrough to the top flight. They seemed very close only a few years ago.

Poor showing from Antrim. Wonder what is happening there - usually more competitive at home. Reports are a lot of basic mistakes being made. Regressed from Gleeson's reign.

david mcinerney , conor leen (5 minutes at the end) , first game of the year for rodgers , david fitz, john conlon, and first start for kelly , i wouldn't panic it looks like we are doing the heavy training now , players were stuck to the ground after half time

that is the worry in fairness , the only thing though i would say is not playing the league has worked for shane o donnell so whatever preparations he has done the last few years before championship should be used as a bench mark for the rest of the panel come next years championship

Lifeline for Wexford, hard to see Clare avoid relegation now.

Looks like they're trying to time their run. They should still sail through Munster but it's a risky strategy.

in the 5 seasons that it has existed what team has "sailed through" the Munster round robin series?

Tipp have a tough start and Waterford haven't looked great so they probably still will be ok but I don't buy the Joe Canning line that Lohan will be happy giving minutes to players. They aren't exactly playing half a team either and Tipp and KK couldn't get out of second gear against Wexford and still won easily.

Clare played like they only needed to show up today which isn't a great sign. The heavy training is always a poor excuse from fans. Kirszenstein is no fool and is known well for managing injury risk and won't implement heavy loads on players who are playing at the weekend. Obviously there is an element of additional training that you won't see in the match week come championship but it's hardly an excuse.

Definitely wouldn't back them to 'sail' through Munster. They were further off Limerick last season than previously, and play them away this year. Tipp' appear to be resurgent and if Clare lose their opener at home to Cork, typically a close match, then they could have it all to do.

Offaly really building momentum. Leinster could be interesting this year, the 3rd place position especially.

I'll predict Waterford to finish top with 10 points, Offaly and Carlow to be tied on 9 points, with Offaly edging 2nd on scoring difference. Dublin back in 4th on 8 points.

A proper leauge format in hurling is great to see, two up, two down like the football. I can't understand why the don't just call them Division 1, 2, 3 etc. It would be cleaner than 1A and 1B. Having a proper leauge with a chance for teams to climb the divisions will do more to promote hurling in weaker counties than any mad cap ideas by Liam Griffin. In Football the likes of Derry became All Ireland contenders after building up from Division 4 over a number of years. I know the gaps in standard in hurling are much wider, but when teams have an opportunity to climb the divisions it's amazing what can happen.

Calling it 1B makes no sense as it is essentially Division 2 in all but name. Unlike previous incarnations of 1B it has no affect or ties to 1A. You can’t win Division 1 from it so why call it that?

Its the same as having a Senior B championship in a county now when it really is an intermediate championship. Everyone knows its division 2.

The set up before this year was crazy. It was designed purely yo suit the big guns. Funnily enough, it would probably eork in Football though as there is less of a gulf betwen teams ranked 1-12.

Shane O'Donnell out for the rest of the year. Pity as I always like watching him play, hopefully we see him back next season.

Big blow to Clare.

I thought it was very nice for Derek Lyng to pay tribute to Ray Ryan on TG4s coverage before the game. Important to remember that we are all in the GAA family and some things can be more important. Great to see all in the GAA give support

Not as convinced by cork as some here. 3 of their forwards failed to score from play, kilkenny backs were comfortable for the most part. Jack o connor made a good impact as did Tommy o connell. Jack is not good enough to start imo but is an excellent impact sub. Cork backs have improved a lot. Rob downey is turning into a colossus of a centre back although cian Kenny was influential too. Niall o Leary one of the best corner backs in the game.

Jordan Molloy, huw Lalor and cian Kenny were best for the cats. Up front is a problem. Not enough points. Eoin is not firing at all as of yet. Stephen Donnelly did well but had to go off. Harry shine - not enough pace or presence.

A second narrow loss for Dublin hurlers with another late red card not helping matters. Discipline costing them. Needs to be sorted.

Tony Kelly lucky to be on the pitch!

Doesn't look to me that Limerick are anywhere near their best. Compared to the speed and intensity of their play v Tipp it looks miles off. You could say Clare haven't allowed them to play but its pretty pedestrian from the home team not like them at all.