GAA Hurling 2020

Wexford vs Clare- Sat 14th Nov 2pm- Being billed as Davy vs Lohan, Clare were fairly bad against Laois in round 1 and could of lost the game and as we know Wexford were well below par in there Leinster semi final against Galway. Have to fancy Wexford to do it as they will be fired up for this. Clare for some reason dont have the firepower and rely took much on Tony Kelly. Wexford by 7

Tipp vs Cork- Sat 14th Nov 4pm- Cork were good enough against a bad Dublin team last week and will no doubt be up for the challenge. Tipp will want to go out and impress after losing out too limerick in Munster. Think the 3 weeks in a row will catch up on Cork and Tipp will exploit that. Tipp by 5 

Galway vs Kilkenny- Sat 14th Nov 6.15pm- Could be a classic, Galway look very impressive this year since the inter county return and will be fired up for this one. Kilkenny started well against Dublin but badly faded near the end and were lucky to get the win. Cody will have them fired up no doubt and if both teams are at there best could be a great game. Galway by 3

Limerick vs Waterford- Sun 15th Nov 4pm- As a Waterford man im very happy to be in a Munster final in which we have a free shot and an All Ireland QF to fall back on,So far Cahills reign has been very good and we look like a different team compared to last year. TBD, Jamie Barron and Callum Lyons are flying atm but my god do we have a big challenge in Limerick. Limerick are by doubt the best squad in the country atm and have the ability to hammer any team. Feel this game could be like last years League final and Waterford won't be able to get on top cause Limerick are just so good. Sadly think it will be Limerick by 8. Be very happy if Waterford put in a good display 

Galway vs Tipp is hard too call, Galway fecked the game away last weekend and they will want to bounce back. Tipp weren't at there best for large periods of the game last weekend but they can turn it on when needed. We all know about Galway that they can either be brilliant or they could easily implode 

Kerry vs Carlow is a big game in the JM cup with Kerry needing a win to stay in the competition and Carlow will move into a great position to get too the final against Antrim if they can win 

Sunday sees the finals of the Christy Ring and Nicky Rackard cups. In the Nicky Rackard cup its Donegal vs Mayo (how odd that its hurling) and whoever wins that will get promotion to the Christy Ring cup for 2021. Unlike in the Christy Ring final between Kildare and Down where both teams have been promoted to the Joe Mcdonagh cup for 2021. Reckon Offaly are bulling for fecking up last week 

Whereas Galway v Tipp is always box office, goes back to the 80s, as a rivalry it has never really let up

Tipp are Galway's biggest rivals by a million miles

Galway would probably be Tipp's second biggest rivals after Kilkenny, much more needle in Galway v Tipp clashes than Cork v Tipp, maybe even more than Kilkenny v Tipp

Think I slightly fancy Clare to win based on their momentum 

It's great to see Kelly finally take on the leadership role and thrive

But also good to see Waterford back as a force

On a line through Limerick you'd say Waterford, but it's very unpredictable

Both games tomorrow are wide open, you'd have to say, as they say in hurling

1987 AI Semi final - Galway won

1988 AI Final - Galway won

1989 AI Semi Final - Tipp won

1990 - no

1991 AI Semi Final - Tipp won

1992 - no

1993 AI Semi Final - Galway won

Meeting 5 years out of 7 in those days was unusual, 

Compulsory helmets have made hurlers much less recognisable

The Waterford team of the 2000s was the last team that contained a lot of very recognisable characters - because they didn't wear helmets - Shanahan, Mullane, McGrath, Browne. Eoin Kelly etc.

There are very few hurlers these days who have the sort of casual mainstream sports fan recognition that those lads would have had, ie. the cliched "crossover appeal"

Joe Canning would be a rare exception

The most recognisable figures in hurling now are the managers

However there are no more instantly recognisable characters like Shanahan, Mullane, Leahy, Ciaran Carey, Martin Storey, Teddy McCarthy, Johnny Pilkington, Gerry McInerney, John Power and the likes

Yes it might be more safe but hurling has lost an awful lot with players no longer being instantly recognisable