GAA Hurling 2017

very disapointing performance for Waterford and i think thats that for the year as clearly Mcgrath has given up (he didnt move once from this sideline seat yesterday) and something seems wrong with the players 

Edited by Healy52003 - 19 Jun 2017 at 2:50pm

Going to go back again (and probably again) to my new favourite topic this year, match analysis. Have said before that a bit like Pele in football, we now have some of the greatest players to ever play the game doing analysis for TV, Radio, online media entities and newspapers. And I'm now 100% fully certain that more than half of them are either 1) not seeing what is happening in front of them 2) Seeing it, but not fully understanding it 3) Not understanding it, know well they don't understand it & then try tell us we are looking at something that isn't there.

So would I, but tis annoying me at this stage. And there isn't much of an excuse for it, was asking the brother when we last played 3 up top in a conventional formation, his answer was the same as mine- V Clare in 1st round of championship in Limerick 2007- Justin McCarthy's last game as manager. That's a full fcuking decade ago, all pundits & spectators have had that entire length of time to get used to these new formations & tactics. 

Edited by deise316 - 21 Jun 2017 at 1:12am

Not sure that is a full picture though, Laois have certainly gone backwards, losing to Kerry in the league and only beating them by a single point in the playoff after extra time. 2 years ago, they beat Offaly in the championship, but that probably has as much to do with Offaly regressing at a rapid rate in the last few years as anything positive Laois were doing. In 2013, not that long ago, they had a respectable 7 point defeat to Galway in Leinster, tis very hard to see that happening any time soon. 

max wrote: All-Ireland Hurling Qualifiers - Dublin V Laois; Offaly V Waterford, Kilkenny V Limerick, Tipperary V Westmeath

Poor aul Westmeath in line for another hiding by the looks of it.

Another one of these weird GAA things, why does this round have home/away advantage, but the next round is at neutral venues ? Makes little sense, and if anything, the lower ranked team (say, using finishing league positions) should have got the home draw in any case just to try even it up a little bit. 

Healy52003 wrote: big weekend coming up in the hurling championship 4 qualifers and the leinster final  Dublin vs Laois- Laois seem to be missing a few players through injury but will give it a right go against a Dublin team who seemed to be lacking something the last time they played. I think Dublin will shade it Offaly vs Waterford- A lot of people in Waterford are saying this is going to be a walkover but i think differently and think a shock may be on the cards. Offaly have a strong Waterford presence in there background team (Kevin Ryan and Paul Flynn) and could employ tactics that will trouble waterford also they have 2 brillent forwards in Dooley and Bergin. Ive heard training is going very well in Waterford after the cork defeat but Stephen Bennett will be a big loss and confidence seems to be on a bit of low after the cork defeat. Waterford should not take this game lightly. Im going for a shock Offaly win and eruptions in Waterford after it Tipperary vs Westmeath- A mis match and Tipp will walk it id say. hopefully its not an embarrasment for Westmeath Kilkenny vs Limerick- No doubt the pick of the round. Both teams will want to recover from there semi final defeats. Home advantage is huge for this fixture and might shade it for Kilkenny. Limerick have some very good players but have not performed this year so far. Im going with a close game and Kilkenny too shade it Round 2 draw is next monday morning (3rd July) and the 2 games will be played On Sat 8th July in neutral venues (possible double header somewhere depending on draw) Leinster final Galway vs Wexford (sun 2nd july)- They have gone mad down in Wexford since beating Kilkenny (and who can blame them) and are very much looking forward too the Leinster final against Galway. Wexford who beat Galway in the league earlier this year are playing good hurling under Davy Fitz and have surpassed expectations so far this year and may even surpass them more if they pick up silverware sunday. Galway who have been very impressive so far this year scoring for fun are out to make a statement and plan on going all the way this year. Im going for a Wexford win and the place will go mental

Two things Offaly won't be beating Waterford are you mad! Also Galway in the wide open spaces of Croke Park will Account for Wexford easily enough!

Edited by Trigboy 10 - 27 Jun 2017 at 1:17pm

It was great for Laois to get the win over Carlow last Sunday however unlike some on here I won't be tipping them to get anything from the game against Dublin on Saturday evening unless half the Dublin team refuse to play.

Of our starting forwards from the start of the year Laois will be without Cha Dwyer and Picky Maher who starred for Carlow IT this year, Ross King (captain and scorer in chief), Willie Dunphy, Paddy Whelan, John Lennon and Ben Conroy (intermediate player of the year).

No county could take such a hit and for Laois with such a small pick it is a disaster.

What it has meant is that bar 1 or 2 fella's the team is under 21. Good for the future maybe if they stick together but no use if they get beaten off the field on Saturday.

The game against Carlow was scrappy and had Carlow not been as profligate in front of the posts they would have got the win. We got goals at the right time and in fairness to LAois this year they have shown great character and honesty of endevour in every game. To be a point down in the second minute of injury time and still win by a point shows this. A man down from the 13th minute but battled for every ball.

What we badly need in Laois is a couple of underage teams to contest or win Leinster finals in the coming years. We have also badly struggled at the u21 grade when we had teams capable of much better. Of the young lads at the moment 3 or 4 make very good seniors however we need more of that standard to bolster the bench and be competitive. It's a cliche these days but the game is all about the match day squad and having subs who can make an impact when they come on. Making the numbers up doesn't cut it anymore.

Anyhow back to Saturday evening and Laois will battle to the end but unfortunately it will be the end of their championship for another year. Hoping for better in 2018!