GAA Hurling 2018

Have no problem playing games there meself, crap as it is, it is our home venue, but opposition fans would be seriously put off going there, there just isn't room for a huge amount of them, particularly those that like to sit down during games, or those like older people, who wouldn't be able for standing for that duration of time. 

The reason we don't know whether games will be played there next year is simple enough, the CB are in discussions with Croke Park as regards doing it up, if whatever plans they have (and nobody has seen any) get a go ahead, the already small size of the ground, plus whatever construction work going on, would render it unfeasible to hold fixtures there. 

This is going to be a rather strange year, with the league structured/condensed the way it is (the 2 eventual finalists will play 8 out of 9 weeks straight) and also the new championship format, where finishing outside the top 3 in Leinster & Munster will see an end to the season. 

Aside from Anto's article, most players and managers that have been interviewed about it are agreed on one thing, almost no players will play in every game, this will be about managing squads and rotation, something we don't see too often in hurling, where everyone knows at least 12 of the starting 15 by the first championship game.

Just going on that, and in the most simplistic fashion possible, the 3 strongest squads (in no particular order) are Galway, Tipp & Waterford, so I think the team that manages to integrate new players most effectively in the league, as in, with the least disruption to results or performance after multiple changes, will be best set for the championship, where teams will inevitably lose important players to fatigue or injury. 

Given those 3 teams have something of a head start on the others squad wise, I don't see the AI winners coming from outside that 3. Most other teams are short 3, 4 or 5 players from their first 15 to make them AI challengers, never mind the next 4 or 5 lads needed to be high quality subs when the going gets tough later on. 

The league itself will be won by the team that wants to win it most, Galway at something of an advantage in 1B as they should cruise to the QFs without too serious of a challenge, though Dublin might well be flat out for it given they are trying to build a base after 3 years on the slide downwards. I think in 1A a lot of teams will be happy to stay up & not be too bothered about the latter stages of it. Which is why I'm going to tip Wexford for it, Davy is smart enough to know an AI is probably out of their reach, but also smart enough to know a national title will look good on his CV, even if that comes at Wexford's expense later on. I could be very wrong, but I think they will be one of the few teams going all out from the start, he doesn't really know any other way. 

From a Cork point of view, you wouldn't expect your 2nd team (15-30) to lose by 10 points to Kerry, no more than Tipp, WD, KK or Galway would. Can't read too much into any result at this time of the year, but tis probably a cause for at least mild concern for Cork fans.