Leinster Club Hurling Championship

[Doon Exile]

Adam lost a tooth.

Off the ball? Seemed to be incident near the end but didn’t see it

Don’t know as didn’t see it either.

[Géill Slí]

I have no time for this sort of sh*t, off the ball, if that’s what happened. Play the game, play hard, by all means, but play straight and fair. Hope Adam is alright for Sunday. He is a joy to watch.

[One Time]

I have no time for this sort of sh*t, off the ball, if that’s what happened. Play the game, play hard, by all means, but play straight and fair. Hope Adam is alright for Sunday. He is a joy to watch.

Unfortunately there is a rhetoric about the game going soft and lads need to toughen up and all that.. off the ball stuff is happening regularly, Unfortunately it's on the ball stuff that's not being punished is leading to it. Hurling is now very poor and impossible to get a free, refs "letting the game go" is having the opposite affect, it's allowing fouling to continue and actually slowing down the play. More support is needed for officials and with matches being on camera all the time now, they need to be reviewed and punishments handed out.

[One Time]

On the upside, KK have a huge chance of winning leinster. I would question the merit if Castletown win over Thomastown, given how Thomastown walked through kilkenny including last years all ireland finalists, they looked the best team in the country.. it must be a fair assumption that they downed tools (not in a bad way) but have been on the road and achieved so much in such a short space of time, the obviously didn't show up. I'd expect KK to deal with Castletown comfortably enough. Fingers crossed, big chance of leinster now.

[SearingDrive]

On the upside, KK have a huge chance of winning leinster. I would question the merit if Castletown win over Thomastown, given how Thomastown walked through kilkenny including last years all ireland finalists, they looked the best team in the country.. it must be a fair assumption that they downed tools (not in a bad way) but have been on the road and achieved so much in such a short space of time, the obviously didn't show up. I'd expect KK to deal with Castletown comfortably enough. Fingers crossed, big chance of leinster now.

What about the other semi finalists, St. Martin’s or Na Fianna?

[Doon Exile]

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What about the other semi finalists, St. Martin’s or Na Fianna?
[/quote]

I’d expect Na Fianna to come through that and will be a huge challenge for anyone in a Leinster final.

[One Time]

On the upside, KK have a huge chance of winning leinster. I would question the merit if Castletown win over Thomastown, given how Thomastown walked through kilkenny including last years all ireland finalists, they looked the best team in the country.. it must be a fair assumption that they downed tools (not in a bad way) but have been on the road and achieved so much in such a short space of time, the obviously didn't show up. I'd expect KK to deal with Castletown comfortably enough. Fingers crossed, big chance of leinster now.

What about the other semi finalists, St. Martin’s or Na Fianna?

I wouldn't be surprised to see St Martins coming through. I don't think KK will fear any of them.

[private joker]

Na fianna would be favourites for leinster. They should have won it last year and that without their best player Donal bourke. But given time of year its all up for grabs. Ctg will give kk a good game. They want to hurl as do kk.

[Géill Slí]

Can see both semis being tight, Wexford changed their championship to alternate hurling/football to give their hurling champions a better chance of competing in Leinster, but still you’d think Na Fianna are the stronger team and will win by 4 or 5. Forecast is not good and that sort of weather won’t suit KK, but I think KK will come through by something similar, 4 or 5.

[private joker]

A lot of rain. Mullingar pitch will not be great
County final had to be abandoned.

[Géill Slí]

Always seems a very tight and small pitch, Mullingar. That won’t suit KK either. Hopefully they get over the line and I’d give KK a good chance in the final.

[Plain of the Herbs]

Definitely shorter and narrower than the average. The site is tight anyway. Then they had problems with drainage several years ago, so the playing surface was raised.

The playing area is on a kind of a plateau. Meaning there's a huge area between the sideline and the fence as well.

Always seems a very tight and small pitch, Mullingar. That won’t suit KK either. Hopefully they get over the line and I’d give KK a good chance in the final.

[kingscounty]

KK 2-13 CG 1-13
For determination and physicality CG should have probably won the game. I thought the ref let way to much go, while we all like a battle he blatantly let numerous fouls go, players constantly pushed on the back, players mauled and a clear as day face guard pull on a KK player which he never even gave a free for.
The way the game was going in the first half I was hoping to see KK management deploy a big man in the full forward line and they obliged in the second half with James Gorman who made a huge difference. It’s winter hurling the pitch was in rag order which did not suit the likes of Mitchell at full forward. Gorman scored and created the goal for Screeney. Kiely steady the ship when he came on physical presence and he will have to start next week if he’s fully fit. Screeney has to be praised for his tackling and heart, came out in the second half won a tackle and scored the resulting free and finished the goal in style.

[SearingDrive]

KK 2-13 CG 1-13
For determination and physicality CG should have probably won the game. I thought the ref let way to much go, while we all like a battle he blatantly let numerous fouls go, players constantly pushed on the back, players mauled and a clear as day face guard pull on a KK player which he never even gave a free for.
The way the game was going in the first half I was hoping to see KK management deploy a big man in the full forward line and they obliged in the second half with James Gorman who made a huge difference. It’s winter hurling the pitch was in rag order which did not suit the likes of Mitchell at full forward. Gorman scored and created the goal for Screeney. Kiely steady the ship when he came on physical presence and he will have to start next week if he’s fully fit. Screeney has to be praised for his tackling and heart, came out in the second half won a tackle and scored the resulting free and finished the goal in style.

I thought with 10 mins left, that Castletown would win. Fair play KK for getting the result in a tight game that went to added time. .

[frankthetank]

Today’s referee clearly missed the seminar that stated a push in the back is a free. It was rampant throughout the game.