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Hurling
Apr 28, 2006 10:51:09 GMT -1
Post by coachiolalufc on Apr 28, 2006 10:51:09 GMT -1
eion you follow the GAA at all??
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Hurling
Apr 28, 2006 12:41:18 GMT -1
Post by thales on Apr 28, 2006 12:41:18 GMT -1
eion you follow the GAA at all?? sarcasim eh with hurling being gaa ;D
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Hurling
Apr 28, 2006 13:00:55 GMT -1
Post by coachiolalufc on Apr 28, 2006 13:00:55 GMT -1
sorry gone insane i was meaning to put the football dont ask me what i was thinking
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Hurling
Apr 28, 2006 13:02:47 GMT -1
Post by thales on Apr 28, 2006 13:02:47 GMT -1
sorry gone insane i was meaning to put the football dont ask me what i was thinking guessed thats what you meant.... no not really, might watch when gets to championship time! but kilkenny is the only county without a senior team as completely shite ;D hurling rules 100% in county
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Post by thales on May 3, 2006 8:10:04 GMT -1
Crafty Cats bank first gold of season
Defiant Limerick fail at finish as Kilkenny claim league crown
Kilkenny 3-11
Limerick 0-14
NHL Division 1 Final
KILKENNY have banked the first gold of the inter-county hurling season, but Limerick will feel that their account awaits some decent summer deposits after delivering a stoically defiant effort in yesterday's Allianz League final at Semple Stadium.
Kilkenny's innate cuteness, typified by their ability to craft goals at defining times, steered them to their 13th League title and will leave them feeling very good about themselves as they head into serious preparations for the championship.
Limerick hung on with dogged intensity for 55 minutes but Henry's Shefflin's goal a minute later put Kilkenny six points clear, a margin they nursed safely all the way to the finish line after each side scored a further three points.
Limerick were furious that the goal was allowed, claiming that Martin Comerford had dropped his hurley before off-loading to Eoin Larkin who powered through the middle before feeding Shefflin. Limerick looked to have a decent case for complaint at the time although TV pictures later suggested Comerford's hurl took a little tap. Either way, it was a borderline decision which proved a major talking point afterwards.
Shefflin's positioning prior to receiving the pass from Larkin was the personification of instinctive intelligence by a man at the top of his game in what was only his second outing of the League.
He scored 2-6 (2-3 from play) en route to an inevitable man-of-the-match award but he had plenty influential accomplices who presented Limerick with a range of problems that they hadn't encountered in their unbeaten run to the final.
Larkin, Aidan Fogarty, Tommy Walsh, JJ Delaney, Noel Hickey, Derek Lyng in the first half and goalkeeper, James McGarry all made significant contributions too on a day when it wasn't easy for players to hold their feet on the wet surface.
McGarry made three excellent saves in the first half, blocking from Andrew O'Shaughnessy and Barry Foley in the 13th minute and again denying O'Shaughnessy just before half-time.
A minute earlier, Shefflin had pounced for Kilkenny's second goal after Larkin drew the Limerick defence to him with his direct running. He was merely repaying Shefflin for a 12th minute favour, having blasted the ball to the net after a delightfully weighted cross from King Henry.
Kilkenny led by 2-4 to 0-7 at half-time, a scoreline that typified Limerick's day. They had scored more often than Kilkenny but were still behind and while they managed to cut the deficit to two points (2-7 to 0-11) in the 51st minute, they had to work very hard for every score.
Kilkenny were more economical in their approach and once Shefflin whipped home their third goal, they closed the game.
Still, despite the six-point margin at the end, Limerick have quite a number of positives to take into the Munster championship clash with Tipperary next Sunday week. They are miles ahead of where they were a year ago and if the attack can improve the strike rate, they will have a very interesting season.
Conor Fitzgerald, who picked off four excellent points from play, and Barry Foley, an able replacement for Mark Keane, were the pick of Limerick's front men while Brian Begley also threatened from time to time and will be encouraged by the reality that he won't meet such a tenacious opponent as JJ Delaney every week.
Ollie Moran, Damien Reale and Mark Foley defended well and while Limerick will be disappointed at having conceded three goals, they know that they won't be facing the likes of Shefflin and Larkin too regularly either.
It was clear from the start Limerick were determined to impose themselves physically on Kilkenny, a sensible tactic given the conditions. There were times when the intensity bordered on championship levels as the sides rattled into each other.
And when Barry Foley skipped in from the sideline before whipping over a point to give Limerick an 0-3 to 0-2 lead after nine minutes, their supporters in the crowd of 16,804 must have thought that the good start to the season was going to get even better.
However, Larkin's goal settled Kilkenny into a decent rhythm which should have yielded more. They shot eight wides in the first half but still managed to lead at half-time, thanks to Shefflin's strike just before the break.
Limerick maintained their relentless pursuit throughout the third quarter but just when it looked as if they might cruise alongside Kilkenny, Shefflin pounced for what proved to be the most decisive score of all.
Limerick, to their credit, battled on but could never get a clear shot on McGarry and with the Kilkenny defence tightening their security arrangements, points were difficult to come by too.
Still, Limerick will have learned a lot from yesterday's experience and will be hoping to bring their new font of knowledge back to Thurles on Sunday week.
Meanwhile, Kilkenny have folded their League tent, content that they are back on track for what could prove to be a sizzling summer.
MAN OF THE MATCH - Henry Shefflin
SCORERS - Kilkenny: H Shefflin 2-6 (0-3f), E Larkin 1-0, A Fogarty, J Fitzpatrick 0-2 each, M Fennelly 0-1. Limerick: B Foley 0-6 (5f), C Fitzgerald 0-4, S Lucey 0-2, B Begley, N Moran 0-1 each.
KILKENNY - J McGarry; M Kavanagh, JJ Delaney, N Hickey; J Tyrrell, J Tennyson, T Walsh; D Lyng, R Mullally; R Power, M Comerford, E Larkin; J Fitzpatrick, H Shefflin, A Fogarty. Subs: W O'Dwyer for Power (38), M Fennelly for Lyng (56).
LIMERICK - B Murray; D Reale, TJ Ryan, M Foley; O Moran, B Geary, D Moloney; D Ryan, D O'Grady; M O'Brien, S Lucey, C Fitzgerald; A O'Shaughnessy, B Begley, B Foley. Subs: N Moran for O'Brien (51), S Hickey for M Foley (62), P O'Grady for D O'Grady (62).
REF - D Kirwan (Cork).
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Hurling
Jun 2, 2006 13:47:17 GMT -1
Post by thales on Jun 2, 2006 13:47:17 GMT -1
God has retired Iconic Cat hangs up hurley and says it's time to move on Friday June 2nd 2006 THE greatest hurler of his generation announced his retirement last night, after months of speculation, and insisted there would be no going back this time. DJ Carey, winner of five All-Ireland medals and nine All Stars and scorer of some of the modern game's greatest goals decided the time was right to end an illustrious inter-county career. After 16 years of service to the famed black and amber shirt, Carey said he no longer felt the urge to commit himself to training again. Kilkenny manager Brian Cody had left the door open for him to rejoin the panel and, after a couple of decent performances with his club Young Irelands in recent weeks, there was increasing speculation he would commit for another year. But, after speaking with Cody this week, DJ decided that it was the right time to go. Indication "I just haven't had the urge," said the 35-year-old yesterday. "I haven't been bursting to get out so that's a good indication that the time is right." Carey's last game for Kilkenny was the All-Ireland semi-final defeat to Galway last August. He admitted he could have announced his retirement after that game, and had the chance again earlier in the year, but he decided to wait and test his appetite. Kilkenny won the league without him and, as they prepare for their opening championship game against Westmeath next week, he felt it would be fair on everybody to make a decision now. "I have to be fair to everyone, to Brian Cody, to the rest of the players and to myself. I'm comfortable with the decision," he said. Carey quit briefly in 1998 but returned six weeks later and made an unexpected comeback from injury in 2002 to win a fourth All-Ireland medal, earning a ninth and last All Star after just two appearances. He captained Kilkenny to their last All-Ireland title in 2003 and described that yesterday as one of his biggest honours "whether it was by default or not". Commitments Carey has been an iconic figure in hurling over the last two decades but says he has no plans to move into management now or in the future. Now resident in Dublin, and with increasing business commitments, he cannot see himself commiting to coaching beyond involvement with his two sons in Kilkenny. "I could have made time to go back training but it wasn't in me. There won't be any dramatic return. It's time for me to move on," he said. Carey said he might not have stayed on as long if it had not been for the impetus given to Kilkenny by Henry Shefflin, Martin Comerford, Eddie Brennan and others. "Their arrival took pressure off me. I was able to concentrate on my own game and not have to worry about winning a game with a big personal score." Carey made his debut in 1989 and quickly became a household name with his quick feet, sharp wrists, devastating bursts and wonderful stick work. He has also been one of the most approachable and personable GAA stars of his generation, and in 1999 he became one of the founding members of the Gaelic Players' Association. "That's something I'll always be proud of and, whatever else I do in my GAA career, I'll always be a players' man," Carey added.
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blowen
Trainee
Sooz's buddy!!
Isn't my husband GORGEOUS?!?!
Posts: 20
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Hurling
Jun 12, 2006 13:49:03 GMT -1
Post by blowen on Jun 12, 2006 13:49:03 GMT -1
I love gaelic games. All Ireland Final is one hell of a day!
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Hurling
Jun 12, 2006 20:57:54 GMT -1
Post by Tony Yeboah's Lunchbox on Jun 12, 2006 20:57:54 GMT -1
Hurling....?
Haven't done that for a while.....mind you ive not been absolutely pissed as a fart for agesto be able to do it either......
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Hurling
Jun 12, 2006 21:05:19 GMT -1
Post by JJ on Jun 12, 2006 21:05:19 GMT -1
was wondering who would come up with that post!!! Hurling....? Haven't done that for a while.....mind you ive not been absolutely pissed as a fart for agesto be able to do it either......
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Hurling
Jun 12, 2006 21:11:13 GMT -1
Post by mortontheblade on Jun 12, 2006 21:11:13 GMT -1
was wondering who would come up with that post!!! Hurling....? Haven't done that for a while.....mind you ive not been absolutely pissed as a fart for agesto be able to do it either...... i was contemplating typing something similar
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Hurling
Jun 12, 2006 21:12:14 GMT -1
Post by JJ on Jun 12, 2006 21:12:14 GMT -1
so was I!!!! was wondering who would come up with that post!!! i was contemplating typing something similar
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Hurling
Jun 15, 2006 15:11:07 GMT -1
Post by thales on Jun 15, 2006 15:11:07 GMT -1
I love gaelic games. All Ireland Final is one hell of a day! ;D see sooz friend on the avatar <shudder>
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Hurling
Jun 15, 2006 15:13:30 GMT -1
Post by thales on Jun 15, 2006 15:13:30 GMT -1
Kilkenny cruise past battling Westmeath Sunday June 11th 2006
KILKENNY 1-23
WESTMEATH 1-9
JOHN O'BRIEN
at Cusack Park
LONG before the end, Martin Comerford, Tommy Walsh and John Tennyson had made the walk to the sideline to make way for some of Kilkenny's lesser lights and the feeling that Brian Cody's team had eased their foot off the pedal considerably was hard to escape. The margin of Westmeath's defeat wasn't harsh on them and certainly didn't flatter them, but from a half-time deficit of 14, they at least made the next 35 competitive.
You could read a few things into it. Kilkenny have never been known as a side to expend much in the way of charity, even to those at the other end of the food chain, and you could point to the lack of goal chances they created and an extensive list of wides, most of them in the second-half, as weaknesses in their armoury.
It was hard to tell. Kilkenny, doubtless, have at least two more gears to move up, but, on this evidence, they will need them.
For the most part Cody's side were happy to pick off scores from out the field and on the few occasions they did carve the defence open they found the Westmeath full-back line and goalkeeper Mark Briody in defiant mood.
Henry Shefflin's eight-point haul won't threaten Eoin Kelly yet for performance of the year, but he was still the pivot of their attack. Eoin McCormack, Martin Comerford and substitute Michael Rice had good games, but Cody will surely have hoped for more from his forwards.
Like a team on their maiden championship outing, Kilkenny understandably showed signs of ring rustiness. From their first chance Willie O'Dwyer shot poorly wide and a minute later Henry Shefflin spurned a direct shot from a free to find the well-placed Derek Lyng.
But the midfielder struck his shot wide and on the sideline Brian Cody muttered away to himself, cutting a frustrated though hardly anxious figure.
It was obviously a temporary affliction. The fact that it took Kilkenny five minutes to open the scoring spoke, in truth, as much for Westmeath's plucky resolve as it did for their own wastefulness, but once they fine-tuned their radar and flexed their muscles the only question that mattered seemed to be Westmeath's ability to avoid the kind of beatings - 27 points in their last meeting 17 years ago - inflicted upon them by their illustrious visitors.
Their hopes of doing so centred on a few key individuals. Early on Enda Loughlin seemed to be struggling to cope with Derek Lyng, but Loughlin soon found his feet and was a constant inspiration to his team-mates. After 16 minutes Loughlin struck a point from 65 yards that had the 6,891 attendance gasping and it stemmed the flow, however momentarily, of one-way traffic. Behind him at centre-back Darren McCormack - as he did against Dublin - hurled with conviction and defiance.
It was still too easy for Kilkenny, however. By half-time it was worth noting how little decent ball Henry Shefflin had received, yet the full-forward had scored six points, three of them from play, and seemed to have hardly shifted out of second gear. Martin Comerford had been quiet at centre-forward, yet had two points to his name.
For the most part Kilkenny were happy to play the percentages. When he was through after five minutes Eoin McCormack had as good a goal chance as a forward could wish for, but languidly lobbed his shot over the crossbar. They didn't threaten Westmeath's goal again until the 25th minute and just when Cha Fitzpatrick looked set to unleash an unstoppable shot, Conor Jordan beautifully hooked him from behind and the danger was averted.
Eight minutes later Westmeath's goal was finally breached. It came from sloppy defending but the wonder was McCormack's strike was so long in coming. Shefflin struck a couple of scores over soon after and approaching half-time Westmeath were facing a cruel 14-point deficit.
Then a mix-up in the Kilkenny full-back line saw Barry Kennedy steal in behind to drive his shot past James McGarry. At 11 points it wasn't quite respectable, but probably short of their worst fears.
It got better after that. Kilkenny enjoyed as much possession in the second-half as they did in the first, but they never pulled away as they threatened to do. They came closest to finding the net when Peter Cleere burst through with 10 minutes remaining, but Briody managed to block it on the line. A couple of minutes later the heroic McCormack got some reward when he fired over at the other end.
Westmeath were 14 points behind and that's how it would remain. Kilkenny were through and Westmeath had clawed a modicum of respectability, if only just.
Scorers - Kilkenny: H Shefflin 0-7 (4f), E McCormack 1-3, M Comerford 0-3, M Rice 0-3, R Mulally 0-2, J Fitzpatrick 0-2, W O'Dywer, D Lyng, E Larkin 0-1 each. Westmeath: A Mitchell 0-5 (3f, 2 65), B Kennedy 1-0, E Loughlin, B Connaughton, J Clarke, D McCormack 0-1 each
Kilkenny: J McGarry, M Kavanagh, JJ Delaney, D Cody, J Tyrell, J Tennyson (PJ Delaney 50), T Walsh (J Dalton 68), D Lyng, R Mulally, W O'Dwyer, M Comerford (M Rice 49), E Larkin (P Cleere 57), E McCormack, H Shefflin, J Fitzpatrick
Westmeath: M Briody, C Jordan (M Williams 70), C Murtagh, P Greville, J Shaw, D McCormack, N Gavin, B Connaughton (D Faulkner 70), E Loughlin, G Gavin (D Devine 49), B Murtagh, A Mitchell, B Kennedy, D McNicholas (D Carty ht), J Clarke (P Gilsenan 70)
Referee: J Sexton (Limerick)
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Hurling
Jun 27, 2006 14:57:53 GMT -1
Post by thales on Jun 27, 2006 14:57:53 GMT -1
congrats to carlow for reaching the leinster minor final for the first time, unfortunately playing kk. next leinster title on sunday:)
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Hurling
Jun 27, 2006 20:29:05 GMT -1
Post by HURLOCK on Jun 27, 2006 20:29:05 GMT -1
My father lost his front teeth playing for Limerick
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Hurling
Jun 29, 2006 14:23:06 GMT -1
Post by thales on Jun 29, 2006 14:23:06 GMT -1
My father lost his front teeth playing for Limerick was it against the dirty dirty dirty tipp bastards?
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Hurling
Jun 30, 2006 8:00:53 GMT -1
Post by HURLOCK on Jun 30, 2006 8:00:53 GMT -1
Not sure matey, it was a long time ago. my father is in his 60's
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Hurling
Jul 3, 2006 14:53:04 GMT -1
Post by thales on Jul 3, 2006 14:53:04 GMT -1
Cody's men look good, but Wexford's weaknesses leave many questions unanswered
Kilkenny 1-23
Wexford 2-12
Leinster SHC Final
WEXFORD needed all the jigsaw pieces to fit neatly into place to give themselves a decent chance of winning yesterday's Guinness Leinster hurling final. However, they discovered that not only had Kilkenny raided the box, they had also altered the picture.
As Kilkenny headed home with their 63rd Leinster title yesterday evening, they really didn't know a whole lot more about their All-Ireland prospects as their superiority stretched across so many lines that they weren't tested to any great degree.
Every time Wexford went into rebellious mode, it was quickly quelled by Kilkenny who had extended their lead to 11 points before Michael Jacob's stoppage time goal gave the scoreline a more respectable look.
Jacob, who wasn't deemed worthy of a place in the starting line-up, came on at half-time and scored 1-4 from play and presented the Kilkenny defence with a range of problems they hadn't encountered in the first half.
He turned in an excellent performance, leaving Wexford supporters wondering why he hadn't been on from the start.
The opening 35 minutes were a total mess for Wexford. They needed a good start but found themselves three points down after six minutes and while they had drawn level by the 13th minutes, they weren't playing with the intensity and aggression that they always produce on days when they tackle Kilkenny as equals rather than distant outsiders.
Wexford's problems were multi-layered. Their shooting was deplorable in the first half, missing the target no fewer than ten times.
Radar
Even the usually reliable Rory Jacob couldn't adjust his radar, skewing wide from frees and open play at a time when it was vital for Wexford to keep the scores coming.
Kilkenny didn't have to do anything special to give themselves a commanding advantage in a second quarter which took a dramatic turn for the worse for Wexford in the 19th minute when Martin Comerford pass found Henry Shefflin, who beat Damien Fitzhenry with a superb strike on the volley.
Fitzhenry had a great opportunity to cancel out that exquisite goal five minutes later after Noel Hickey's foul on Eoin Quigley presented Wexford with a penalty. They badly needed a goal, but Fitzhenry drove the ball high over the bar.
Penalty
"Nine times out of ten, Damien would score a goal from a penalty but you could see from the time he rose the ball that it was too far ahead of him so he got under it," explained Wexford manager Seamus Murphy afterwards.
It was another of those golden chances that Wexford wasted in a first half that left them facing an interval deficit of eight points (1-9 to 0-4).
It's extremely rare for Kilkenny to blow such a big advantage, but Wexford did their best to make it happen when they raised the pace and intensity for a spell after the break.
They out-scored Kilkenny by 1-4 to 0-1 in the opening ten minutes, the goal coming from Rory Jacob after a brilliant run through the defence. At 1-10 to 1-8, the Wexford supporters in the crowd of 44,081 dared to dream that it might be their day after all, but Kilkenny's response was typically ruthless.
'Cha' Fitzpatrick pilfered a point in the 46th minute and the flow continued relentlessly for the next 11 minutes, at the end of which Kilkenny led by 1-17 to 1-8. Wexford retaliated with three points but were hit by five more as Kilkenny ensured that they were so far out of sight that they could afford to absorb Michael Jacob's late 1-1 blast.
Kilkenny manager Brian Cody spoke afterwards of how Kilkenny had to battle hard but, in truth, they always looked like a side that had plenty in reserve if the occasion demanded.
Quite whether they have enough to build into the sort of powerful force required to regain the All-Ireland title is a question for another day, but in terms of achieving their initial goal, they reached it far more easily than they would have expected.
The Wexford supporters were uncharacteristically subdued early on, almost as if they were expecting the worst. The same thought may have crossed the players' minds as they rarely succeeded in powering up to the momentum levels that were so crucial in their wins over Kilkenny in 2004 or their close call last year.
The full-back line of Malachy Travers, 'Doc' O'Connor and Keith Rossiter worked very hard; centre-back Declan Ruth was also effective, but Wexford struggled further afield.
Ciaran Kenny, Mitch Jordan, Darren Stamp and PJ Nolan were all replaced, while neither Rory McCarthy nor Stephen Doyle made any great impression in general play either, although the latter contributed three second-half points from frees.
Rory Jacob scored 1-2 from play, but shot four wides which on another day would have yielded precious points.
Kilkenny were more economical with Martin Comerford, Shefflin and sub Richie Power scoring 1-14 between them. Eddie Brennan and Derek Lyng also had some good moments, while in defence Donncha Cody, JJ Delaney, Jackie Tyrrell and Tommy Walsh were vigilant sentries.
For all that, Kilkenny will still be left with the nagging feeling that they're heading onto the All-Ireland quarter-final high wire without having had a real test.
Easy wins over Westmeath and Wexford may have brought them to the Leinster summit, but the All-Ireland terrain is certain to prove far rougher for Kilkenny.
It's now beginning to look increasingly likely that they will face either Galway or Limerick in the quarter-finals, whereas a clash with Waterford or Clare seems most likely for Wexford.
Tough challenges all round then, but at least Kilkenny head into them after a good season whereas Wexford will be mighty disappointed with yesterday's effort.
Martin Breheny
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Hurling
Jul 11, 2006 13:56:15 GMT -1
Post by thales on Jul 11, 2006 13:56:15 GMT -1
quater final draw
kilkenny vs galway limerick vs scum dirty tipp vs waterford wexford vs clare
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Hurling
Aug 10, 2006 13:19:59 GMT -1
Post by thales on Aug 10, 2006 13:19:59 GMT -1
kilkenny vs clare on sunday in allireland semi final for place on sept 3rd final against the scum of cork!!!!
kk's 10 semi in a row!!!
come on the cats ;D ;D
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