[Mountainlad]

Originally Posted by DublinGAA96

The best make of hurley in Waterford or nationwide? If its Waterford, then I'd go to Frank Murphy. He makes great hurleys, and another great thing is he uses Irish ash. From what I heard, he is 1 of 2 Hurley makers nationwide using Irish, the rest is imported. Its better if you go to him personally rather than over the phone, but its grand ringing him if you can't get to Kilmeaden.

Never liked his hurleys myself. A lot of clubs in the wes are you saying Fitzgeralds from Araglin, Co.Cork.

I bought two hurleys from Jim O'Brien, Drangan in Tipp, and I think they are unquestionably the best hurleys I've ever had and I've had an O'Connor hurley before as well, and a lot of people say O'Brien's hurleys are quality.

[hurler on de ditch]

Originally Posted by deisebhoy17

Right Good Friday, nothing to do... Heres how I'd pick my team for the championship: Looking it now I think Michael Ryan actually has a more balanced pool of players to pick from than Davy Fitz had last year.

Goalkeeper: Toss up between SOK and Power imo. Id like to see Power but he wasn't given enough game time in the league so Ive a feeling it will be SOK. Hope its not O'Regan though
Verdict: Stephen O'Keeffe

Fullbackline: Lawlor if fit has to start hes the nearest thing to a top fullback weve got. Hope he can grow more confident and dominant. Connors youd imagine when he returns will be shoe-in even if he has plenty of competition for himself. That leaves the other corner between Philip Mahony, Ringo and Darragh Fives how do you pick one? Im going to surprise people and go with Mahony have been very impressed with him this year for Waterford and UCC
Verdict: Connors, Lawlor, Mahony

Halfback line: The remarkable Tony Browne a shoe-in again. On current form he make any team in the country. Brick at centre back obviously and the other wing back position is up for grabs, theyve been trying sully there but I dont overly rate him there and would pick Darragh Fives. I think its his best position
Verdict: Tony, Brick, Darragh Fives

Midfield: A lot of calls for Dean Twomey but I wouldnt be so sure yet. Hes done well in the league but in the raw heat of championship I dont think hes ready for it. Takes a lot of wrong options and error prone at times. Moran and S.O'Sullivan the best partnership.
Verdict: Moran and O'Sullivan

Half forward line: Very unsettled in this line. Havent seen much of Seamus Prendergast this year but I think he has a huge part to play. An ideal centre forward for us. The other 2 positions, anyone from Molumphy and 4 or 5 youngsters and not forgetting kelly. A toss up between Maurice and Paudie
Verdict: Maurice Shan, Seamus Prendergast, Stephen Molumphy.

FF Line: Mullane obviously. Im going to take a wild punt here and say imagine Kelly in his full forward days of 08 when he played the best hurling of his career. If he continues to work hard on his fitness I think at 29 hes still young enough to turn it around. He could have a bit more to offer than Shane Walsh, who could be a brilliant impact sub. Gavin O'B in the other corner
Verdict: Mullane, Kelly, O'Brien

Jeez that was tough work! Dunno how skully and the lads are going to pick a team.... ive left out the likes of shane walsh, paudie mahony, ringo kearney ect... not forgetting lads like eoin mcgrath and jamie nagle who are highly rated by the management and will have some part to play no doubt

christ next time you have that much time on your hands cut the ****ing grass or something for ****s sake

[Mountainlad]

Originally Posted by Black Suir

Why do people put Jamie BArron down as a corner back. He is a much better forward. Thats not to say he cant play in the backs. Have people not seen him play in the forwards, and can it be taken from those that put him in the backs that they dont go to Club games or only go to games that there own club play at (if some people aline themselves to a club), and do they put him at 2 or 4 because he was slotted in there by the minor and under 21 selectors in the recent past.

Personally, I would have him in the forward line if I was picking a team for the west. I think the reason they have him in the backline for the Waterford underage teams is because they're not as good as their forwards and they see him as more versatile than others. So basically, though he may be better than some of the forwards they'd start, they play him in the backline because they need him back their more. That's how I see it anyway.

[Mountainlad]

Originally Posted by deisebhoy17

I agree 100% with everyting you say, tho it would have been 97 the second year feile was in waterford. But you seem to be completely missing what I am saying. I am not judging Brick by his club and I am not saying anthying against Stradbally as a hurling cub either I think its remarkable theyve remainied strong in both codes for so long. I was simply saying that Brick played on a Stradbally u21 hurling team that was basically a joke. I played against them only for a couple decent hurlers they wouldnt have bothered fielding Id say. A few of them were not actually hulers nor had no interest. My point is that this team was a far contrast from the heights that Brick is in today. Brick at that stage was not the dominating figure that he is now and no one was saying then that hed be one of the future greats of the game

Stradbally don't even seem to be fielding underage teams at some grades these days, and when they do they get hammered. Having said that, I've played against some of their football teams and hammered them as well, so it could just be a bad patch. Small area, I guess after a golden era like they've had it's natural there'd be a decline.

They're dying as a hurling club though, have very little coming through.

[Mountainlad]

Originally Posted by deisebhoy17

Right Good Friday, nothing to do... Heres how I'd pick my team for the championship: Looking it now I think Michael Ryan actually has a more balanced pool of players to pick from than Davy Fitz had last year.

Goalkeeper: Toss up between SOK and Power imo. Id like to see Power but he wasn't given enough game time in the league so Ive a feeling it will be SOK. Hope its not O'Regan though
Verdict: Stephen O'Keeffe

Fullbackline: Lawlor if fit has to start hes the nearest thing to a top fullback weve got. Hope he can grow more confident and dominant. Connors youd imagine when he returns will be shoe-in even if he has plenty of competition for himself. That leaves the other corner between Philip Mahony, Ringo and Darragh Fives how do you pick one? Im going to surprise people and go with Mahony have been very impressed with him this year for Waterford and UCC
Verdict: Connors, Lawlor, Mahony

Halfback line: The remarkable Tony Browne a shoe-in again. On current form he make any team in the country. Brick at centre back obviously and the other wing back position is up for grabs, theyve been trying sully there but I dont overly rate him there and would pick Darragh Fives. I think its his best position
Verdict: Tony, Brick, Darragh Fives

Midfield: A lot of calls for Dean Twomey but I wouldnt be so sure yet. Hes done well in the league but in the raw heat of championship I dont think hes ready for it. Takes a lot of wrong options and error prone at times. Moran and S.O'Sullivan the best partnership.
Verdict: Moran and O'Sullivan

Half forward line: Very unsettled in this line. Havent seen much of Seamus Prendergast this year but I think he has a huge part to play. An ideal centre forward for us. The other 2 positions, anyone from Molumphy and 4 or 5 youngsters and not forgetting kelly. A toss up between Maurice and Paudie
Verdict: Maurice Shan, Seamus Prendergast, Stephen Molumphy.

FF Line: Mullane obviously. Im going to take a wild punt here and say imagine Kelly in his full forward days of 08 when he played the best hurling of his career. If he continues to work hard on his fitness I think at 29 hes still young enough to turn it around. He could have a bit more to offer than Shane Walsh, who could be a brilliant impact sub. Gavin O'B in the other corner
Verdict: Mullane, Kelly, O'Brien

Jeez that was tough work! Dunno how skully and the lads are going to pick a team.... ive left out the likes of shane walsh, paudie mahony, ringo kearney ect... not forgetting lads like eoin mcgrath and jamie nagle who are highly rated by the management and will have some part to play no doubt

Think we've seen the end of Nagle. David O'Sullivan is ahead of him in the pecking order, and with Foley and Hutchison still to come back, I'd be suprised to see him in the Championship unless a lot of players start to struggle or we get a few injuries.


I'm going to suprise everybody and momentarily agree with hurler on de ditch.

While it was stupid to suggest it about Mullane (nobody should question his commitment), welcoming Eoin Kelly back in the manner in which we did disgusts me a little bit if I'm honest. While he has all the skills, I won't deny him that, and there are suggestions that he has been working really hard (I don't know either way so I guess I can't say he is or isn't), I still feel that it is grossly unfair to other players that he came straight back in. I can't understand the reception he got when he came on against Dublin, considering he effectively decided himself to not be on the panel at the start of the year.

He has a lot to do to prove he's the player he was back in 2008. Between then and now he's hardly done anything, his goal in the Munster Final in 2010 being a notable exception. I don't question his talent, but I still have to question his commitment and I think we don't question it enough. He seems to be just let do what he wants with regard to Waterford, and the fact that you'd suggest to start him only further emphasizes the point.

[DublinGAA96]

Originally Posted by Mountainlad

Never liked his hurleys myself. A lot of clubs in the wes are you saying Fitzgeralds from Araglin, Co.Cork.

I bought two hurleys from Jim O'Brien, Drangan in Tipp, and I think they are unquestionably the best hurleys I've ever had and I've had an O'Connor hurley before as well, and a lot of people say O'Brien's hurleys are quality.

Frank makes super Hurleys. You have to build a reputation of consistently going to him and a good relationship with him and that's when he starts making class hurleys. If you go to him for the once off then I'm not so sure.

Yes, O'brien hurls are good, a few of my team mates use them. I've gone to him before but it's been a good while now. He uses Irish Ash too. I'm sure you've heard of Star Hurls in Kilkenny too, I've never got a Hurley off him but there the best around I understand.

[DublinGAA96]

Originally Posted by deisebhoy17

Right Good Friday, nothing to do... Heres how I'd pick my team for the championship: Looking it now I think Michael Ryan actually has a more balanced pool of players to pick from than Davy Fitz had last year.

Goalkeeper: Toss up between SOK and Power imo. Id like to see Power but he wasn't given enough game time in the league so Ive a feeling it will be SOK. Hope its not O'Regan though
Verdict: Stephen O'Keeffe

Fullbackline: Lawlor if fit has to start hes the nearest thing to a top fullback weve got. Hope he can grow more confident and dominant. Connors youd imagine when he returns will be shoe-in even if he has plenty of competition for himself. That leaves the other corner between Philip Mahony, Ringo and Darragh Fives how do you pick one? Im going to surprise people and go with Mahony have been very impressed with him this year for Waterford and UCC
Verdict: Connors, Lawlor, Mahony

Halfback line: The remarkable Tony Browne a shoe-in again. On current form he make any team in the country. Brick at centre back obviously and the other wing back position is up for grabs, theyve been trying sully there but I dont overly rate him there and would pick Darragh Fives. I think its his best position
Verdict: Tony, Brick, Darragh Fives

Midfield: A lot of calls for Dean Twomey but I wouldnt be so sure yet. Hes done well in the league but in the raw heat of championship I dont think hes ready for it. Takes a lot of wrong options and error prone at times. Moran and S.O'Sullivan the best partnership.
Verdict: Moran and O'Sullivan

Half forward line: Very unsettled in this line. Havent seen much of Seamus Prendergast this year but I think he has a huge part to play. An ideal centre forward for us. The other 2 positions, anyone from Molumphy and 4 or 5 youngsters and not forgetting kelly. A toss up between Maurice and Paudie
Verdict: Maurice Shan, Seamus Prendergast, Stephen Molumphy.

FF Line: Mullane obviously. Im going to take a wild punt here and say imagine Kelly in his full forward days of 08 when he played the best hurling of his career. If he continues to work hard on his fitness I think at 29 hes still young enough to turn it around. He could have a bit more to offer than Shane Walsh, who could be a brilliant impact sub. Gavin O'B in the other corner
Verdict: Mullane, Kelly, O'Brien

Jeez that was tough work! Dunno how skully and the lads are going to pick a team.... ive left out the likes of shane walsh, paudie mahony, ringo kearney ect... not forgetting lads like eoin mcgrath and jamie nagle who are highly rated by the management and will have some part to play no doubt

Would agree with this team to an extent. Firstly, are you writing off Ian O'Regan too quickly? I know his league performances weren't outstanding, but can't write him off. Next, Id put Paudie Mahony into that team in the blink of an eye. How you could leave him out I don't know. I'd drop Prendergast to the bench and maybe put Maurice centre forward. Then, id put Shane Walsh in full forward instead of Eoin Kelly. Could Kelly play centre forward maybe?

[Mountainlad]

Originally Posted by DublinGAA96

Frank makes super Hurleys. You have to build a reputation of consistently going to him and a good relationship with him and that's when he starts making class hurleys. If you go to him for the once off then I'm not so sure.

Yes, O'brien hurls are good, a few of my team mates use them. I've gone to him before but it's been a good while now. He uses Irish Ash too. I'm sure you've heard of Star Hurls in Kilkenny too, I've never got a Hurley off him but there the best around I understand.

Dowlings of Patrick Street Kilkenny. Yeah I've had their hurleys before, didn't get it myself so I dunno what kind of ones they had in the work shop. It was nice, but the two O'Briens ones I bought in November are just different class to anything else I've had. All the Kilkenny hurlers use Dowling's though.

As for Frank, one or two were nice but they were fierce inconsistent. The best looking one I had broke very quickly. Another one I had lasted a good while, but it had a hill in the middle of the bas! I've been to his workshop before as well, but obviously not a regular or anything only been the once.

[DublinGAA96]

Originally Posted by Mountainlad

Dowlings of Patrick Street Kilkenny. Yeah I've had their hurleys before, didn't get it myself so I dunno what kind of ones they had in the work shop. It was nice, but the two O'Briens ones I bought in November are just different class to anything else I've had. All the Kilkenny hurlers use Dowling's though.

As for Frank, one or two were nice but they were fierce inconsistent. The best looking one I had broke very quickly. Another one I had lasted a good while, but it had a hill in the middle of the bas! I've been to his workshop before as well, but obviously not a regular or anything only been the once.

Yeah that's the fella. Star hurls are brilliant, massive waiting list for hurleys I heard. A few tipp hurlers use Star hurleys aswell. Ah yeah that explains it about frank, if you've only gone to him once then it's understandable, because every Hurley I get off him is great.

[Deise Doodler]

Originally Posted by deisebhoy17

Well if you look at it this way, there is gavin O'Brien, martin o'neill, maurice shanahan and paudie mahony. all very good young forwards but you cant start them all. You need a few experienced lads in there like Mullane obviously, Shane Walsh, eoin kelly, molumphy and seamus pender maybe. Out of the younglads mentioned above Id say O'Neill is the furthest down the pecking order. A fine young hurler but dosent look overly fit and a bit slow imo.
only time will tell

Martin O Neill was carring a shoulder injury since the Tipp Game so wouldnt say he's at the bottom of the pecking order yet,fitness is not an issue with him though would agree he dosent look the fastest,

[deisedude]

There was a Dan Shanahan documentary on Tg4 last night. If you read his book, there isn't anything too much more this adds but nice to see Dan in his prime all the same. For any of ye who missed it

[deisebhoy17]

Originally Posted by DublinGAA96

Would agree with this team to an extent. Firstly, are you writing off Ian O'Regan too quickly? I know his league performances weren't outstanding, but can't write him off. Next, Id put Paudie Mahony into that team in the blink of an eye. How you could leave him out I don't know. I'd drop Prendergast to the bench and maybe put Maurice centre forward. Then, id put Shane Walsh in full forward instead of Eoin Kelly. Could Kelly play centre forward maybe?

With O'Regan, the 2 games he played he didnt do very well for the goals he conceded imo. Dosent make himself big and even turned his back to the ball on one occasion. Solid in other areas alright
That half forward line that youd play would be slaughtered. Its a pivotal line of the field for any team. Kelly, Shanahan or Mahony are not ball winners. They might be better hurlers than seamie pender but theres the dirty ball aspect of it aswell. I think theres not a huge difference between mahony and shanahan in what they bring so Id be saying its a toss up between both.

[DublinGAA96]

Originally Posted by deisebhoy17

With O'Regan, the 2 games he played he didnt do very well for the goals he conceded imo. Dosent make himself big and even turned his back to the ball on one occasion. Solid in other areas alright
That half forward line that youd play would be slaughtered. Its a pivotal line of the field for any team. Kelly, Shanahan or Mahony are not ball winners. They might be better hurlers than seamie pender but theres the dirty ball aspect of it aswell. I think theres not a huge difference between mahony and shanahan in what they bring so Id be saying its a toss up between both.

Yeah Now that I think of it I do remember Iggy turning his back. No I think you misunderstood, I merely mentioned Kelly as an option at centre forward, not a starter. My half forward line would be : Molumphy, Shanahan/Prendergast, Mahony. Molumphy could do the donkey work that he's renowned for. Yeah I'd have to agree Mahony and Shanahan are very alike, but Mahony would win it for me purely because of his dead ball accuracy.

[deisebhoy17]

Originally Posted by Mountainlad

He seems to be just let do what he wants with regard to Waterford, and the fact that you'd suggest to start him only further emphasizes the point.

yea youre right but its probably just the child inside me thinking if he could rekindle that form of old we could have a full forward line capable of serious damage. At 29 its not too late for him if he applies himself. It looks like he is past his peak but that point against Dublin last week was a reminder of what an absolute gem he can be

[deisedude]

I wonder should we stick Moran back in the half forward line. Not his best position but at least he offers some threat in the air and we are dying out for that

Not like we are stuck for midfielders either. Shane and David O' Sullivan, Paul O' Brien, Stephen Molumphy, Dean Twomey and Richie Foley can all play there