Hurling this Weekend (5th August 2007)

cruiserweight

As much as we all enjoy debating Dublin v the rest, Cork v the rest, Geragthy v the rest etc. I thought it would make a refreshing change to discuss the upcoming hurling fixtures this weekend. Three big games to be decided the Christy Ring Cup Final, an All-Ireland quarter final and an All-Ireland semi final.

From a Wexford point of view I really don't know what to expect ........

Anyway not all of the teams have been named, but here are those that have.

Kildare (Christy Ring Cup v Westmeath) - C Cunningham; T Finnerty, P Reidy, R Tynan; D Harney, D Kennedy, M Maloney; C Buggy, B White; K Divilly, T Spain, P O’Brien B Byrne, A McAndrew, O Lynch.

Cork (SH v Waterford): D Og Cusack; S O’Neill, D O’Sullivan, B Murphy; J Gardiner, R Curran, S Og O hAilpin; T Kenny, J O’Connor; B O’Connor, T McCarthy, P Cronin; N Ronan, K Murphy (Sarsfields), J Deane.

Waterford (SH v Cork): C Hennessy; E Murphy, D Prendergast, B Phelan; T Browne, K McGrath, A Kearney; M Walsh, S Walsh; S Molumphy, S Prendergast, E Kelly; J Mullane, D Shanahan, P Flynn.


Wexford (SH v Kilkenny): D Fitzhenry; M Travers, K Rossiter, P Roche; R Kehoe, D Ruth, D Lyng; R McCarthy, D Stamp; E Quigley, M Jordan, D O’Connor; B Lambert, M Jacob, R Jacob.

Flukey

I'm fairly neutral on the Christy Ring match. For the other two I am hoping for a Wexford and Waterford win. I expect that Kilkenny will win, but not by as much as they did in the Leinster Final. It could be an interesting game. A good weekend in Croke Park lies ahead. Two great days to look forward to.

cruiserweight

Flukey wrote:

I'm fairly neutral on the Christy Ring match. For the other two I am hoping for a Wexford and Waterford win. I expect that Kilkenny will win, but not by as much as they did in the Leinster Final. It could be an interesting game. A good weekend in Croke Park lies ahead. Two great days to look forward to.

I think most neutrals would be hoping for Wexford and Waterford to win. I also am expecting Kilkenny to win, and also by less than the Leinster Final.

As for Waterford, it will probably be another close game. Under the pre-qualifier system this Waterford team would probably have won an All-Ireland by now

cruiserweight

http://www.hoganstand.com/ArticleForm.aspx?ID=81460

Wexford manager John Meyler believes his team can defy the odds and beat Kilkenny in Sunday’s All-Ireland hurling semi-final.

The Slaneysiders have already been hammered twice by the Cats in this year’s National League semi-final and Leinster final, but Meyler expects his team to be a different proposition after last Saturday’s shock win over Tipperary.

“I believe I can win any match I’m in but it’s not what I believe that matters here, it’s what the players believe, individually – and more importantly – as a unit,” he said.

“I’m hoping for the kind of performance we gave against Tipp, against Galway in the league, but dammit if you don’t look forward to these days you shouldn’t be there.

“These are the days and these are the games when you measure yourself as an individual, as a team. The more times we play against Kilkenny and Cork, the better.”

Lex Luthor

I'm going for a Kilkenny & Cork win
(ps. I'm not biased)

Erin Go Brath

Kilkenny v Wexford: Kilkenny will win this one, obviously. Like others, I don't envisage another 15 point massacre like the Leinster Final. Wexford have gotten their act together a lot since that game. Surprised they beat Tipp tbh, it would be the shock of the century if they won this one though. Kilkenny by 5 points.


Cork v Waterford: I've a feeling Waterford are going to do it this time around. They missed a lot of chances the last time, especially McGrath with all those wides. Waterford, generally get about 3 goals per game, with Shanahan, Flynn, Mullane, Kelly and others, they really have the best forwards in hurling imo. If they fall behind, (and I don't think they will really) they've got plenty of personnel who know how to find the back of the net. Cork are a good team too, and they'll put it up to Waterford, I've no doubt. Tight one to call. Waterford by 2 points.

Nalced_irl

I would say Cork will do it but it is a bloody tight match on the cards id say. Kilkenny Wexford, who knows? It could be like the LSHF but i really hope not. Would like to see Wexford do it but id have my doubts. The Christy Ring, like Flukey, im completely neutral. If i had to choose, i would probably go with Westmeath, only cos i have friends from there but mainly just want to see a good game.

jackbhoy

Gone......

Flukey

Read the guidelines on promoting tickets. You'll just have to get rid of them yourself. Of course, from what we've seen posted here in recent days, the Cork fellas are reluctant to stretch to paying face value for them. So you'll have a hard job.