U-21 Hurling Championship

Pride Fighter

It is down to the last 4 teams. Dublin v Derry (tonight) and Cork v Galway (next week). So who do you think will win it. I predict a Dublin win by 10 points tonight and for Dublin to win it outright. Go Dublin!!

Mullet

I Just hope dublin do the business tonight and if they are inclined to be over confident they should be reminded that they only bet kildare in the 1st round by 5 points. I think Cork should have to much for Galway. Who did Galway beat to get to the semi final?

K-9

Seems a shame Derry get to a S/F by winning Ulster. Fantastic achievement beating an Antrim team that was fancied to go places but is it fair on them going straight to a SF. Maybe a play off against the Leinster or Munster final?

thirdmantackle

pity Roscommon didn't get a quarter final slot vs Ulster winners for winning the Under 21 'B' title

Kojak

Mullet wrote:

Who did Galway beat to get to the semi final?

No-one, they went straight into the All-Ireland semi-final - a lot like the senior championship was before 1997.

Dublin should win their match against Derry pretty comfortably, although having to travel up to newry will not be an appealing prospect, and Dublin are missing Carton who will be a big loss. Despite all of this, Dublin should win by about 7 points.

As for the Cork v Galway game, well on paper Galway should be favourites for the All-Ireland outright. This will be the same team that won the minor all-Ireland in 2004, and some of the 2005 All-ireland champions as well. However, one of the major issues Galway hurling has had over the last 15 years or so was that we produced brilliant minor teams but they never seemed to develop into good U-21 or Senior teams. I fear the same could happen here this year.

Cork looked very impressive in the Munster final against Waterford, and moved the ball at pace - very similar to how their seniors played a few years ago.

If Galway weren't to win the all-ireland at U-21 this year, I'd like to see Dublin win it. This is not me trying to sound condescending etc. but I believe it would validate all the hard work done by Dublin at underage and could spur on their minor team of this year (who had great prospects of their won) toe come back even stronger next year.

Mullet

Final Score Dublin 3-18 to Derry 2-11 This will be our first final appearence since 1972. Fixed for the 9th September as a curtain raiser to the Comogie Final in Croker i believe.

Flukey

Another day out for the Dubs!

K-9

thirdmantackle wrote:

pity Roscommon didn't get a quarter final slot vs Ulster winners for winning the Under 21 'B' title

The U-21, football included seems to be loosing its place and could be eventually scrapped. Pity, Donegal won in 82 and 87 and that was a big part in them winning Sam in 92. Remember being in Tuam and Roscommon for the 2 matches against Kerry in 87 and they where fantastic days.

It's mad Galway get to a SF and also Derry. Even the Minors have a back door at Provincial Final level at football. It probably doesn't do Dublin much favours. Derry winning an U-21 Ulster is just as much an achievement as Dublin winning Leinster but something needs to be done.

Pride Fighter

Pride Fighter wrote:

I predict a Dublin win by 10 points tonight

Ah, I was exactly right, should have put money on it. Congratulations to the young Dubs, things are looking up on the hurling front.

K-9

Pride Fighter wrote:

Ah, I was exactly right, should have put money on it. Congratulations to the young Dubs, things are looking up on the hurling front.

Agreed, but Derry wining Ulster is just as big an achievement. Just wondering is putting them up against the Leinster champions anygood for Derry or for Dublin?

Flukey

On other occasions we'd have the argument that weaker teams should be playing stronger ones in order to learn from them. It is not that long ago that a Derry senior team put it up to senior opposition in Croke Park Anyway, the Dubs are through and I've got my ticket booked.

K-9

Probably why we have the Christy Ring and Nicky Rackard Cups and different league divisions in the league. Why not the U-21?

Orizio

Cork are very strong in the midfield and defense but there is some doubts over the attack. Naughton and O' Neill are real talents, while Pa Horgan got 3-6 in a club game over the weekend but still the rest are a bit hit and miss.

The Rooster

Dublin will be big underdogs against either Cork or Galway. We've good forwards and a very good midfield, but I don't think our backs will be able to handle their forwards.

Flukey

We've got to support them. We may not have a full Hill 16 on September 9th, but I will be in Croke Park that day. I hope you all will too. It could be the first part of an All-Ireland double. Up the Dubs.

Mullet

I will be out of the country that weekend So i will be relyig on Popebenny for updates. I saw them in the Leinster Championship and they should fear nobody. I hope everyone gets behind them on the 9th September.

Pride Fighter

Cork v Galway this weekend. I dont know how to call it. I will go for Cork as they have had some games already.

bill_ashmount

Fancy Cork to win this, was very impressed with their win over Waterford.

gerire

Galway I reckon did deserve that in the end; Cork were not at the races in Extra time, however it was an excellent 60 minutes of hurling;

Was enjoying the game not rooting for anyone in particular, but when the Cork goalie sucker punched the corner forward, Wade I think, in the balls I was definitely cheering Galway. I hate that cr@p.

Canning is unreal had a fantastic game in the full forward line but really stood out when they had him floating around mid field; Every sideline ball is in his range, those 3 he missed was all still traveling when they hit the net behind the goal and that was from halfway.....

The Galway center half back also had a great game an the Keeper made at least 3 outstanding saves.

Its going to be a good tough final

REBEL CORK

That refereeing decision to award Galway a free beggered believe. In saying that Cork had plenty of chances to win the game but for excellent goalkeeping by the Galway Goalie. Galway ran riot in the in extra time and ran out comfortable winners.

Going back to the referee how he didnt send the Cork Goalkeeper Ken O'Halloran and and the Galway forward Wade off was another crazy decision(s). If refs allow this to continue they may as well come out and say they condone striking in the down-stairs region and more disgracefully clattering a player across the head with a hurley.

Orizio

No complaints, got completely outplayed in extra time. TBH we should have had it won by fulltime but we weren't clinical enough in front of goal.Both full back line's were dodgy, and Dublin at least know Galway's weakness. God only knows what they are going to do about the likes of Canning and Kavanagh though.

Cork will be back next year, we will keep most of our team and Ronan Conway and Paudi Sul will be back, plus some minors will come in as well. Who are we going to lose for next year?

Ken O'Halloran was embarassing as well. What the hell is it with certain cork GAA players diving to the ground once they get a small tap?Cronin was doing the same thing during the senior championship.

gerire

REBEL CORK wrote:

That refereeing decision to award Galway a free beggered believe. In saying that Cork had plenty of chances to win the game but for excellent goalkeeping by the Galway Goalie. Galway ran riot in the in extra time and ran out comfortable winners.

Going back to the referee how he didnt send the Cork Goalkeeper Ken O'Halloran and and the Galway forward Wade off was another crazy decision(s). If refs allow this to continue they may as well come out and say they condone striking in the down-stairs region and more disgracefully clattering a player across the head with a hurley.

I also thought Cork should have had a 21mt free on the 45 minute when the Galway #7 threw his hurl at the corner forward who was one on one with the keeper;

How do you not see that?

Flukey

Well we have Galway now. I am glad of that. If it comes to it, I'd rather see Galway win another All-Ireland than Cork. Galway need success far more than Cork do.

Orizio

gerire wrote:

I also thought Cork should have had a 21mt free on the 45 minute when the Galway #7 threw his hurl at the corner forward who was one on one with the keeper;

How do you not see that?

Yeah I saw that straight away.One of the empires should have seen it.Automatic yellow card as well I think?

Galway have had plenty of success at under 21 level. Even if they win again this year, Galway have consistently failed to successfully bring through enough good young players, unlike Cork and Kilkenny.

Nalced_irl

It is tough tho to make the change from U21 to Senior. There is a big gap to fill, especially for smaller players that mightn`t get bullied of balls as easily in U21, but when they come up against an experienced big player in senior level, its a different story completely. Would be good to see the Dubs do it. I only saw the first half of the game today and Galway did look very good but by the sounds of it were even better in the 2nd.

bill_ashmount

Well done to Galway, big win.

D. Coughlan

It was a great match ( in normal time! ) and a lot better than we saw in some senior matches this year. Cork should have finished it off in normal time, but that's sport.

But i must say this, it's not sour grapes or anything saying it after the match but does anyone agree with me that the U-21 championship is a bit uneven. Galway were playing their first championship match on August 25th, while Cork after getting through a hard Munster campaign are put in the semi with them. Dublin won leinster, so fair enough they should be in the semi but in fairness with a much easier draw. It would make sense to have the two quarter finals like you had a few years ago in the senior grade. Just a thought.

It's a pity we lost, it would have been a great double header in Croke park with the Camogie team going for three in a row

PS Did anyone see our Lady football team beating Laois by 20 points yesterday and they beat Dublin by a something like 12 in the quater. Both are now in the final and both are going for three in a row. God that would be good if it came around

Orizio

Anyone know how many we are going to lose for next year?

axer

gerire wrote:

Was enjoying the game not rooting for anyone in particular, but when the Cork goalie sucker punched the corner forward, Wade I think, in the balls I was definitely cheering Galway. I hate that cr@p.

and wade was the only one that got a yellow card?! The umpires should have seen that and the keeper should have been sent off. Was great to see wade was the player that went on to score the equalising point at the end of normal time and the two goals that kicked cork's ass in extra time - a big "fúck you" to the cork keeper.

Ha, Dublin don't have a hope against Galway now in the final. Gaillimh Abú!

Kojak

Orizio wrote:

Galway have had plenty of success at under 21 level. Even if they win again this year, Galway have consistently failed to successfully bring through enough good young players, unlike Cork and Kilkenny.

You've hit the nail on the head there, Orizio.This is the biggest problem with Galway hurling and even if we win on 9th September (it wont be as easy as a lot of galway people are saying) it will be questionable to see if this squad of players makes anything of themselves at Senior. The jury would still be out on that, IMO.

As for the game itself, Galway management only had themselves to blame if they had lost this. It was as clear as day that the FB line was at sea, yet there was not change made there until 2 soft goals had been conceded. Skehill kept galway in the game when they really should have been out of it entirely.

The free wade got in the last few seconds wasn't a free at all.I think that the ref gave a few dubious decisions against Galway earlier in the game and tried to make up for it there. But he made some strange calls against both sets of players.

Canning seemed to operate bettter at 11 than 14, probably because the ball wans't going into him and when he came out the field he was able to open up space for the other forwards - especially Wade's goal in extra time.

John Greene was causing havoc in the Cork half-back line, which was no harm as they were rampant for most of the game - especially cadigan who I thought was excellent.

The final will be a different proposition altogether, but if Galway can use some of their substitutes as well the next day against the dubs, then we will have a great chance. But it will be tough...

Pride Fighter

Well done Galway!!

aidan24326

D. Coughlan wrote:

But i must say this, it's not sour grapes or anything saying it after the match but does anyone agree with me that the U-21 championship is a bit uneven.

It is uneven. But whether it's an advantage to Galway or a disadvantage is debatable. You could give arguments either way. Cork/Tipp etc. would have the big advantage of tough games behind them, Galway have the element of surprise with no real chance for the opposition to weigh them up beforehand. Though in this instance Cork were well forewarned with Galway having won the minor in 04 and 05.

It would be better for everyone if they rejigged it a bit, maybe put Galway into a 1/4 final against the losers of the Munster or Leinster final or something like that. That might be fairer. Antrim/Ulster winners would play the other prov runner-up.

Dublin won't be a pushover in the final but you'd have to feel that it's there for Galway now once they don't get too complacent. This will be a big step up for Dublin from anyone they've played so far, and I can see Galway winning with a few points to spare.

Orizio

The good news for Cork fans is that we are only going to lose 5 for next year.Cadogan, Dillon, O'Halloran, O'Neill and Canty.And as I said Conway and O'Sullivan are still to come in.

Pride Fighter

Will the final be on telly?

D. Coughlan

I would think so, the camoige match is always on anyway. Might be on TG4 though.

Pride Fighter

9th of September, Galway v Dublin in the final. C'mon you boys in Blue!!!

GalwayDub2

Anyone know if this is on TV? I'm not going to make it to croker now

Flukey

Ah GalwayDub2, with a name like that you have to be there.:(


A note for everyone: Boards Beers IV is now being planned. See the thread.

GalwayDub2

Flukey wrote:

Ah GalwayDub2, with a name like that you have to be there.:(


A note for everyone: Boards Beers IV is now being planned. See the thread.

Awwww I know....I'm doing everything I can to try and get there, but looks like it mightnt happen now. Hopefully its on TV

Kojak

GalwayDub2 wrote:

Anyone know if this is on TV? I'm not going to make it to croker now

According to TG4's website, they are showing the final on Sunday - starting at 1.30. See below.

http://www.tg4.ie/Bearla/Scei/scei.php?date=2007-09-09

GalwayDub2

Kojak wrote:

According to TG4's website, they are showing the final on Sunday - starting at 1.30. See below.

http://www.tg4.ie/Bearla/Scei/scei.php?date=2007-09-09

Ooh great! Thanks a mill

aidan24326

Would be nice to see a big Dublin crowd at this game. I think it has the makings of a really good game between two good teams. It's a big day for Dublin hurling, first final since 1983. Galway's forward line might just be too good though. How Dublin deal with Canning and Wade will be the key. They are currently the two best club forwards in Galway at senior level. Dublin will need to be at their absolute best to have a chance of winning this, anything less won't suffice. I predict a score in the region of Galway 1-18 Dublin 2-10. I got the Kilkenny-Limerick score exactly right so I'm going for two in a row!!

TG4 are showing it alright, for anyone that can't be there.

AndyP

I am going myself and hope if the Leinster Final is anything to go by, so will many other Dubs.

I fear that Peadar Cartans absence will knock our chance greatly, by far our most lethal forward.

Pride Fighter

We have Johnny McCaffrey, he is an animal when firing on all cylinders.

Flukey

GalwayDub2, keep looking to make it for Sunday. As you well know, it is much better being there, than watching it on TV. Whatever about the match, Boards Beers IV is definitely not on TV.

Nalced_irl

Flukey wrote:

Boards Beers IV is definitely not on TV.

Well, once we dont do anything that would get us on the news that is

An Citeog

Pride Fighter wrote:

We have Johnny McCaffrey, he is an animal when firing on all cylinders.

Johnny McCaffrey plays in midfield and is always good for a few points. Peadar Carton, on the other hand, scores goals like this...

Pride Fighter

An Citeog wrote:

Johnny McCaffrey plays in midfield and is always good for a few points. Peadar Carton, on the other hand, scores goals like this...

True, he scores great goals but one player does not make a team. We can win without him, I hope.

Cool vid!!

Nalced_irl

A great goal actually. Almost every man was tackled hard all the way but got rid of it when needed. Hope to see more of that on Sunday. Anyone know how much tickets are actually? And also its 1.30pm throw in right?

Pride Fighter

In work, cant go. Hope to catch the 1st half on telly and see the rest another time.

An Citeog

Pride Fighter wrote:

True, he scores great goals but one player does not make a team. We can win without him, I hope.

Cool vid!!

True, but top class forwards are few and far between. He's got senior intercounty experience aswell. I'm hoping that Dublin can do the business but Galway will definitely start the match as favourites.

Nalced, tickets are €20 and €5 for students. Hill 16 wont be open for the match.

http://www.hill16.ie/viewstoryhill16.asp?mainheading=Word+on+The+Hill&id=8820&viewstory=yes