Going for goal in hurling

Psychedelic

this is something that's been bugging me for a while: a player is near enough the goal (whether in free play or for a penalty) to have a good shot at goal but shoots over the bar to take the point.

now, what annoys me is the commentators saying "he should have went for goal" if he takes his point, yet if he goes for goal and misses, they say "he should have taken his point" - anyone else hate this?

it's the same in soccer when a player shoots from distance - if he misses they say "that was a waste" but if players didn't shoot from distance we wouldn't get to see great goals.

just in general then, what does everyone think about going for goal? i love seeing players run toward goal with scoring a goal in mind instead of the safe point. and it really annoys me to hear commentators criticise that kind of attacking mentality.

one other thing, i don't understand in some games when a team is say 5+ points behind with a minute to go and their player opts to take the point instead of going for goal from a penalty? it's just seems stupid, why not go for goal if you're looking for a consolation or chance to get back into the game?

Flukey

There are all sorts of angles to this. Some of the greatest comebacks are built on points not goals. Sometimes a point by point comeback builds a better atmosphere from the crowd as they close in on their opponents. It also builds a team's confidence and puts doubts into their opponents. Other times though you'll see players trying over and over again to get a goal when they are behind and coming away with nothing. Those are the occasions that they should go for points. The defence will be making it as difficult as possible for a goal to be got, but there are still good chances of going for points not being taken. The chances of getting a goal are often slim then. A team with a bit of experience knows to go for the points. When a good chance of a goal does come and they score, it is much more valuable then, as they'll have already made up some of the gap with points. It's the old adage of take your points and the goals will look after themselves. It is better to score points than to miss goals. You could have 3 attempts for an almost impossible goal and get nothing or have got the value of the goal with 3 points from each of those attempts.

Groe

Being a hurler myself I now where you are coming from. Everytime someone goes for goal and misses people say they should have taken their point but if they take the easy op of the point infront of the goal they say they should have taken their goal. But when you are on the pich with the ball infront of the goal it is easier to go for your point unless you feel you can get the goal. And the other thing about being 5+ points behind and going for your point from a free when you need a goal to get back in it. But when you are the team losing it feels 10 times better to be one point closer than to be the same score after shooting for a goal and missing. So IMO Each point taken from a goal chance that could have gone wide lifts the team MUCH more than a shot at goal going wide or being saved.

mousey007

you're right,it's ridiculous if you get slated for going for goal when its on if you miss

yahoo_moe

I see your point about the double standard - and it's really annoying - but I wouldn't always praise an "attacking" mentality over the easy option of taking your point.

It all depends on the situation (score-wise and time-wise as well as the easiness of the chance) - in Wexford v Waterford the other day, for example, you could argue that Wexford should have dropped their last free in for a goal chance but goals very rarely come from "melee" situations like that and they obviously felt they'd have time for one last score afterwards...

mousey007

goals win games

premierstone

mousey007 wrote: »

goals win games

Goin for a goal and missing when a point was on looses games as it takes any momentum that team had away and gives the defending team a huge phsycoligical boost.

fricatus

Psychedelic wrote: »

now, what annoys me is the commentators saying "he should have went for goal"

It would annoy me too if a commentator used bad grammar.

thirdmantackle

in hurling you can easily score 5 points from play in 5 minutes. Add in a few frees and a comeback is easily done

but if you're one on one with the keeper - you have to go for goal

Repolho

It all really depends on the circumstances. For example, my home club were playing a football match a couple of years ago. Having been about 6 points up at half time we were a point down in injury time.

We managed to secure the point and the match was tied. A fluffed kick out broke to our full forward (now deep in injury time!) who balooned his shot for goal and ended up closer to the corner flag than the goals when a simple tap over would have won the game!

premierstone

Repolho wrote: »

It all really depends on the circumstances. For example, my home club were playing a football match a couple of years ago. Having been about 6 points up at half time we were a point down in injury time.

We managed to secure the point and the match was tied. A fluffed kick out broke to our full forward (now deep in injury time!) who balooned his shot for goal and ended up closer to the corner flag than the goals when a simple tap over would have won the game!

LMAO at the incredibly high standard of football there

Repolho

premierstone wrote: »

LMAO at the incredibly high standard of football there

Yeah, and to think its not so long ago we were winning senior county titles:(

EOB32

In Hurling anywhere around the 21 you should be thinking goal in my book. Football in my experience though you should always tap over points unless it's a definite goal chance, as there are far less points scored in football so they are more valuable. Depends on how you define a 'goal chance' i suppose.

future_plans

Whats the bets kind of shot then? I had an old trainer when I was younger, always low and hard and get a bounce off the ground to throw the keeper. But I've heard keepers say that the hardest shot to stop is a powerful shot at head height.

Repolho

future_plans wrote: »

Whats the bets kind of shot then? I had an old trainer when I was younger, always low and hard and get a bounce off the ground to throw the keeper. But I've heard keepers say that the hardest shot to stop is a powerful shot at head height.

Always heard the low & hard one myself. Also, you should also go to the keepers stick side (if that makes sense; ie he has to bring the hurley back across his body) to give him less time.

Yer man Doyle for Wexford took his 2 goals exceptionally well on Sunday I thought. Just do what he does:D

(not from Wexford BTW, but credit where its due.)