Dublin hurlers through to League Final

Warper

Congrats to Anthony Daly and the Dublin hurlers, can only be good for the game.

flahavaj

Well played Dublin, great win down on the banks. Would love to see them have a big year, hurling needs it badly.

Cake Man

Well done Dublin and good luck for the final. You have us (Waterford) to thank for taking care of Galway for ye!

Will the final be in Croker or Thurles??

Flukey

Well, it has to be a neutral venue, so that would probably mean Croke Park. Well done to the Dubs. We are on for the league double.

galwayash

Fair play to Dublin. Wish it was us
But if anyone was to take our place, I'm glad its Dublin. I think they have improved so much as a team. Good luck against Kilkenny!

Diabhal Beag

Was happy to see Dublin get to the Final. They deserve it for their last few years of progress.

godanicus

Well done to anthony daly..... but the story of this is the complete capitulation of the cork setup under dennis walsh. There has to be a manager change. I now hope Dublin can bring these performances to the championship...its a whole different ball game for them though. :cool:

ShamoBuc

Flukey wrote: »

Well, it has to be a neutral venue, so that would probably mean Croke Park. Well done to the Dubs. We are on for the league double.

I must admit to predicting this possibility months ago!
It would be great to see them at least win the hurling;)

Patser

I know that the Laois v Donegal, division 2 final is down for the opener at Croker next Sunday - but surely now there has to be a serious case for a Dublin Double Header, since they're in both finals.

No disrespect meant to Donegal but I cant see them sending too many fans down for the match, while a Dublin v Kilkenny hurling final will also struggle for numbers. However a Dublin Double header with Kilkenny and Cork fans ( and for what has been done already - chuck on Jedward/ Damien Dempsey) would create a huge buzz for the games, guarantee a full house and serve as a great finale for the league and momentum for the championship.

That's even before we start the arguement about Dublin fans being expected to pay twice for 2 seperate games.

galwayash

Patser wrote: »

surely now there has to be a serious case for a Dublin Double Header, since they're in both finals.

That would be a great day out in Croker but I doubt they'll do it. Dublin v Kilkenny might struggle for numbers but they'll still get a good crowd especially because its on a bank holiday weekend. As for the football, that will sell out easily so gaa won't lose the profits by putting the two together.

Patser

galwayash wrote: »

That would be a great day out in Croker but I doubt they'll do it. Dublin v Kilkenny might struggle for numbers but they'll still get a good crowd especially because its on a bank holiday weekend. As for the football, that will sell out easily so gaa won't lose the profits by putting the two together.

I can see what you're saying but there are a few problems with that idea.

1. Croker has a break even point of around 35,000 spectators before it's worthwhile to open. The hurling final, a week, after the football might only attract around the 35k mark, so the GAA wont make anything from it. In fact might end up costing them money.

2. Dublin and Kilkenny hurlers might not appreciate playing in front of a half empty stadium, when there was an alternative. I did see an interview in a paper (can't find it on Google) where one of the Dublin hurlers commented on the extra buzz of playing in front of the large crowds the other Dublin Double headers had earlier in the league.

3. Dublin fans will be annoyed at the idea of paying twice. Already there's grumbling about the final tickets being almost twice the price of the other league games (even Bernard Brogan commented on this). Being asked to pay twice will increase the annoyance.

galwayash

Patser wrote: »

1. Croker has a break even point of around 35,000 spectators before it's worthwhile to open. The hurling final, a week, after the football might only attract around the 35k mark, so the GAA wont make anything from it. In fact might end up costing them money.

I actually didn't know that.
As for your other points, I completely agree with you. In fact if they had a double header, I'd go as a mutual supporter just to see some good matches. And I imagine the atmosphere would be amazing. But I really don't think they will.

As for the cost to dublin fans, the gaa don't really care. Surely if they got 80,000+ fans to the football and a bit less than the 35,000 you say is required for the hurling, it would balance in favour of profit for the gaa.

yahoo_moe

Patser wrote: »

1. Croker has a break even point of around 35,000 spectators before it's worthwhile to open.

Out of curiosity, is that an estimate or the actual number? And based on what ticket prices? I've always wondered where the cut-off point was...

No way it'll be a double header. If it was a possibility, they wouldn't have already arranged the football. And that's next week so the footballers won't want preparations disrupted and they can't just lump KK and Dublin hurlers with a league final in 7 days' time.

I actually don't particularly like the double headers in one way as it emphasises how many Dublin football fans refuse to support the hurlers, even on the same bill as part of the one ticket. I stay afterwards for football matches I wouldn't be as interested in but some people prefer the pub to the hurlers Stick it down in Thurles and I'll be travelling down for it. So should anyone else who calls themselves a Dublin fan.

godanicus

Patser wrote: »

3. Dublin fans will be annoyed at the idea of paying twice. Already there's grumbling about the final tickets being almost twice the price of the other league games (even Bernard Brogan commented on this). Being asked to pay twice will increase the annoyance.

In all fairness the likes of the cork supporters have to travel and pay twice last year and the year before. 380 mile round trip.. so the fact you only have to grab a bus/luas/walk/car/ for a few minutes to see 2 home matches shouldnt put any dub off paying over the odds for the 2 games.

Its the price of sucess,lol.

Pride Fighter

Its 50 years this year since our last Leinster title, 65 since our last division 1 league final appearance and 73 since our last all Ireland win.

Thats a long barren spell. The Dublin County board deserve huge credit for this. When I was growing up in the mid 90's a hurl was put in my hand. I was awful but that was done all across Dublin. Its now not an uncommon sight to see kids in the working class areas of Dublin walking to training in groups of 5 and 6 all with hurls in their hands. This is the fruition of 15 years of planning and coaching youngsters. The hundreds of coaches who have volunteered for the various clubs and schools have delivered this day. Hopefully the public can thank them by going to the league final in their droves and hopefully the players can put up a passionate display.

Flukey

It will be too separate finals, on two separate Sundays. If we've got to two finals then us Dublin fans will have to pay twice. Isn't it great that we are in two finals? Someone is always going to come out and complain. I'd much rather pay to go to two finals that my county were in than not pay because my county was not in any final. The real fans will feel the same. As for the moaners, well it is up to them as to what they want to do. Yes, it costs money, but they don't have to come out and support their team. Most will never have had the chance to see their county play in a Hurling League final and will have always wanted to, and now that the chance is here, they start moaning. If they didn't want Dublin to be in two finals, then they should have been hoping we lost all our matches. Will they now be hoping that we don't reach the two All-Ireland finals for the same reasons? Us real fans won't be. The Dubs for the double!

Patser

yahoo_moe wrote: »

Out of curiosity, is that an estimate or the actual number? And based on what ticket prices? I've always wondered where the cut-off point was...

Estimate, I'm afraid. But numbers have been officially bandied about a bit for a while, and 40,000 was frequently mentioned, so I was being a bit conservative at 35k. All that would be dependent on ticket prices though, I suppose.

@godanicus

Wasn't nice when it happened to the Cork lads either but Dubs can make more noise and of course we'll scream 'It's the recession Buuud!!!'

@yahoo_moe

The hurlers have done brilliantly to reach the final and deserve far more support but the reality is football is still the main sport in Dublin's heart. Sticking it in Thurles will mean even less support and saying damn the begrudgers doesn;t work as the the begrudgers just don;t care.

deisedude

Congratulations to Dublin on reaching the league final. Erratic shooting still a huge problem though, they could have beaten Waterford and Kilkenny and beaten Cork by more but they had a huge amount of wides. Will have to really improve this to have a chance of beating the Cats

Pride Fighter

Flukey wrote: »

It will be too separate finals, on two separate Sundays. If we've got to two finals then us Dublin fans will have to pay twice. Isn't it great that we are in two finals? Someone is always going to come out and complain. I'd much rather pay to go to two finals that my county were in than not pay because my county was not in any final. The real fans will feel the same. As for the moaners, well it is up to them as to what they want to do. Yes, it costs money, but they don't have to come out and support their team. Most will never have had the chance to see their county play in a Hurling League final and will have always wanted to, and now that the chance is here, they start moaning. If they didn't want Dublin to be in two finals, then they should have been hoping we lost all our matches. Will they now be hoping that we don't reach the two All-Ireland finals for the same reasons? Us real fans won't be. The Dubs for the double!

You would not see Man United fans moaning if they were in the Champions League and FA cup final. If one has a car its 10-20 euro petrol and the ticket in. If its somewhere in Ireland like the Gaelic grounds its 20 euro return on the bus and the ticket in.

Its a great headache to have, we're successful

Drummerboy2

I think the football final will get about 55,000. A double header would be great but probably won't happen. The Dublin Feile finals are penciled in for Sunday week, wonder if they will still go ahead.

dartbhoy

Dublin reaching the league final is the best thing to happen in hurling for a while. Hopefully this will kick start other counties into promoting hurling in their counties with juveniles,it certainly has worked in Dublin.

KevIRL

Congrats to The Dubs, well deserved, they've been great in the league this year.

Have a feeling that KK may try and 'put manners' on a young upcoming side that they see as a threat over future years, hope The Dubs are ready for it.

yahoo_moe

deisedude wrote: »

Congratulations to Dublin on reaching the league final. Erratic shooting still a huge problem though

Odd game from that point of view today - Dublin were blessed to only be a point down at half time. Cork had 8 or 9 wides, some very scorable, in the first half, whereas Dublin had gotten 8 points from about 11 strikes at the target.

Second half though, Dublin restricted Cork's chances much better but started racking up wides themselves.

All we need to do is combine the early shooting with the later defending and we'll be AI champs!

dcr22B

Looking like Thurles for the final?

PARKHEAD67

Warper wrote: »

Congrats to Anthony Daly and the Dublin hurlers, can only be good for the game.

Brilliant for hurling to see the Dubs doing so well. Theyre a right good team.Delighted for Dalo too.The boy Keaneys a great hurler. Some serious hurlers on that team.Wish em nothing but success.Great for the game to have another serious contender.

corny

deisedude wrote: »

Congratulations to Dublin on reaching the league final. Erratic shooting still a huge problem though, they could have beaten Waterford and Kilkenny and beaten Cork by more but they had a huge amount of wides. Will have to really improve this to have a chance of beating the Cats

Especially when the pressures on in the last 10 mins. You only learn from experience though.:)

The Rooster

Great achievement to make the league final. And with the Cats only going at 70% we'll hopefully be competitive.

Great to see Dotsie finding his form.

As mentioned above, hitting the big pressure points consistently is where we're still a bit behind, but the progree made has been super

dcr22B

The Rooster wrote: »

As mentioned above, hitting the big pressure points consistently is where we're still a bit behind, but the progree made has been super

Given the fact that Dotsie and Ryaner were running the Cork FB line ragged, those Hail Mary efforts should have been dropped short to let the two boys run on to them.

Still, two Sundays, two League finals, where would you get it

ShamoBuc

It really is great fir the dubs to have gotten there but the belief must be there to go on and win it - especially againnst kk. I reckon ot will be a tough physical match.
I think ye only had 3 scorers yesterday which is strange for a winning team but there was a determination in the way ye played that will stand to ye in the final and indeed in the championship. Leinster will be very interesting this year.
The best of luck against the cats, it would be nice for another county to win a national honour instead of the same few counties every year.

godanicus

It looked like dublin played the league like it was the championship... where as everyone else played the league like it was the league.

c_man

Congrats, it's a great achievement lads.

adrian522

I'm happy Dublin made the final, though I would not like to see the game doubled with the football in Croke Park. I think Hurling deserves its own day with the division 1 and 2 finals.

If you had a double header you would have a similar situation to the league game with a constant stream of people coming in towards the end of the football.

To be honest I'd prefer to see the game in Thurles or some other similarly sized ground as it would generate a much better atmosphere than what you would get in Croke park with around 30,000 people there.

I also don't think it would be fair on Limerick and Clare to ask them to come to Croke park, Thurles seems the best option to me.

On the game itself I think Dublin will have an excellent chance of winning as Kilkenny have not been playing well at all and will still be missing around 7 players. Hopefully it will be a good game.

The Rooster

Jayz Adrian, have you ever been to Thurles. Its not what anyone would call a small intimate venue!

I doubt there's any chance of it being brought to Croker next week with the footballers. But if it was of course the Dubs would be in for the start. Big difference between a final and an ordinary league game.

A double bill hurling final would get at least 10k more in Croker than Semple of Croker.

There'd only be a small hardcore of Clare and Limerick fans who'd travel to either. Better off tossing a coin between Gaelic Grounds and Ennis - only a few miles away from each other anyway, and you'd get a lot more of the locals attending

adrian522

I have been to Thurles many times, and it generates a much better atmosphere than Croke park with 25,000-35,000 people in it.

I also don't believe that Dublin football fans will jump on the bandwagon just yet, they will get the same hardcore group of fans that they always do.

I would doubt that having the game in Croke park would mean an extra 10,000. I actually think you would get some extra Dublin supporters but a few less from the other 3 counties.

I realise the GAA is trying to do everything in its power to facilitate Dublin but I personally would prefer the game to be in Thurles.

Warper

Ya, Thurles is the ideal place for hurling. They should make a double header with Clare v Limerick followed by KK v Dublin. Thurles wouldnt be more than 2 hours away from any of the 4 counties playing.

PARKHEAD67

godanicus wrote: »

It looked like dublin played the league like it was the championship... where as everyone else played the league like it was the league.

we have a begrudger methinks....:D

ShamoBuc

Warper wrote: »

Ya, Thurles is the ideal place for hurling. They should make a double header with Clare v Limerick followed by KK v Dublin. Thurles wouldnt be more than 2 hours away from any of the 4 counties playing.

A double header in Thurles would certainly be the best option and I am confident it would meet agreement from all 4 counties involved and many a nuetral.

Jimmy Two Times

Drummerboy2 wrote: »

I think the football final will get about 55,000. A double header would be great but probably won't happen. The Dublin Feile finals are penciled in for Sunday week, wonder if they will still go ahead.

Feile Finals moved to the Monday.

Broozer

As somebody who's been charting the gradual rise of Dublin hurling over the last few years with quiet hope (which suffered a huge blow at the Antrim game last year) this is great. I thought the that game was a massive step back but they've bounced back admirably.

I know it's only the league but the facts don't lie. it's over 60 years since we've been here so i think it is something to get genuinely excited about.

Some seriously skillful players on display this year who don't look out of place on the pitch with the big hitters. and as others have said, the wides are the only glaring problem from what I have seen. (very glaring at times)so full credit to the Anthony Daly and the entire Dublin set up

As others have said this is very good for hurling. unlike in the football, it's nice to see the neutrals cheering the boys in blue!

now... if I can only find somebody who'll go to Thurles with me!

Trampas

The Allianz Hurling Division 1 final between Dublin and Kilkenny has been confirmed for Croke Park.

Pride Fighter

Trampas wrote: »

The Allianz Hurling Division 1 final between Dublin and Kilkenny has been confirmed for Croke Park.

May 1st, 4 PM. The U-21 football final is the curtain raiser at 2.

godanicus

PARKHEAD67 wrote: »

we have a begrudger methinks....:D

Not really. if you look back i was one of the first to congratulate dublin, but the league means nothing to most counties except those with a point to prove. And we all know the step up to championship is a different class to the performances of late by the top teams. But i still hope that dublin can do it where it matters most and blow the hurling championship open!!!

makl

highlights on tg4 now

ayup

Not getting carried away or anything!!

but what's the odds in the bookies for Liam this year
feeling lucky:D

Meglamonia

Brilliant step forward,Up the dubs

unknown_85

Great return for all the hard work which has gone on around the county to develop hurling. I think it will be very tough against KK but with the injuries they have at the mo and the guys we're getting back [Maurice O Brien, Alan McCrabbe and hopefully Liam Rushe and Joey Boland] we could be in a position to give KK a right good run for the title. I agree that championship hurling is at a different level but theres no better springboard into the championship than a good league run and the use of your extended squad which is what Dublin have had and done the last few months.

Huge credit to Daly and his management team. Its great to see the help from Ritchie Stakelum the 21s manager as he'd have worked with a lot of the lads over the last few years and Daly helps out at 21 level too.

I was wondering if anyone on here knows when and where the hurlers are training? With the good weather in the evenings and a league final to look forward to, I wouldnt mind dropping down to watch a training session or 2...

adrian522

I think people are overstating the Kilkenny injury situation, they could conceivably have a team such as the following:

1. Herity
2. Murphy
3. Hickey
4. Tyrell
5. Walsh(outside chance)/Paddy Hogan
6. Brian Hogan
7. JJ Delaney (I think there is a good chance he will play for the club this weekend)
8. TJ Reid
9. Cha.
10 Colin Fennelly
11. Rice
12. Larkin
13 Brennan
14. Power (been out a long time so may not start)/Ruth
15. Richie Hogan.

Oasis_Dublin

Absolutely delighted for the hurlers. As a football fan, this completely surpasses the achievement of the footballers getting to their own league final. Hopefully they can beat Kilkenny (haven't lost to them all season!). If they can cut down the number of wides, there is no reason why they cannot push them close. Good times for Dublin GAA.

premierstone

adrian522 wrote: »

7. JJ Delaney (I think there is a good chance he will play for the club this weekend)

Really? I would be very suprised if they risked him with a hamstring injury of all things, what way is the club championship ran in KK is it a vital game for Fenians?

adrian522

First game of the year! It will be 4 weeks from the initial injury which I would have thought was about the normal timeframe for that sort of injury.

premierstone

Well no two hamstring injuries are the same, but the amount of players that come back too soon after one and do further damage is huge.