National Hurling League 2013 Discussion

KevIRL

The hurling league gets underway tomorrow, really looking forward to it. Division 1A looks to be ultra competitive and the short format means none of the teams can afford to start slowly or else they will be in a relegation fight. Division 1B looks to be a fight between Dublin and Limerick, but it also wouldnt be a massive surprise to see Offaly or Wexford make the final either. Whoever does win Division 1B will be competitive in the league semi finals also. From the lower divisions Laois will be fancied to take the division 2 title, although I will confess I dont know enough about the teams in Div3 to make a prediction.

Hammer Archer is running a Hurling League Predictions Competition for anyone interested

Fixtures for the first round of games...

Saturday 23 February

NHL Division 1A
Cork v Tipperary, Páirc Uí Rinn, 7pm

NHL Division 1B
Dublin v Offaly, Parnell Park, 7pm


Sunday 24 February

NHL Division 1A
Clare v Waterford, Ennis, 2pm
Galway v Kilkenny, Pearse Stadium, 2pm

NHL Division 1B
Carlow v Wexford, Dr. Cullen Park, 2pm
Limerick v Antrim, Gaelic Grounds, 2pm

NHL Division 2A
Kerry v Westmeath, Tralee, 1pm
Derry v Wicklow, Celtic Park, 2pm
Kildare v Laois, Newbridge, 2pm

NHL Division 2B
Armagh v London, Athletic Grounds, 1pm
Down v Meath, Newry, 2pm
Mayo v Roscommon, Castlebar, 2pm

NHL Division 3A
Fermanagh v Tyrone, Brewster Park, 2pm
Donegal v Monaghan, Letterkenny, 2pm
Fingal v Louth, Swords, 2pm

NHL Division 3B
Leitrim v Longford, Carrick on Shannon, 12.45pm
Warwickshire v Sligo, Birmingham, 2pm

KevIRL

I put together some articles for livegaelic.com previewing the counties in Division 1A



Kilkenny
Galway
Tipperary
Cork
Waterford
Clare

Kerrydude1981

Could be tough year ahead for my own county,starting out with a very young panel this year and have lost 6 experienced players to retirement and other reasons,the three home games are going to be massive if we can get results in them then we should be safe,starting on Sunday against Westmeath who are a level ahead of Kerry at the moment and will probably push Laois for the title

Staying in this division will be the goal this year.

KevIRL

Kerrydude1981 wrote: »

Could be tough year ahead for my own county,starting out with a very young panel this year and have lost 6 experienced players to retirement and other reasons,the three home games are going to be massive if we can get results in them then we should be safe,starting on Sunday against Westmeath who are a level ahead of Kerry at the moment and will probably push Laois for the title

Staying in this division will be the goal this year.

Wasnt aware that things had dropped back a bit for Kerry, they had made some great strides in recent years. Hopefully they can stay in 2A

Kerrydude1981

KevIRL wrote: »

Wasnt aware that things had dropped back a bit for Kerry, they had made some great strides in recent years. Hopefully they can stay in 2A

Gone back a bit alright,last year wasn't the best the team never really got going at all

They have a tough start this year with Westmeath at home on Sunday and then away to Laois but I expect them to win at least two of the remaining games after that,so we should be safe out then for another year,if we could get anything out of the first two games even a point it would be a massive boost going into the remaining games.

As for the other divisions Im looking forward to seen how Clare get on,they could surprise a few this season

dastardly00

I'm looking forward to the matches starting this weekend. I fear Galway will be too strong against Kilkenny on Sunday. KK senior players have very little game time so far in 2013. Plus there is a ridiculous amount of injuries: Shefflin (broken foot) and TJ Reid (broken kneecap) won't be back until the championship; Michael Rice (mangled finger) will be out for another few months at least; Walter Walsh has tendonitis in both knees; Cillian Buckley recently had a hip operation and is out for a few weeks; Richie Doyle had a hip operation and is gone for another couple of months, John Tennyson is out injured; and Eoin Larkin has ongoing groin injuries!

Our next fixture is then away to Tipp. There is a good chance that we'll have 2 losses after the first couple of games!

randd1

dastardly00 wrote: »

Michael Rice (mangled finger) will be out for another few months at least

Heard from the Shocks lads his hand is healing very well and he could easily be back from that injury by the league SF's.

The problem is his tendonitis has flared up again which will likely put him out of the league, and maybe until June.

The poor chap seriously has no luck when it comes to injuries.

KevIRL

KK team to face Galway on Sunday, fair amount of inexperience there will be interesting to see how they fare

1. EOIN MURPHY GLENMORE
2. PAUL MURPHY DANESFORT
3. J.J. DELANEY FENIANS
4. JACKIE TYRRELL JAMES STEPHENS
5. TOMMY WALSH TULLAROAN
6. KIERAN JOYCE ROWER INISTIOGE
7. CONOR FOGARTY ERINS OWN
8. LESTER RYAN CLARA
9. RICHIE POWER CARRICKSHOCK
10. COLIN FENNELLY (Capt) BALLYHALE SHAMROCKS
11. MICHAEL FENNELLY BALLYHALE SHAMROCKS
12. MATTHEW RUTH JAMES STEPHENS
13. TOM BREEN ST. MARTINS
14. RICHIE HOGAN DANESFORT
15. AIDAN FOGARTY EMERALDS
16. DAVID HERITY DUNNAMAGGIN
17. BRIAN HOGAN O’LOUGHLIN GAELS
18. PADDY HOGAN DANESFORT
19. EOIN LARKIN JAMES STEPHENS
20. MARK KELLY O’LOUGHLIN GAELS
21. MARK BERGIN O’LOUGHLIN GAELS
22. WILLIE PHELAN DUNNAMAGGIN
23. JOE BRENNAN ST. PATRICKS
24. TOMÁS KEOGH JAMES STEPHENS
25. PADRAIG WALSH TULLAROAN

dastardly00

randd1 wrote: »

Heard from the Shocks lads his hand is healing very well and he could easily be back from that injury by the league SF's.

The problem is his tendonitis has flared up again which will likely put him out of the league, and maybe until June.

The poor chap seriously has no luck when it comes to injuries.

Yeah he is so unlucky with injuries it's ridiculous. It would be great to see himself and Mick Fennelly back in midfield together.

KevIRL wrote: »

KK team to face Galway on Sunday...

Very solid full-back and half-back lines. Happy to see Eoin Murphy get a chance in goal. Bit odd that Power is 9 and Mick Fennelly is 11. Weak-ish forward lines, I can see them struggle for scores from play.

dastardly00

Teams for the weekend:

TIPPERARY: Brendan Cummins (Ballybacon Grange); Paddy Stapleton (Borris-Ileigh), Paul Curran (Mullinahone), Conor O’Brien (Eire Og Annacarty Donohill); Donagh Maher (Burgess), Padraic Maher (Thurles Sarsfields), Brendan Maher (Borris-Ileigh); Shane McGrath (Ballinahinch) Captain, Johnny Ryan (Drom and Inch); Seamus Callanan (Drom and Inch), Noel McGrath (Loughmore Castleiney), Patrick Maher (Lorrha and Dorrha); Shane Bourke (JK Brackens), Brian O’Meara (Kilruane MacDonaghs), John O’Dwyer (Killenaule).

CORK: Anthony Nash (Kanturk); Shane O’Neill (Bishopstown), Stephen McDonnell (Glen Rovers), Conor O’Sullivan (Sarsfields); Stephen White (Ballygarvan), Christopher Joyce (Na Piarsaigh), William Egan (Kilbrin); Daniel Kearney (Sarsfields), Lorcan McLoughlin (Kanturk); Paudie O’Sullivan (Cloyne), Cian McCarthy (Sarsfields), Conor Lehane (Midleton); Stephen Moylan (Douglas), Luke O’Farrell (Midleton), Patrick Horgan (Glen Rovers).

GALWAY: Fergal Flannery (Padraig Pearses); Johnny Coen (Loughrea), Kevin Hynes (Sarsfields), Fergal Moore (Turloughmore); Niall Donoghue (Kilbeacanty), Joseph Cooney (Sarsfields), David Collins (Liam Mellowes); Iarla Tannian (Ardrahan), Aidan Harte (Gort); Jonathan Glynn (Ardrahan), Niall Burke (Oranmore-Maree), Davy Glennon (Mullagh); Niall Healy (Craughwell), Joe Canning (Portumna), Damien Hayes (Portumna).

LIMERICK: Aaron Murphy (Hospital-Herbertstown); Stephen Walsh (Glenroe), Richie McCarthy (Blackrock), Tom Condon (Knockaderry); Wayne McNamara (Adare), Donal O’Grady (Granagh-Ballingarry), Gavin O’Mahony (Kilmallock); James Ryan (Garryspillane), Paudie O’Brien (Kilmallock); Declan Hannon (Adare), Seamus Hickey (Murroe-Boher), Conor Allis (Croom), Graeme Mulcahy (Kilmallock), Kevin Downes (Na Piarsaigh), Shane Dowling (Na Piarsaigh).

WEXFORD: Niall Breen (Tara Rocks); Bobby Kenny (Buffers Alley), Tomas Waters (St Martin’s), Eoin Moore (Oulart-The-Ballagh); Richie Kehoe (Faythe Harriers), Andrew Shore (Parnell’s, Dublin), Lee Chin (Faythe Harriers); David Redmond (Oulart-The-Ballagh), Andrew Kenny (Buffers Alley); Harry Kehoe (Cloughbawn), Stephen Murphy (St Martin’s), Garrett Sinnott (Oulart-The-Ballagh); Paul Morris (Ferns St Aidan’s), Michéal O’Regan (Glynn-Barntown), Gary Moore (Glynn-Barntown).

KevIRL

Waterford GAA ‏@WaterfordGAA

WD v CE - Keeffe,S. Fives,Lawlor,Connors,Nagle,Walsh, Moran, S. OSullivan,Twomey,Halloran,S Prendergast,Dillon,O’Brien,Mahony,B OSullivan

KevIRL

What a start from cork!

Fireball07

0-15 to 0-02...is that right?? :eek:

dastardly00

What the fcek. I flicked on Setanta to see the end of the Dublin-Offaly match, but the Cork-Tipp match was being shown live, and then it goes to the Dublin-Offaly match??

Fireball07

That Eoin Kelly goal was very nice, but Cork destroyed them. Great result for them.

wazzer1

Setanta lost the picture at the Dub/Off game with five mins to go in both halves :rolleyes:

dastardly00

wazzer1 wrote: »

Setanta lost the picture at the Dub/Off game with five mins to go in both halves :rolleyes:

And they don't seem to be bothering to show the deferred coverage of the Tipp vs Cork match now. FFS!

EDIT: they are showing it now.
Setanta really shouldn't have Nicky English commentating on a Tipp game. Every second sentence is "from a Tipperary perspective"!

dastardly00

It's a smashing day in Salthill for a game of hurling!

desaparecidos

Carlow to beat Wexford in both first and second half, 18-1, looking OK so far.

DaNiEl1994

clare 1:13 waterford 2:10 50 mins gone

last minute free means clare lose by a point sickening

Hammer Archer

Massive win for us in Newry. Means we're in with a great chance of making it to the division 2B final again.

KevIRL

A short round up of the opening weekend of the league I put together for livegaelic.com can be found here

Kerrydude1981

Good start for our hurlers yesterday,wasn't expecting much from them yesterday as Westmeath would be a bit ahead of us at the moment but that wasn't the case yesterday and we won by three points,sets us up nicely now for the rest of the league campaign.

Frankie Lee

Kerrydude1981 wrote: »

Good start for our hurlers yesterday,wasn't expecting much from them yesterday as Westmeath would be a bit ahead of us at the moment but that wasn't the case yesterday and we won by three points,sets us up nicely now for the rest of the league campaign.

I believe Westmeath have lost 8 starters from last years team from their panel this year, it is a pity to see a county who had potential stagnate and regress.

Kerrydude1981

Frankie Lee wrote: »

I believe Westmeath have lost 8 starters from last years team from their panel this year, it is a pity to see a county who had potential stagnate and regress.

Ya they were totally changed from the past few years,they have lost a few of there stronger players.

Kerry have more or less a new team as well this year,six of last years staring 15 aren't involved this year,a lot of young players on the panel this year.

Missing ten players from the Christy Ring winning side of 2011

me89

I see Tannion picked up from where he left off in last years Final. Very dirty again.

antoobrien

Why was JJ wearing 29, did he get cut or something?

dastardly00

antoobrien wrote: »

Why was JJ wearing 29, did he get cut or something?

He was wearing 29 from the very start, it was a bit random. Maybe KK forgot the number 3 jersey? :pac:

MfMan

me89 wrote: »

I see Tannion picked up from where he left off in last years Final. Very dirty again.

And Timber Tommy continuing on from every other season, pulling indiscriminately at will.

Pudders

Kilkenny or Tipp could be struggling after the next round.

KevIRL

Some short previews of Division 1 games for round 2 of the league I did for livegaelic.com

http://www.livegaelic.com/news/allianz-hurling-league-previews/

KevIRL

What a finish in prospect for Division 1A of the league

The League table is

Waterford 5pts (-3 scoring diff)
Clare 4pts (+6 scoring diff)
Cork 4pts (+6 scoring diff)
KK 4pts (+2 scoring diff)
Tipp 4pts (-1 scoring diff)
Galway 3pts (-10 scoring diff)

The final round of games is
Waterford v Galway
KK v Cork
Tipp v Clare

As things stand all teams could get one of the top 3 spots and a league semi final berth, and likewise all teams could end up in the bottom 2 and the relegation play off.

Fireball07

It's amazingly close, the best thing about the current league system is that it can make things very very competitive, and it certainly is this year.

Personally, I think Kilkenny will have too much for Cork at home...they're starting to step up now.

Been disappointed with Galway, and I think Waterford will be able to beat them, even though it is bound to be very close.

Clare and Tipp is a very hard game to call, but I think Clare just have that extra bit of hunger which will give them the win.


That would mean Waterford top, with Kilkenny and Clare also qualifying for the semi-finals. Galway and Tipp in the relegation play-off because of head-to-head then?



And in Division 1B, it's looking like Limerick will play Dublin in the final, as expected. Dublin had a very convincing win against Wexford today, bounced back well. Very hard to say who will win that.

KevIRL

Fireball07 wrote: »

It's amazingly close, the best thing about the current league system is that it can make things very very competitive, and it certainly is this year.

Personally, I think Kilkenny will have too much for Cork at home...they're starting to step up now.

Been disappointed with Galway, and I think Waterford will be able to beat them, even though it is bound to be very close.

Clare and Tipp is a very hard game to call, but I think Clare just have that extra bit of hunger which will give them the win.


That would mean Waterford top, with Kilkenny and Clare also qualifying for the semi-finals. Galway and Tipp in the relegation play-off because of head-to-head then?



And in Division 1B, it's looking like Limerick will play Dublin in the final, as expected. Dublin had a very convincing win against Wexford today, bounced back well. Very hard to say who will win that.

Cant seem to find out if head to head or points difference comes in play if 2 teams are level. The radio seemed to indicate points difference earlier (RTE), but I cant find out online

Whoever does win 1B will go into the semi final with an extra game under their belt from the 1B final, and could spring a surprise imo

Fireball07

KevIRL wrote: »

Cant seem to find out if head to head or points difference comes in play if 2 teams are level. The radio seemed to indicate points difference earlier (RTE), but I cant find out online

Whoever does win 1B will go into the semi final with an extra game under their belt from the 1B final, and could spring a surprise imo

http://www.gaa.ie/content/documents/publications/official_guides/Official_Guide_2012_Part1.pdf


This hasn't opened for me but apparently it says head-to-head when only 2 teams are involved. Then points difference.


I'm not sure an extra game at this stage will make that much of a difference tbh...I mean the teams in 1B may have struggled against some of the so-called weaker teams but the ones in 1A have all been at a much higher intensity.

If Limerick do manage to win the final, I'd fancy our chances of winning a semi-final all the same. We wouldn't be favourites but I'd say it'd be close.

freedominacup

What's the format for the final stages?

KevIRL

freedominacup wrote: »

What's the format for the final stages?

Semi finals
1st in Div 1A plays the 1B winner
2nd in 1A plays 3rd in 1A

Final between the winners of the above

Hammer Archer

Meath in the Division 2B final with one game to spare

Mountainlad

It was head to head last year, that's how Waterford finished ahead of Galway.

WumBuster

I think the league and the forthcoming hurling championship will be fascinating this year. I feel there is a wind of change whereby there are a number of teams, 4-5 possibly who are capable of challenging Kilkenny's long standing dominance. Thats not to say Kilkenny still arent very, very strong but I think the league and championship is very much wide open this year. My opinions on the top tier teams so far, all of which are very good sides and capable of beating one another which makes this year all the more intrigueing..

Kilkenny: Still the team to beat no doubt but there could be some question marks developing this year over a few of their aging talismen
Cork: More youth than experience but are well capable of peaking in the latter stages of the championship despite a mixed league campaign so far
Galway: Will be wanting to go one better after losing an All ireland that was there for them in the first game last year.
Tipperary: Hot and cold of late, lots of talent there in their ranks will be looking to put lasts years AI semi final disaster behind them
Waterford: Emerging Dark horses, playing with a fantastic spirit this year in the league with new the younger players stepping up to the plate
Clare: making good progress this year with a very young team, and AI semi, league final or munster final would be initial targets
Limerick: Promotion to 1a and a munster final would be realistic targets
Dublin: Looking to come back stronger after a dissapointing 2012, capable of causing an upset in the Leinster championship

TheNap

Anybody know what date the Division 1b final is fixed for ? And what date the semi finals are fixed for ?

Fireball07

TheNap wrote: »

Anybody know what date the Division 1b final is fixed for ? And what date the semi finals are fixed for ?

I've heard the 1B final is set for Sunday week, the 7th, I think it is. Might be moved to the 6th if the Munster Heineken Cup final is on the same day.


I think the semi-finals are on another 2 weeks after that.

PTH2009

Here are a few sanarios i made up about the last day

San 1

Waterford Win- Galway Lose
Tippeary Win- Clare Lose
Kilkenny Win- Cork Lose

1 Waterford (7)
2 Tipperary ( 6 )
3 Kilkenny (6)
4 Clare (4)
5 Cork (4)
6 Galway (3)

San 2

Waterford lose- Galway Win
Kilkenny Win- Cork Lose
Tippeary Lose- Clare Win

1 Kilkenny (6)
2 Clare (6)
3 Galway (5)
4 Waterford (5)
5 Cork (4)
6 Tippeary (4)

San 3

Waterford Draw- Galway Draw
Kilkenny Lose- Cork Win
Tipperary Win- Clare Lose

1 Clare (6)
2 Cork (6)
3 Waterford (6)
4 Tipperary (4)
5 Kilkenny (4)
6 Galway (3)

San 4

Waterford Win- Galway Lose
Kilkenny Draw- Cork Draw
Clare Lose- Tipperary Win

1 Waterford (7)
2 Tipperary (6)
3 Cork (5)
4 Kilkenny (5)
5 Clare (4)
6 Galway (4)

San 5

Waterford Lose- Galway Win
Kilkenny Win- Cork Lose
Clare Draw- Tipperary Draw

1 Kilkenny (6)
2 Clare (5)
3 Tipperary (5)
4 Galway (5)
5 Waterford (5)
6 Cork (4)

the list is still incomplete my brain cant take anymore lol

blue note

Who are tg4 showing on Sunday?

deisedude

blue note wrote: »

Who are tg4 showing on Sunday?

Cork Kilkenny live followed by deferred coverage of Waterford Galway

Dreamertime

Hi guys

Do we know where the semi finals will be played on the 21st?

Thurles probably?

Mountainlad

Dreamertime wrote: »

Hi guys

Do we know where the semi finals will be played on the 21st?

Thurles probably?

Croke Park

Dreamertime

Mountainlad wrote: »

Croke Park

Oh. Thanks for that. It just not confirmed on either the Croke Park or GAA sites.

Mountainlad

Dreamertime wrote: »

Oh. Thanks for that. It just not confirmed on either the Croke Park or GAA sites.

Heard it on Saturday sport, I assume the times will be available tomorrow.

Dreamertime

Nice one

Mullet

Mountainlad wrote: »

Croke Park

I was expecting them to be in Thurles but the state for the pitch was awful last night so I'm not surprised it may not be Thurles.