Armagh v Wexford & Clare v Kilkenny

Waylander · 25-04-2005 1:18pm #1

Time to stop talking about Croker and Rule 42 for a while. Two good matches now lined up for the league finals. I have a sneaking suspicion Clare might take Kilkenny in the hurling. I think they will be hungrier for the win then Kilkenny but it will be a tight game all the way. In the football, although I rate Wexford as a good team, I would expect Armagh to overcome them by a few points. What do the rest of you think?

cruiserweight · 25-04-2005 1:23pm

I will have to disagree with you waylander! In the hurling don't forget Kilkenny did not win anything last year and will be hungry for success, so I will be tipping them but see a close contest!

In the football I am slightly biased (being from Wexford) but I see a very close match with Wexford prevailing! So far this year whenever people have said it has been a bridge to far for Wexford they have managed to progress. This turn about in fortunes has been coming for many years now and I hope we taste success in our first national final since 1946 ( a long time before I or even my parents were born)!

Johnny_the_fox · 25-04-2005 1:24pm

Wexford - can surprise Armagh. they did it against Tyrone..

Waylander · 25-04-2005 3:24pm

I must confess my hurling prediction is slightly biased as my mother is from Clare and I always like to see the banner do well. As regards Wexford, I hope you are right, but I think this is the first time I have tipped them to lose. I fancy them to at least get to the Leinster Final in the championship, but I htink Armagh will be a little too strong for them on Sunday.

Yavvy · 25-04-2005 3:36pm

I also Think Clare will win, the Kats are not as hungry as Clare and for the sake of the game I hope they loose. I wonder if that bloke from Kilkenny will be on here ranting about how wonderful they are if they win ??
Would love to see Wexford winning but I cant see it. I think both games will be close.

cruiserweight · 25-04-2005 4:01pm

Since we are all revealing our bias (some peoples are already known) my grandfather is from Clare (he is the only one of my immediate family from outside Wexford) I would love to see them win! But I just feel that Kilkenny might be to good on the day and will want to get back on winning ways!

I wonder if that bloke from Kilkenny will be on here ranting about how wonderful they are if they win ??

If last year is anything to go by they are brilliant if they win, if they lose or the game is tight those Clare fellas are cheating and being to rough!

Wexford - can surprise Armagh. they did it against Tyrone..

I don't think Armagh will be surprised by anything Wexford throw at them. In the last two league meetings there has only been a point between the teams with Wexford winning the match this year after being 6 points down at half time.

River Allow · 25-04-2005 7:02pm

I reckon it will be Armagh in the football... I'd love to see Wexford do it but I just can't see it happening. Kilkenny in the hurling... As much as it pains me to say it (I'm from Cork!) I can't see them being beaten. Although Clare will definitely up for it, skill is more important than motivation!

Henso · 25-04-2005 9:38pm

I was at Kilkenny .V. Tipperary on Sunday and I have to say I was impressed with the Cats. Although I would love to see Clare win the league final, I don't think it's very likely.

cruiserweight · 28-04-2005 9:23am

The Wexford team to face Armagh in our first league final for 59 years:
J Cooper; C Morris, P Wallace, N Murphy; D Breen, D Murphy, S Cullen; D Kinsella, N Lambert; D Fogarty, P Colfer, J Hegarty; R Barry, J Hudson, M Forde

nlgbbbblth · 28-04-2005 8:03pm

Here's a couple of questions for you

Wexford beat Armagh in the league, yet Armagh are favourites for the final.

Why?

So if Armagh had beaten Wexford in the league, would Wexford be favourites for the final?

I think not.

Also - if Tyrone had beaten Wexford in the Semi Final then they probably would be favourites against Armagh. But Wexford beat Tyrone - so surely they should be favourites?

This will be a great day for my native county and I am confident they can win their first league title in almost 60 years.

cournioni · 29-04-2005 7:24am

It's all down to experience nlgbbbblth. Armagh have bags of it. True Wexford did beat both Tyrone and Armagh, but I think that Tyrone are very understrength this year, which is why I think they won't win anything this year.

Armagh are always slow starters to every year. Last year Cavan played Armagh in Breffni in March and beat them by something like 12 points. Then in the Championship Armagh were said to be overwhealming favourites and they beat us by 2 points in the end. I think its only right that they should be favourites to win it, they've been there before. If Wexford win it, they should be favourites for next year's league. That is how it works tbh.

Repli · 01-05-2005 11:46pm

I was in croke park today for these matches, jesus the atmosphere when Monaghan got that last goal, the meath fans were so pissed off! I have to say the Wexford match was pretty good, Armagh are tough to beat but Wexford went in as the underdogs and put up a good fight right til the end!

Flukey · 02-05-2005 12:46am

I was there myself. As a Dub, it is always great to see Meath beaten. A last minute goal, great; an own goal, magnificent. A lot of new lads on the Meath team, but the same dirty tactics still apply. That has been the hallmark of the Witch Doctor's teams for the past 22 seasons. It looks like number 23 will be the same. Armagh looked very good. They've a big one against Fermanagh coming up, but I think it looks like an Armagh v Tyrone Ulster Final. Leinster will be interesting. That starts next Sunday with Offaly v Louth in Navan. Offaly should win that. A full championship ahead of us. Summer Sundays, with the odd Saturday and Bank Holiday Monday thrown in, don't you just love them?

kaimera · 02-05-2005 11:34pm

heh. tekkit Meath

poor Wexford. given a football lesson. they should be there in the Leinster shakedown but doubt they'd do well in the All-Ireland series then.

pld knockbeg college today. teh 'laois' college :rolleyes:

Waylander · 03-05-2005 8:44am

Armagh were even more comfortable then I expected them to be, but it might do Wexford no harm going into the championship. Kilkenny were far too strong for Clare from about the 50th minute on they just pulled away, plenty of hunger there. Congrats to both teams and bring on the Championship.

Repli · 03-05-2005 8:51am

Armagh didn't give Wexford the hammering that everyones going on about here - 1-21 to 1-14 is a respectable enough score.. Look at the Kilkenny game for a real hammering of the opposition

Waylander · 03-05-2005 9:51am

A 7 point beating is a fairly respectable beating, but I was speaking comparitively. I had preiously said I expected Armagh to win by 3 points but they won by more then twice that.

cruiserweight · 03-05-2005 1:17pm

I did not see all of the Clare v Kilkenny match so I can't really comment that much! I was in Croke Park on Sunday for the NFL finals! Well done to Monaghan, I just missed that match!

As for the Wexford match, the biggest difference between the two teams was EXPERIENCE! Stephen McDonnell did have a say to! But Armagh destroyed Wexford in the second quarter of the match, from then on they knew what to do to keep in front! They never panicked and kept the score board ticking over nicely, and outscored Wexford by a point in the second half! As for Wexford this game will stand to us in the summer, a lot of lessons were learnt the hard way! We need more ball winning players in the half forward line, if you give up possession cheaply you will be punished at this level, make the most of the possession you have and punish the opposition! Hopefully these lessons are learnt and a run to our first Leinster final since th 1950's will follow!

Armagh v Wexford & Clare v Kilkenny

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