Clare GAA discussion thread

Clareman · 02-06-2017 09:42PM

Patrick Kelly totally dropped from the panel, otherwise the team is what is to be expected, we're fairly small in the forwards so I'd expect all the puck outs to be down on Conlon as I'd imagine Kelly will be given a free role.

letowski · 02-06-2017 09:47PM

Henno30 wrote: »

A good 13 of the team is nailed on at this stage. Some talk of a surprise start around the middle but Galvin and Reidy midfield is the most likely setup I'd say. Don't think you'll need much geometry to make sense of the team structure either.

Yeah we should see McGrath, Shanagher and O'Donnell operate close to goal, thankfully. I more or less like the team picked, its clearly set out to attack Limerick, its positive compared to the mindset we have had to the last few years, where it was just negative, defensive crap. I'm backing the lads to respond on Sunday. The league was fine in all, there were some bright spots and they have been in good form in the challenges. Gerry O'Connor has this as the be all in his interview, so we should see something.

Clareman · 02-06-2017 09:53PM

Podge at 12/1 for first goal looks tasty

letowski · 02-06-2017 10:01PM

Clareman wrote: »

Patrick Kelly totally dropped from the panel, otherwise the team is what is to be expected, we're fairly small in the forwards so I'd expect all the puck outs to be down on Conlon as I'd imagine Kelly will be given a free role.

Yeah that would be my concern, again ideally I think the management wanted a more physical presence but we don't really have the players. Peter Duggan for example is off the 26 altogether. Thing is though for me, you definielty need two things when going that light at midfield/half forward; sharp hurling and a really good puckout strategy. Clare proably have this in that they were going very well in the challenges and Fahy has a good puckout.. with DOG as his mentor also. But that being said from watching the AI semis the last two years, the games did get very tight and physical, I'm just not sure will this side come out the right side of a tough game.

With regards to the other calls, Gudgie is clearly are form call which is fair enough, although ideally for me I'd prefer to have David Mc there. But Dillons form was probably just too erratic in the league for the management to back. I love the full forward line, SOD is lucky but it was noticable how we had more of a goal threat when he was on the field, while Cathal Mc maybe does his best hurling off the bench. I'd back a big game for SOD tomorrow, its probably the first time he will play since '13 where he will have support and not be focused on. Sunday is the day he should start producing.

I think Clare will win by about 5 this weekend, the high quality players taking to the field won't be wearing green.

windy shepard henderson · 03-06-2017 01:22AM

as regards puck outs , fahey is the best option , he has the most distance above the other two , also ,great to see the options on the bench , one thing annoyed me with fitz is his lack of rotation in the league , atleast we know we have players on the bench that performed well on a regular basis this year

in regards the half forward line , the likely hood is shanagher will drop back out the field and give conlon an option or david fitz will push up with maybe galvin dropping back for the odd puck out as cover

the reality is we are favorites but in truth by default , this is where limerick are dangerous , they have turned over a number of good sides in recent years as underdog

but by default i mean they have injuries , a bad league behind them and no disrespect intended but when the sides met 11 months ago they put in a woeful display,

it must not be forgot that this is new management for both sides so in truth anything can happen , but i agree we probably are a little further down the road with our management as they have been involved with the bulk of this panel since minor grade or before that ,

i wont go 5 points but i expect i us to win , on the basis of playing in the higher division with out key players for most of the campaign and on the basis of what happened last year in tj's last game

Clareman · 03-06-2017 11:59AM

We'd have to be favourites, we were league champions last year, All Ireland Champions 4 years ago, under 21 team is coming to maturity now and our county champions were in the All Ireland Club final which means our league campaign was skewed. Talking to a few people close to the setup there seems to be a good atmosphere around the team but some of the fringe players being released to the under 25's and under 21's has annoyed them but that can only lead to competition.

I think we'll win by 4 points and I think Podge will have a big game, I'm backing him to be man of the match and first goal scorer.

deaddonkey15 · 04-06-2017 05:49PM

Good win, but we did it the hard way as usual. Puckouts were shocking, the frees were very poor. Surely Kelly was carrying an injury today? He was completely anonymous. They played some nice hurling though and moved the ball well. Great performance by O'Donnell in the first half. Some great scores by John Conlon and Conor McGrath as well.

False Prophet · 04-06-2017 06:59PM

letowski wrote: »

I'd back a big game for SOD tomorrow, its probably the first time he will play since '13 where he will have support and not be focused on. Sunday is the day he should start producing.

I think Clare will win by about 5 this weekend, the high quality players taking to the field won't be wearing green.

Excellent points proven and good to see conlon, mcgrath, SOD show signs of form.

Clare have a lot to improve on, we won't be favorites for anything after today's showing.
Concerning that a number of flaws remain after changing of manager
->Kelly anonymous again, ifs its due to the club run should be given time to recharge from training.
-> Lack of physically (outside of conlon) from midfield up
-> Struggling to win possession from pucks outs, why is it that we cant even win the breaking ball from them?
-> Giving away soft frees
-> How many more misses before we get someone else to take penalties?
-> Failing to win a game in munster:P

Flip side is that maybe after a change in style + management a win is a win and confidence will start growing and we might finally beat a big team in championship and go on a run.

letowski · 04-06-2017 09:39PM

False Prophet wrote: »

Clare have a lot to improve on, we won't be favorites for anything after today's showing.
Concerning that a number of flaws remain after changing of manager
->Kelly anonymous again, ifs its due to the club run should be given time to recharge from training.
-> Lack of physically (outside of conlon) from midfield up
-> Struggling to win possession from pucks outs, why is it that we cant even win the breaking ball from them?
-> Giving away soft frees
-> How many more misses before we get someone else to take penalties?
-> Failing to win a game in munster:P

Flip side is that maybe after a change in style + management a win is a win and confidence will start growing and we might finally beat a big team in championship and go on a run.

Yeah absolutely, tonnes to work on.

First off, will certainly be the puckout strategy, will have to be revised completely. Fahey I'd say hit row 5 more than a Clare man, it was crazy. I don't know was it ever going to work anyway, having the players lining up along the center and sprinting out to the wings mean even if we did win the ball, it was still easy enough for Limerick to defend. I know people always talk about our lack of physical players, but it truely is a problem. Galvin and Reidy are nice skillful hurlers, as are Podge and Kelly, but on top of their lack of size, they,re not tenacious, aggressive players either. Its a problem that won't go away.

Other things I thought:
Id go with McCarthy over Gudgie the next day. McCarthy is an outstanding talent and is good enough I think to start, he bring more than Gudgie imo.

Don't know what to make of Kelly performance, one of his worst for Clare for sure. Surely he wont be as bad again.

I though McInerney and POC, last goal aside we excellent and held things well back there, Seadna did fine too.

Galvin played well, got on alot of lloose stuff and distributed well.

McGrath was rusty but still put up a good score, I was encouraged by his display, should be good to go for the final.

Kind of feel a little sorry for Limerick, we were bad but their quality of play and decision making was painful to watch.

Overall I'm happy enough to be in a Munster final. Job done at the end of the day.

windy shepard henderson · 04-06-2017 09:51PM

pretty much everything covered in the above post , i cant hide my satisfaction though in watching us play direct hurling , if anything needs to change as far as our attack goes , maybe be a bit more direct again the next day , at times today our forwards had made great runs but no one on the ball out the field spotted it

if we have to use a shoot the lights out approach to make up for some of our defensive frailties so be it ,

david mac , david fits and when he came on mccarthy were all excellent , but as ye have said maybe o'donnell and at times mcgrath deserve a mention other then that we were fairly tame , podge, kelly and galvin all well below par for there own standards , think reidy is not maybe our best option as a free taker either ,

keeponhurling · 04-06-2017 10:39PM

The third goal (by McGrath) summed up the change from last year.
We actually had a spare man in the full forward line it was 3 v 2.
In past years it was just Shane O'Donnell being triple-marked.

If we can fix the puck-outs, fix the free taking and penalty taking, and fix Tony Kelly then we could we dangerous!

windy shepard henderson · 04-06-2017 10:49PM

keeponhurling wrote: »

The third goal (by McGrath) summed up the change from last year.
We actually had a spare man in the full forward line it was 3 v 2.
In past years it was just Shane O'Donnell being triple-marked.

If we can fix the puck-outs, fix the free taking and penalty taking, and fix Tony Kelly then we could we dangerous!

kelly should be on frees i think , he and podge will be much better the next day , but yes you cant double mark a full forward line which was the big criticism t'words fits in his time in charge

shefflin on the sunday game is right though , we got killed in the breaking ball stakes today again , it would benefit us more to to improve in that area rather then these strategic puck out systems , todays strategy had us hitting the wings and in the result putting us under pressure in not giving away line balls one of which limerick scored

LuckyGent88 · 04-06-2017 10:51PM

keeponhurling wrote: »

The third goal (by McGrath) summed up the change from last year.
We actually had a spare man in the full forward line it was 3 v 2.
In past years it was just Shane O'Donnell being triple-marked.

If we can fix the puck-outs, fix the free taking and penalty taking, and fix Tony Kelly then we could we dangerous!

Last paragraph sums it up perfectly really.

We should have beat Limerick out the gate. Thought they were awful bar their corner back and Kyle Hayes.

Great to see Shane back on song. It's amazing what happens when your not triple marked and fouled every time a ball comes near you!!!

Anyway, lots to work on but a munster final to look forward to

marco_polo · 04-06-2017 11:00PM

A tonne of stuff to work on, but thats exactly the sort of game we have been losing since 2013 so the result is all that matters I suppose. Encouraging to win with Podge and TK so quiet.

Still not sure we could beat the most physical teams playing at the top of their game, but we'll have to figure out a way if we want to be still hurling in September

letowski · 05-06-2017 03:36AM

I think one thing about Kelly today, is that he is the type of hurler we all know that is better coming onto a ball than winning his own primary possession. He is at his best running face towards the goal than coming out or to the side. Today because we just didn't win hardly any possession in the midfield/half forward line, it limits his influence. I'd like the management to have another look at Deasy, Kelly for Ballyea this year was wrecking havoc running deep from midfield onto a pass.

Podge on the other hand I thought was operating way too far out the field. I accept its his role, but part of the reason he was excellent in the league was that he was getting forward up the field and get a couple of scores too. Today he picked up a few balls out around the 70 close to the sideline, and mostly just move it another 15/20 yards up the field. He wasn't have much influence at all really.

I think the management will need to be spending a good bit of time looking at the VT over the next few days, there's a good few things that need to be revised.

windy shepard henderson · 05-06-2017 04:04AM

letowski wrote: »

I think one thing about Kelly today, is that he is the type of hurler we all know that is better coming onto a ball than winning his own primary possession. He is at his best running face towards the goal than coming out or to the side. Today because we just didn't win hardly any possession in the midfield/half forward line, it limits his influence. I'd like the management to have another look at Deasy, Kelly for Ballyea this year was wrecking havoc running deep from midfield onto a pass.

Podge on the other hand I thought was operating way too far out the field. I accept its his role, but part of the reason he was excellent in the league was that he was getting forward up the field and get a couple of scores too. Today he picked up a few balls out around the 70 close to the sideline, and mostly just move it another 15/20 yards up the field. He wasn't have much influence at all really.

I think the management will need to be spending a good bit of time looking at the VT over the next few days, there's a good few things that need to be revised.

3 games in the last 4 years where kelly was marked out of the game i club games like you said , not given the space to operate , alan barrett newmarket 2013 , in the county semi final eoin enright 2 years ago in that epic in the park or thomas downs for eire og last year , all summed up kellys frailties

as regards podge , he was carting something ,just before the 60 minute mark he made his way across the field to pass on info to gerry and donal 90 seconds later ian galvin is on instead of him .......its not all doom just yet

Keano · 05-06-2017 09:55AM

Ger stirring it again this morning in the paper!

small town girl · 05-06-2017 10:13AM

Keano wrote: »

Ger stirring it again this morning in the paper!

He is our own version of Piers Morgan

Davys Fits · 05-06-2017 11:05AM

The Cork style game would suit Clare more than the physicality of Waterford. But is it true they would have to play Cork in the pairc? Who and when was this agreed?

Akrasia · 05-06-2017 11:06AM

Its funny how he called the 2013 win a fluke because we didn't have to beat Tipp or Kilkenny

In 1995 Clare beat Cork, Limerick, Galway and Offaly...

Granted in 1997 we had to beat Kilkenny once and Tipperary twice, but still..

keeponhurling · 05-06-2017 02:21PM

You might be able to fluke winning a single match, but not an All-Ireland title (and a national league)!

Of course plenty to work on, but also cause for optimism given last year's championship. With a goal threat you always have a chance.

The "lack of real men" comment is OTT, but sure that's Ger for ya

windy shepard henderson · 05-06-2017 02:22PM

Davys Fits wrote: »

The Cork style game would suit Clare more than the physicality of Waterford. But is it true they would have to play Cork in the pairc? Who and when was this agreed?

we always struggled against the cork forwards for pace

windy shepard henderson · 05-06-2017 02:25PM

small town girl wrote: »

He is our own version of Piers Morgan

yep always looking for a controversial headline , tipperary last week us this week and completely over the top

Reputable Rog · 05-06-2017 02:26PM

Basically any team Loughnane isn't managing is ****e, that's the message. Hopefully his comments will have the same galvanising effect they had on Galway last year and for Limerick too, I think they have some fine prospects.

keeponhurling · 05-06-2017 09:25PM

You'd wonder how a team coached by Donal Og Cusack could have such a disastrous puck-out strategy.

If you wanted to be really harsh, the first limerick goal probably could have been avoided with better goalkeeping.
In his Sunday Game days, Donal Og wasn't known for holding back in such matters.

Anyways, we have a month to work on it now.

Reputable Rog · 05-06-2017 09:53PM

keeponhurling wrote: »

You'd wonder how a team coached by Donal Og Cusack could have such a disastrous puck-out strategy.

If you wanted to be really harsh, the first limerick goal probably could have been avoided with better goalkeeping.
In his Sunday Game days, Donal Og wasn't known for holding back in such matters.

Anyways, we have a month to work on it now.

Brendan Cummins didn't make much of them last night felt they had the same success rate as the Cork team in the last decade, Shefflin agreed, no point in wasting possession.
Something to work on in any event.

irelandrover · 06-06-2017 10:03AM

Is the Clare Kerry game on Tv on Sunday. Living abroad so obviously cant make it to the game.

i assume that galway Mayo is teh live game

letowski · 06-06-2017 12:33PM

Podge is a doubt for the Munster Final:

http://www.independent.ie/sport/gaelic-games/hurling/clare-face-anxious-wait-ahead-of-collins-scan-35792280.html

windy shepard henderson · 06-06-2017 05:45PM

irelandrover wrote: »

Is the Clare Kerry game on Tv on Sunday. Living abroad so obviously cant make it to the game.

i assume that galway Mayo is teh live game

dont think so , cavan v monaghan and mayo v galway are the live games i think

SteakandKidney · 06-06-2017 10:58PM

windy shepard henderson wrote:

dont think so , cavan v monaghan and mayo v galway are the live games i think

Has it been 100% confirmed that cork is the location regardless of the other semi final

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