Today was one game, yes they were fantastic this afternoon but that's still the team that lost to Cork twice and drew with Tipp in 3 of their last 6 championship games. It's a long summer and they'll need to back that up 2 or 3 times to deserve praise like that. Cork didn't turn up at all today they were absolutely septic all over the field, and Limerick steamrolled them with little resistance. Corks softness looked well and truly back, good few disappearing acts from the usual suspects, defence shocking, and Hoggy looking his age. Few hard calls there the next day.
We have serious problems to solve in our back line and there are lads there that as individual defenders just ain’t up to the level. And it unfortunately looks like we don’t have to personnel to do because no one is pushing them out. That said, if we defended like Cork did for that Gillane goal there would be lads meeting their inter country end.
Limerick looked awesome today. Alternatively, Cork are resting up and at 80% after peaking for the league final - same as Clare in 2024 and Limerick in 2023. We won't know until the All Ireland semi. Clare sacrificed the Munster final on their way to winning the AI.
I think we won't know how the top teams form & energy stand until the AI semis. To me, saving energy, staying healthy and reserving peak performance for the AI semis and final is the only way to beat this great Limerick team. Like the 4 in a row Kilkenny rebounded in 2011, I expect the same from Limerick unless Cork come to win after a 20 year wait - Cork have a habit of turning up for milestones like 1984; 20 years is a problem for them.
Kilkenny may stop Cork in the semi; our style is effective against Cork. Kilkenny have imo the best back 4 and if injury free can maintain the mid-third intensity for a full 74 mins. A big ask with the injuries mounting. Hopefully, like Clare in 2024, Mullen and Cody will be in peak form for the key games to give us that extra edge. We have to win Leinster first and that will be tough agsinst a resurgent Galway or Dublin.
Certainly can't be happy with the second half. Very much flattered by 14 points lead at half time. Only Huw Lawlor of the 6 backs can be happy with todays performance. Carey and Blanch have struggled since their red cards in the game against Tipp. Mossy and Keoghan in tremendous form all year. Mullen ,Stephen Donnelly and Luke Hogan when on played well. John Donnellys form our biggest worry. Seems completely off which is not like him. Still unbeaten. Leinster final plus 50 point difference and Cody, Shine and Shane Murphy to return and needed.
There really would have been a complete meltdown if we had to lose a 16 point lead. A good save by Murphy, ref not giving advantage when Dublin had a goal chance and some late wides meant it didn't happen but doesn't hide the fact that we were slaughtered in the second half
Will you stop. Huw Lawlor is out on his own as a full back.
Absolute class act in every game.
Best fullback in the game
Don't agree , he would be out closest challenger all right
Huw Lawlor starts for any team in the country.
On today's viewing of the 3 matches I don't think there's one player from cork/ Tipp,/ Waterford and ourselves who would start for Limerick
Just pointing out that despite the hype there are indeed some one sided poor games in Munster
Limerick defence really tightened up and stopped cork scoring goals probably one of there best performances in a few years
Waterford tipp was entertaining for the most part b4 tipperary pulled away. Cork were torn apart by one of the best hurling teams we've seen. Not exactly the same as what I was talking about.
Just seen Luke Hogans injury back on Buffs Snapchat, looked like non contact when he was trying to get back up and grabbed the side of his knee which is never a good sign. Hopefully it's not the ligaments because he looked sharp and direct when he came on.
Does Derek Lyng honestly think he is going to win the All Ireland with Ritchie Reid at number? Limerick would eat him alive.
He’s had a good few years to sort that position out.
Noticed Mullen rubbing his calf before he was taken off and he had been over talking to the sideline. He gid huge work in first half and was instrumental in shutting down Dublins puck out to the new stand side. Also agree the team suffered when Kenny went off.
every inter county manager left in the AI is sh8ting themselves after that limerick performance
That second half was hard work and Dublin really came back into the match, fortunately Billy Ryan buried that goal chance after a great run from Jordan Molloy and now we're into the Leinster Final with a match to spare. Billy Ryan and Keoghan really stood up today and are becoming key players in the forward line. Cian Kenny is now a crucial player for our midfield and we started to struggle there once he went off.Stephen Donnelly had a good 1st half but wasn't in the 2nd half much. Luke Hogan did well when we came on and hopefully the injury isn't bad.
Half back line was poor this afternoon, Richie Reid isn't a centre back if he has to man mark, he's a sweeper or a midfielder, he was brushed aside too often in the tackle. Blanchfield and Carey allowed the Dublin players way too much space at times, both have struggled at times this season. Paddy Deegan shouldn't be in the full back line, he's not a man marker and his biggest strength is running with the ball, he's too deep doing that if he is in the full back line. In the forwards John Donnelly struggled and TJ from open play wasn't great. He's so slow nowadays even in the full forward line and was too slow getting his shot in much too often, even his goal had a huge amount of luck too it. TBH he's not a 70 minute player this year I feel. Mullen had a strange game, he doesn't look fully fit and was very deep for large chunks of the first half, still chipped in with a useful 1-1 though. I assume he was taken off because of fitness reasons or because after getting the yellow card it looked like the Dubs were going to go after him to try and provoke him into getting sent off.
With nothing at stake next weekend for either team, I'd like to see wholesale changes on our starting 15. Huw Lawlor, Cian Kenny, Mikey Carey, Mossy Keoghan, Eoin Murphy and Billy Ryan should not be starting at least and tbh I don't want to see Lawlor or Kenny even on the bench in case Lyng gets tempted to bring them on. It's a great chance for the likes of Tallis, Moylan, Hammond, Doyle, Drennan, Dunne and Wall to get good game time at championship level even if it is unlikely to be a blood and guts style match. If Mullen and TJ don't need match fitness I'd be inclined to rest them too.
Everyone around us in the stand was screaming at Murphy to take the puckouts quicker but the only time he took a quick one was towards the end when he passed to Paddy Deegan. That was probably the occasion where he should have been time-wasting with Dublin on top.
Billy Ryan excellent, smart thinking to take a quick line ball in the first half which led to the goal and then scored the last one when he was clearly nursing the ankle. Mossy having a fantastic year.
Backs were shocking. 10 yards off their men, you wouldn't see it in Junior F (no offense to junior Fs). Huw Lawlor doing the job of 3 men as a result.
Still, through to a Leinster final, scoring goals, fighting till the end. Hard to be too disappointed but things to improve on.
Impossible to know we really are at seems like alot players are out of form or rusty not back to 100% fitness
It was mad having deegan corner back and t Walsh playing so well last week on the bench
Not sure why Mullen didn’t play the full 70 he needs the minutes
Tj needs to lay off the ball he was to greedy today which is unlike him
Hogan was flying until going off hopefully he won’t be out to long
Dublin got all there scores so easy including the goals
An important win today; almost blew a 14 point HT lead with understandable reduced intensity until it was back in the melting pot. The final goal was the best of the bunch - created by Jordan Molliy and well finished by Billy Ryan. The swirling wind created made of the goals for both sides. Overall, happy with the players improved performance this year. Mossy, Billy Ryan Injuries are a worry; hopefully, Cody, Shane Murphy, Kenny, Shine, Hogan and Butler (bad hand belt today) all recover timely. We normally pick up more injuries in Chadwicks Park. Leinster Final will be tough and I hope we can get the intensity level (fwds working back) for at least 55 mins. I think Galway are timing their run and beat a very good Dublin side.
14 point half time lead flattered Kilkenny as the goals were soft. Dublin movement was far better than ours. Only scored 1-4 from play in the second half. Billy Ryan our best forward again followed by Mossy. John Donnelly hasn't recovered his form from last year and TJ slowing down. Hopefully we have a full squad to pick from in 3 weeks time. Chance to see Moylan, Zack and Owen Wall against Wexford as nothing at stake for either team. I think Dublin will beat Galway to set up a repeat of today in the Leinster Final
2 needless silly fouls led to 2 of their goals. John donnelly stupid push in the back at the sideline and mossy pulling back thecorner back.both launched into our box leading to goals.mullen needs good training the next few weeks and Cody back for the final.lets hope u20s can keep the run going on Wednesday and maybe a couple of them can become boaters onto the senior squad.
Was it sun in their eyes or what in the town end goals? Both sides were launching high ball into that end and it resulted in a number of the goals due to dropped balls. That said the catch by Huw at the end was immense alright.
Mossy is on fire up front, not only winning possession and scoring but also his vision and passing today was excellent. Billy has also become a key player up front. Felt bad for Luke Hogan as he was certainly putting his hand up for a place.
The switching off is a concern as it's happening in every game. I can also see why Blanchfield is not guaranteed his place as he would drive you mad sometimes hitting loose passes or taking too long.
Overall it was a tough match that was badly needed and good to see that they steadied the ship to see out the win.
Ya can't really exceed 100% !
yeh strange game, became complacent maybe but worrying to almost give up a lead like that. Hopefully Hogan injury not too bad, real shame from him. Great to be in a Leinster Finall all the same.
100% win record across the 3 groups, 17/20/Senior and in 3 Leinster Finals. Can't really ask for more.
Aye, forgot to mention him. Very direct and is quicker than I thought he was. Made a few nice runs against Offaly last week as well
Poor second half.need to get everyone fit in the next 3 weeks.mention to Luke hogan who really did well when he came on.hopefully the injury is not to bad.
Not exactly 2 classics in Munster today Waterford bet by 9 or 10 pints cork destroyed
That was poor overall even allowing for the wind being such an X factor. Didn't think the half time scoreboard reflected the balance of play. Richie Reid was shocking from a defensive point of view. He offers zero resistance there. It appears remarkably easy for an opposing forward to get free from our half back line on their puck out. All 3 of them plus Deegan were repeatedly 10 yards off their men after simple moves. Billy Ryan and Mossy are having great years and I love to see it. TJ struggling from open play in my opinion. Struggles to win his own ball clean and needs to pull the trigger quicker when he does get his couple of yards. That catch at the end by Huw Lawlor was immense. Eoin Murphy waits way too long to puck the ball out. They're doing all this off the ball movement on the half forward line and the whole thing has played out by the time he hits it. If he spent less time pointing we'd be far better off. Good save though.
