All Ireland Senior Hurling Championship 2026 (Munster & Leinster Championships, Liam McCarthy Cup)

Hegarty has been at the sneaky pull across like that all his career. It was correctly punished with a yellow.

Work rate too. You'll often see him track back and make fantastic tackles at the half way line and further back. Not his best day from open play yesterday but nailed the frees. There were a lot of Cork forwards who didn't get a lot of ball yesterday and I wouldn't blame them necessarily: the Limerick defending was good, the ball in wasn't good enough and the Limerick defending of the puck outs and frees was absolutely spot-on. Limerick maked the zones rather than the men for the incoming ball, which totally nullified Cork's long puck-outs. And then a final note on Connolly, which is when he's good he's very very good.

In saying all that….why no Alan Walsh yesterday I wonder…I trust Cork selectors know more than me though

Well said. What do people want from hurling referees? To just stand there and keep the time? Not blow the whistle at all and let the players have at it? Sick of that sort of commentary in the media in particular. Either the rules are enforced or we just want a free for all.

It a needlees, wreckless and stupid attempt at a challenge. Theres no excuse for it and I hope all referees note it going forward.

I suppose I'm getting old but a lot of games could be called Rugby Hurling. The physique of players. The amount of mauling, pardon the pun, going on. Now there's serious intensity and physicality and the finish yesterday was nail biting.

But I grew up where artistry with the stick, including in the air and on the ground, was king. Tackles involved hooking and blocking, and a good shoulder was applauded. Very little use of arms in the tackle.

The irony is all the players are brilliant hurlers, but the game has evolved this way. A very good watch, for younger posters is the Leinster Final between Wexford and Offaly in 1996, 30 years ago. Or Cork v Offaly 1999 All Ireland semi. Tipp v Cork 1987 and 1991.

It's hard to imagine Brian Whelehan, John Troy, Joe Deane, maybe even Tommy Walsh be as effective today. Brute strength and years of gym conditioning would result in opponents who could horse them out of the game.

My county won the Joe Mc over the weekend. They don't have the hurling to compete in Liam Mc tbh, and they definitely don't have the physique.

"But I grew up where artistry with the stick, including in the air and on the ground, was king"

No you didn't. That's just a seriously rose tinted fantasy.

Players didn't bother with arm tackles because they were too busy breaking hurlers off each other or too slow to catch their man to grab him.

Or send out a directive to all teams that they will be cracking down on it in future. Its gone too far. You literally have rugby type choke tackles happen where 3 lads surround a player, pin his arms to his side till he gets called for overcarrying. The game will flow if the players play to the rules and the ref applies them. Either that, or change the rules. We cant have rules and decide to half apply them as it leads to chaos and frustration.

You have 50% on here saying he had a good game and applied the rules and 50% saying he was shite because he applied the rules. Thats not a sustainable position.

Exactly, I've seen lads get such bad bone bruises from it they had to be withdrawn. Advantage to the fouling team.

I'd like to think when I post I'm speaking about hurling in general, or instances relating to a match without bias. I have absolutely nothing against any county.

I went on a bit about Cork's last free because I thought they messed up the communication with the ref. But I'm not anti Cork. I grew up admiring Tom Cashman, JBM, John Fenton, Seanie Leary. As regards Limerick it was Tommy Quaid, Pat Hartigan, Joe McKenna.

When I say I prefer a style of hurling I'm not thinking of a particular county. Every team that has won All Irelands has innovated to some extent. Some for good, imo, and others maybe not so.

When men were men..!

All-Ireland SHC quarter-finals

Saturday 20 June Clare v Dublin, FBD Semple Stadium, 7pm

Sunday 21 June Cork v Offaly, FBD Semple Stadium, 3.30pm.

Due to the GAA expecting all of Offaly to head to their QF, they have made two days out of it. KA-ching.

Neither fixture will sell out.

It tends to be the least attended game of the season respectively.

Hegarty is alway throwing the cowardly belt. Done Joe Canning in the back in 2020 when ball was nowhere near him. Should have seen red that day as well.

The atmosphere in Cork that evening was one of the most hostile that I've ever experienced and I know John Kiely was on the receiving end of some awful abuse from some Cork fans that evening, so I'm not surprised that it is still on his mind.

Also, a half time score does not determine the outcome of a game or who the best team are. Look no further than last year's All Ireland final.