Clare GAA discussion thread

Ando's Saggy Bottom · 01-04-2013 06:17AM

Ye will not progress with him in charge. A great man to spend an absolute fortune getting players built up like rugby players but absolutely the wrong man to get ye playing the hurling your young players are capable of. Watch JBM outdo him tactically the next day with arguably a weaker team on paper.

teednab-el · 01-04-2013 01:07PM

jjjd wrote: »

Based on what? Cork have only been able to manage one win out of five matches in the league this season. The worst in the division.

Clare have already beaten Cork by six points in their own backyard this season.

Now what makes you think that Cork can somehow beat Clare in a neutral venue? All indicators point to a Clare victory.

It was meant to be a joke but if you need me to explain i can. Clare were very poor yesterday against a Tipp team that Cork beat by a cricket score. Also Cork played better against Kilkenny than what Clare did a week ago. Cork will be better the next day out and Clare will find it hard to beat them. If the venue is Semple Stadium Cork love playing there and play their best hurling there. Clare wont be as good the next day out the pressure will be on them to perform and unfortunately will be relegated to division 1b. Thats a shame because I rate Clare higher than Galway or Waterford at the moment.

Hidalgo · 01-04-2013 03:02PM

teednab-el wrote: »

It was meant to be a joke but if you need me to explain i can. Clare were very poor yesterday against a Tipp team that Cork beat by a cricket score. Also Cork played better against Kilkenny than what Clare did a week ago. Cork will be better the next day out and Clare will find it hard to beat them. If the venue is Semple Stadium Cork love playing there and play their best hurling there. Clare wont be as good the next day out the pressure will be on them to perform and unfortunately will be relegated to division 1b. Thats a shame because I rate Clare higher than Galway or Waterford at the moment.

Using, Clare V Tipp and Cork V Tipp as a barometer is pointless.
Tipp in the 1st round of the league and the Tipp that's getting motoring towards championship are two different animals.

teednab-el · 01-04-2013 03:51PM

Hidalgo wrote: »

Using, Clare V Tipp and Cork V Tipp as a barometer is pointless.
Tipp in the 1st round of the league and the Tipp that's getting motoring towards championship are two different animals.

Still doesnt excuse the fact that Clare lost by 11 points to Tipp and if Cork were to play Tipp tomorrow even in championship we might lose but not by 11 points. There has always been nothing but a score between Cork and Tipp in recent years.

Thinkstoomuch · 01-04-2013 04:11PM

I Would agree that the Tippereary games with Cork and Clare are no fair reflection between the teams.
Tippereary made Cork look better than they were and at least yesterday this was a good display by Cork against a true test of a team.
I would dissagree that Cork played better against KK than Clare did.
I thought Clare performed very well and could have at easily drawn that game like Cork in the end so I dont buy in to the fact Cork will easily beat clare.
Clare have beaten us twice this year and won't fear Cork at all.
I feel Cork can win if they pick their best team but this will go down to the wire.Cork will have one majior advantage from a few weeks back in the sense Joyce will be Centre back and Cronin will be out the field.Tony Kelly is a fine talent but make no mistake,Joyce will have the hurling and speed to mark him.If Conlon goes centre forward i'd expect Joyce to still hold he's own.Joyce put in some massive hits yesterday on the KK forwards.
This game will be won by which ever half back line gains a foothold in the game.
In the 2 games Clare have beaten Cork this year they dominated Cork at half back.
Our weakest link which is the half forward line will be against Clare's strongest line.Donnellan and Bulger are superb half backs.One thing for sure is Clare will bring a huge intensity to the game,ye blew us away in Cork.
If we bring the same intensity as we brought to yesterdays game we will have a good chance.
Thurles is regarded as Corks home but i don't buy this belief that it will get us the win alone or is any great advantage.We have played good games in the past there,but many a time the last few years we have been beaten heavily.Thurles did not do much for Cork in the last 2 league finals or against Tippereary the last few years.
Yes the open spaces well help Cork but the way Clare defend with their half forwards and midfield pushing back Cork forwards will have to earn every score that they get.
I also do not believe Clare will mind Thurles or fold under pressure.Clare won the U21 final in thurles last year and had the confidence to win it well.Ye also have players from successful minor and U21 teams,where we don't have the same winning culture in underage from the last few years.
I think there will be huge pressure on Cork as for Cork to be relegated would be huge, as no disrespect to Clare but Cork with there tradition and history it would gain more attention from outside the counties if we were relegated than it would for ye.Clare won't have the same expectaion or pressure that Cork will have,and that will only help Clare.
Im sure Davy will talk Cork up the next few weeks,but behind closed doors he will have no fear of Cork.
I expect this to be very close and would not be suprised if extra time was needed.
On a side note,were playing Clare in the minor in two weeks in Cork.It will be a tough ask for us.Have Clare many of last years team???

Thinkstoomuch · 01-04-2013 04:32PM

teednab-el wrote: »

Still doesnt excuse the fact that Clare lost by 11 points to Tipp and if Cork were to play Tipp tomorrow even in championship we might lose but not by 11 points. There has always been nothing but a score between Cork and Tipp in recent years.

Cork tipp games are always close as their derby games and both teams rise to the occasion particulary the underdog.I think you are not comparing like with like.
Cork got hammered by KK in the league last year and were well beaten in general by Galway in the semifinal.We are not as invincible as you think.
You could use the same argument in favour of Clare.Clare beat Galway while we have always failed in the last 4 years to beat them.Galway and Clare are derby games and always can take on a life of their own,so to compare what Tipp done to Clare and what we done to Tipp and likewise what Clare done to Galway what we didnt do to Galway is unreliable.
All that can be judged on is Clare have beaten Cork twice this year,and many of their players have success at underage that we dont so Clare are going to be extremely hard to beat and I would not be suprised if they were favourites.The Tippereary games have no relevance whatsoever as come throw in there is only two teams playing,Cork and Clare.

rufty · 03-04-2013 05:11PM

To be honest the lads looked tired in the 2nd half against Kilkenny and positively jaded against Tipperary. They need the fortnight rest before the Cork game. And they were being marked down as the fittest team in the league last week only. We'll have to be firing on all cylinders to overcome Cork as the rebels won't fancy the prospect of relegation one bit and should be well motivated for this one.

Hidalgo · 03-04-2013 07:58PM

Thinkstoomuch wrote: »

Cork tipp games are always close as their derby games and both teams rise to the occasion particulary the underdog.I think you are not comparing like with like.
Cork got hammered by KK in the league last year and were well beaten in general by Galway in the semifinal.We are not as invincible as you think.
You could use the same argument in favour of Clare.Clare beat Galway while we have always failed in the last 4 years to beat them.Galway and Clare are derby games and always can take on a life of their own,so to compare what Tipp done to Clare and what we done to Tipp and likewise what Clare done to Galway what we didnt do to Galway is unreliable.
All that can be judged on is Clare have beaten Cork twice this year,and many of their players have success at underage that we dont so Clare are going to be extremely hard to beat and I would not be suprised if they were favourites.The Tippereary games have no relevance whatsoever as come throw in there is only two teams playing,Cork and Clare.

I'd put little to no base on the 1st victory Clare had over Cork.
That night Cork had to start their sub goalie at corner forward due to a shortage of numbers. A fuel spill on the Ennis-Limerick road delayed some of the Cork players who didn't arrive till the stroke of half time.

For the next day, I think both sides have a weakness in the same region, namely their half forward line, Clare have continually struggled to get close to even breaking even in this area. If Cork put Cronin at 11, that would be a big help to them imo, though maybe he's more valuable at mid field.

A lot will depend on selection from a Clare perspective, for too much of the league, we've been selecting players out of position, trying to put square pegs into round holes.

Thurles will suit both imo. Another factor is game management, an area that Clare are weak in imo. Often the game has slipped away by the time necessary changes are made.

Hidalgo · 03-04-2013 08:00PM

teednab-el wrote: »

Still doesnt excuse the fact that Clare lost by 11 points to Tipp and if Cork were to play Tipp tomorrow even in championship we might lose but not by 11 points. There has always been nothing but a score between Cork and Tipp in recent years.

Yes and if Clare were to play Tipp again, they'd lose but maybe not by 11 the next time.

For what its worth, if Cork and Tipp meet in the heat of championship this summer, they'll do extremely well to be within a score of Tipp. Same goes for all teams bar KK I think.

Clareman · 03-04-2013 08:09PM

rufty wrote: »

To be honest the lads looked tired in the 2nd half against Kilkenny and positively jaded against Tipperary. They need the fortnight rest before the Cork game. And they were being marked down as the fittest team in the league last week only. We'll have to be firing on all cylinders to overcome Cork as the rebels won't fancy the prospect of relegation one bit and should be well motivated for this one.

I don't think they were tired, they were dejected and completely rudderless, no-one was able to take the game by the scruff of the neck and win the game for the team, people weren't taking risks or shots.

rufty · 03-04-2013 08:38PM

Clareman wrote: »

I don't think they were tired, they were dejected and completely rudderless, no-one was able to take the game by the scruff of the neck and win the game for the team, people weren't taking risks or shots.

That's even worse. Hope they're back on form for the Cork game. Would be a travesty to drop a division again right off especially after all the good work that has been achieved this year so far.

teednab-el · 03-04-2013 09:29PM

Hidalgo wrote: »

Yes and if Clare were to play Tipp again, they'd lose but maybe not by 11 the next time.

For what its worth, if Cork and Tipp meet in the heat of championship this summer, they'll do extremely well to be within a score of Tipp. Same goes for all teams bar KK I think.

Think Cork would win against Tipp and if we lost there would be nothing but a score between them.

Hidalgo · 03-04-2013 09:45PM

Clareman wrote: »

I don't think they were tired, they were dejected and completely rudderless, no-one was able to take the game by the scruff of the neck and win the game for the team, people weren't taking risks or shots.

Taking risks and shots is a no go for this team. It's not part of the game plan, the idea is to work the ball into the perfect shooting position to ensure low risk of missing. The problem with this of course is that you raise the risk of losing the ball in your attempts to work the perfect shooting opportunity.
Off the cuff hurling is not the order of the day

Hidalgo · 03-04-2013 09:47PM

teednab-el wrote: »

Think Cork would win against Tipp and if we lost there would be nothing but a score between them.

So I assume for the upcoming championship you have KK as number 1, Cork as 2.
Or do you think Cork will beat KK come the business end of championship hurling??

What exactly has you putting Cork ahead of Tipp out of curiosity??

Thinkstoomuch · 03-04-2013 10:13PM

Hidalgo wrote: »

I'd put little to no base on the 1st victory Clare had over Cork.
That night Cork had to start their sub goalie at corner forward due to a shortage of numbers. A fuel spill on the Ennis-Limerick road delayed some of the Cork players who didn't arrive till the stroke of half time.

For the next day, I think both sides have a weakness in the same region, namely their half forward line, Clare have continually struggled to get close to even breaking even in this area. If Cork put Cronin at 11, that would be a big help to them imo, though maybe he's more valuable at mid field.

A lot will depend on selection from a Clare perspective, for too much of the league, we've been selecting players out of position, trying to put square pegs into round holes.

Thurles will suit both imo. Another factor is game management, an area that Clare are weak in imo. Often the game has slipped away by the time necessary changes are made.

Yeah it was a bit mad alright to see Willam Mccarthy as a half forward.
Yeah the likes of Moylan,Mccarthy, and mannix etc arrived late.It was two weak enough sides bar both teams had practially their starting half back lines.
Joyce was CB for us and white will probably start the next day.
I still feel even though as you say its not of great value but to beat Cork still is good for the Confidence for Clare.
Not only to avoid the drop but if we loose to Clare and we were to meet ye again in the Munster Championship we would be going in the game on a big loosing run to ye which is bound to get inside the younger players minds.
Yeah while Cian Mac made an impression when he came on as sub in that WC game,he has been so inconsistent in the League,that our Half Forward line has not many options for their.
Cronin would be the answer at CF but were short in midfield then.I hope JBM does not play Mcloghlin and Kearney in the middle which i feel he will if Cronin goes to CF.Paudie Sul is not the answer and will not be able to compete let alone dominate either Bulger or Donnellan in the air.
If Egan recovers from hes bruised hand ,him and Joyce are certain starters.I feel Mcloughlin would make this line extremely hard to break down.
However if Stephen White starts then Colin Ryan,or Kelly if he plays on the wing will cause him huge problems.White is good to a degree but as Hogan proved sunday he's hurling is not fast enough at this level.
If Tom Kenny Starts while he has quicker hands he is only a good half back at best,can be exposed in the air and does not have the legs to sweep like Mcloughlin can.
So in essence a lot will come down to what JBM does also.I think Cronin at CB the last day was awful and it affected the whole balance of the team.I had posted prior to the match that Kelly would roast him.It was nothing short of Complete Madness to even think let alone play him there for the whole game.
Hopefully JBM will get the team right this time.
I also hope Horgan is dropped but i doubt he will be.If Morey marks him ,id say Horgan wont have the mindset to stick at it.Morey will stick to him like glue.
Morey is a class corner back,reminds me of Ollie Canning.He will have too much pace for Horgan.
Id prefer to see O Farell or Moylan on him.
The one thing I fear is that Clare with Conlon,and Darren Honan if he starts have ball winning forwards we dont have.
You are right in that the sideline will have a big bearing on this game.Davy Fitz can be inspiring in one way,but with all due respect he can be a liability if he looses the head.He is always trying to get involved in things to stir the team up which i dont think he needs to do.
He was trying to get involved with Johnnie Crowley the last day.
I do not see what he hopes to achieve by doing this.JBM will be cool out always offering encouragement,during the game.

Thinkstoomuch · 03-04-2013 10:33PM

Hidalgo wrote: »

So I assume for the upcoming championship you have KK as number 1, Cork as 2.
Or do you think Cork will beat KK come the business end of championship hurling??

What exactly has you putting Cork ahead of Tipp out of curiosity??

I'd say he is the only Cork man thinking like that.I cant agree with he's logic at all.
Id love to say Cork are ahead of Tipp but were not.We are the same level we were at last year ,possibly weaker even give we lost Sweetnham and Cadogan and Cahalane.The reason I mention the latter two is that while either one may not of of been the answer at Full Back they were much better options than what we have at the moment in a converted corner back come full back.
We also have no Niall Mac either.
So while we have more stability in the half back line and are making progress with intensity and workrate,we are no better or worse off at Full back while we are considerably weaker in our midfield and half forward options.
We lack proven ball winners.
And we did not have Michael Cussen on the panel last year.He is now back which is shambolic to say the least.That really shows we are weaker than last year if he is starting or seen as a game changer.
So when we could not beat Tipp last year i see nothing to be overly confident we will beat a resurgent tipp team with a very astute new manager.That is even if get to a Munster Final.

Thinkstoomuch · 03-04-2013 10:49PM

What the feeling with yere minor's next thursday night in Pairc Rinn,have Clare many from last year?
It a massive game for Cork in that over the last few years we have only beaten Kerry.A massive week in for both Cork and Clare hurling regarding the future and present hurlers in one sense with the minor game on Thursday and the senior 3 days later.

Hidalgo · 03-04-2013 10:50PM

Thinkstoomuch wrote: »

Yeah it was a bit mad alright to see Willam Mccarthy as a half forward.
Yeah the likes of Moylan,Mccarthy, and mannix etc arrived late.It was two weak enough sides bar both teams had practially their starting half back lines.
Joyce was CB for us and white will probably start the next day.
I still feel even though as you say its not of great value but to beat Cork still is good for the Confidence for Clare.
Not only to avoid the drop but if we loose to Clare and we were to meet ye again in the Munster Championship we would be going in the game on a big loosing run to ye which is bound to get inside the younger players minds.
Yeah while Cian Mac made an impression when he came on as sub in that WC game,he has been so inconsistent in the League,that our Half Forward line has not many options for their.
Cronin would be the answer at CF but were short in midfield then.I hope JBM does not play Mcloghlin and Kearney in the middle which i feel he will if Cronin goes to CF.Paudie Sul is not the answer and will not be able to compete let alone dominate either Bulger or Donnellan in the air.
If Egan recovers from hes bruised hand ,him and Joyce are certain starters.I feel Mcloughlin would make this line extremely hard to break down.
However if Stephen White starts then Colin Ryan,or Kelly if he plays on the wing will cause him huge problems.White is good to a degree but as Hogan proved sunday he's hurling is not fast enough at this level.
If Tom Kenny Starts while he has quicker hands he is only a good half back at best,can be exposed in the air and does not have the legs to sweep like Mcloughlin can.
So in essence a lot will come down to what JBM does also.I think Cronin at CB the last day was awful and it affected the whole balance of the team.I had posted prior to the match that Kelly would roast him.It was nothing short of Complete Madness to even think let alone play him there for the whole game.
Hopefully JBM will get the team right this time.
I also hope Horgan is dropped but i doubt he will be.If Morey marks him ,id say Horgan wont have the mindset to stick at it.Morey will stick to him like glue.
Morey is a class corner back,reminds me of Ollie Canning.He will have too much pace for Horgan.
Id prefer to see O Farell or Moylan on him.
The one thing I fear is that Clare with Conlon,and Darren Honan if he starts have ball winning forwards we dont have.
You are right in that the sideline will have a big bearing on this game.Davy Fitz can be inspiring in one way,but with all due respect he can be a liability if he looses the head.He is always trying to get involved in things to stir the team up which i dont think he needs to do.
He was trying to get involved with Johnnie Crowley the last day.
I do not see what he hopes to achieve by doing this.JBM will be cool out always offering encouragement,during the game.

What's the story regarding William Egan and Stephen McDonnell. both would be big additions if fit. IMO Kenny could be exposed for pace at half back, he doesn't have the engine he did in his prime as a mid fielder.
Morey has been at mid field and corner back this year, neither his best position. At mid field the game seems to by pass him as his positioing isn't quick enough )possibly because he hasn't hurled a lot there). He's a good corner back but wing back is his best position imo.

Conlon is Clare's best ball winner but his threat is lessened as he has spent most of his time in the FF line, odd considering how Clare struggle to win their own puck outs.
Clare have persisted with a 1 man FF line in Shane O Donnell, he's done really well for a lad just out of minor but for me its not an ideal set up. I think Davy is using that policy now for summer and Honan will operate in that position.

Arguable the only positive from a Clare pov last Sunday was the return of Conor McGrath. He's only recently back training from a groin op so it was a welcome surprise to see him in the fold. While I don't expect him to start the relegation play off, he would be a great asset off the bench.

Thinkstoomuch · 03-04-2013 11:23PM

Hidalgo wrote: »

What's the story regarding William Egan and Stephen McDonnell. both would be big additions if fit. IMO Kenny could be exposed for pace at half back, he doesn't have the engine he did in his prime as a mid fielder.
Morey has been at mid field and corner back this year, neither his best position. At mid field the game seems to by pass him as his positioing isn't quick enough )possibly because he hasn't hurled a lot there). He's a good corner back but wing back is his best position imo.

Conlon is Clare's best ball winner but his threat is lessened as he has spent most of his time in the FF line, odd considering how Clare struggle to win their own puck outs.
Clare have persisted with a 1 man FF line in Shane O Donnell, he's done really well for a lad just out of minor but for me its not an ideal set up. I think Davy is using that policy now for summer and Honan will operate in that position.

Arguable the only positive from a Clare pov last Sunday was the return of Conor McGrath. He's only recently back training from a groin op so it was a welcome surprise to see him in the fold. While I don't expect him to start the relegation play off, he would be a
great asset off the bench.

Egan has a bruised hand and they said he was out for ten days and he would be fine so im hoping he is.He is in excellent form and adds a scoring threat from half back which White can not.
Mcdonnell is a fine hurler,and hurler is the key word here as he has too much hurling for full back,not a commanding presence or reader of the game.He likes to man mark,attack the ball.
He does not have the nature for a full back,like Lohan,Sully etc,no nonesene stuff.He will struggle to get back on the team not for hes lacking ability as a corner back but Shane O Neill and Connor Sul and Killian Murphy who had a good debut last week will all challenge him for the CB slot.
I feel he would be an excellent midfielder where he played underage for the Glen and Cork.
If Egan is out and we start with Kenny and White we are in awful trouble on the wings.
Kenny as you said has not the legs any more.He was never seen a half back in his career,in 2003 he played against ye and screamed up the right wing and scored a beauty of a point.That point showed what he had,pace and scoring ability.
He was weak under the high ball and therefore played at midfield where back then in 2004 he's running game was ideal for Cork.
He was never a man to pluck a ball out of the skies.
Last year Maher cleaned him out for the ball that created the Mcgrath goal.
Tony Kelly would clean him out.
I like Conlon and he is good on the ball.Joyce is a tough cookie and for a guy still under 21 he breathes confidence.
He seems to have that Northside of Cork swagger about him.
I noticed Kelly when KK belted him that he faded a bit,Joyce was well able to hit Larkin and saved a certain goal.
Joyces body language summed it up for me after the defeat.He threw his eyes to heaven and you could see ,he was sickened.I hope Joyce marks Kelly but if i were Davy I woudnt have kelly near Joyce.
While a lot of other players did not seem as despondent and could of been not so much happy but relieved KK did not blow them away,Joyce seemed he did not give a f**k as it was a defeat in his eyes,no two ways about it.
I love that mentaility.

teednab-el · 04-04-2013 12:53AM

Hidalgo wrote: »

So I assume for the upcoming championship you have KK as number 1, Cork as 2.
Or do you think Cork will beat KK come the business end of championship hurling??

What exactly has you putting Cork ahead of Tipp out of curiosity??

Not at all. KK are miles ahead of the rest. Their "B" team would beat most counties ranked after them. Then after that there isnt much between Tipp, Cork, Clare , Waterford and Galway.

Tipp can be good but not as good as others make them out to be. They blow hot and cold. I dont see them hammering Cork like what Kilkenny have done to us in 2008, 2010 and League Final 2012. Before 2013 league result, it wouldnt be the first time Cork hammered Tipp, we did it recently in 2010 also in championship. Cork are one team that Tipp find hard to beat. All the encounters between Cork and Tipp over last few years have been close bar 2010 when Cork destroyed them. Now, Tipp won All Ireland in 2010 but i still believe Kilkenny just didnt turn up that day and Shefflin going off injured really affected them. This talk about "the drive for five" is really what caused Kilkenny to lose, things got a bit out of hand.

Hidalgo · 04-04-2013 01:12AM

Thinkstoomuch wrote: »

What the feeling with yere minor's next thursday night in Pairc Rinn,have Clare many from last year?
It a massive game for Cork in that over the last few years we have only beaten Kerry.A massive week in for both Cork and Clare hurling regarding the future and present hurlers in one sense with the minor game on Thursday and the senior 3 days later.

We should have a fairly decent crop of minors this year, not as strong as last year but possibly better than last.
Quite a few of last years panel under age again AFAIK, 3 of last years starting forwards are with 2 subs who saw a fair bit of gametime.
However, I think one of them is unavailable, it may be due to him doing the Leaving Cert, Shane Taylor, he was excellent in last year's semi final loss to Dublin, caught some great ball at wing forward. He'd be a loss.
One worry I'd have is that its all lovely skillful hurlers coming through and maybe a bit more grunt is needed, esp as you step up the grades to senior.

I'd guess that one or 2 could play themselves into contention for a starting berth based on club U21 performances (semi finals were on Good Friday).

Hidalgo · 04-04-2013 01:14AM

teednab-el wrote: »

Not at all. KK are miles ahead of the rest. Their "B" team would beat most counties ranked after them. Then after that there isnt much between Tipp, Cork, Clare , Waterford and Galway.

Tipp can be good but not as good as others make them out to be. They blow hot and cold. I dont see them hammering Cork like what Kilkenny have done to us in 2008, 2010 and League Final 2012. Before 2013 league result, it wouldnt be the first time Cork hammered Tipp, we did it recently in 2010 also in championship. Cork are one team that Tipp find hard to beat. All the encounters between Cork and Tipp over last few years have been close bar 2010 when Cork destroyed them. Now, Tipp won All Ireland in 2010 but i still believe Kilkenny just didnt turn up that day and Shefflin going off injured really affected them. This talk about "the drive for five" is really what caused Kilkenny to lose, things got a bit out of hand.

While Tipp may find i hard to shake off Cork if their paths cross come summer, they will have enough, Tipp and KK will be the 2 left standing come Sept imo

Thinkstoomuch · 04-04-2013 01:34AM

Hidalgo wrote: »

We should have a fairly decent crop of minors this year, not as strong as last year but possibly better than last.
Quite a few of last years panel under age again AFAIK, 3 of last years starting forwards are with 2 subs who saw a fair bit of gametime.
However, I think one of them is unavailable, it may be due to him doing the Leaving Cert, Shane Taylor, he was excellent in last year's semi final loss to Dublin, caught some great ball at wing forward. He'd be a loss.
One worry I'd have is that its all lovely skillful hurlers coming through and maybe a bit more grunt is needed, esp as you step up the grades to senior.

I'd guess that one or 2 could play themselves into contention for a starting berth based on club U21 performances (semi finals were on Good Friday).

Id say if thats the case Clare will probably win.Thats not just talking ye up,but i was hoping it would be an inexpierenced team and at home it might help us.
But if ye have a good crop from last year it will take a lot more from Cork like organisation and tactics to a point to beat ye,and with Pat Kenneally as manager I would not be too hopeful on that score.
I don't think he is a good manager,he was over the intermediates for a year and then got this job.
Pa O Callaghan of Ballyhea would be Corks main forward.Hopefully Cork will win but im not too hopeful now.
In relation to needing a bit of "Grunt"up front ,our Senior team needs that.We have a lot of Skilful forwards but the balance is all wrong.

Clareman · 04-04-2013 08:12AM

Thinkstoomuch wrote: »

What the feeling with yere minor's next thursday night in Pairc Rinn,have Clare many from last year?
It a massive game for Cork in that over the last few years we have only beaten Kerry.A massive week in for both Cork and Clare hurling regarding the future and present hurlers in one sense with the minor game on Thursday and the senior 3 days later.

Clare minor is still strong, last years final, ignoring all the stupidity with the mentors, was 1 of the best games of the season, something like 15 scores to 14 with the winning point coming from a sideline puck from ~50 yards out.

Hidalgo · 04-04-2013 09:45AM

Thinkstoomuch wrote: »

Id say if thats the case Clare will probably win.Thats not just talking ye up,but i was hoping it would be an inexpierenced team and at home it might help us.
But if ye have a good crop from last year it will take a lot more from Cork like organisation and tactics to a point to beat ye,and with Pat Kenneally as manager I would not be too hopeful on that score.
I don't think he is a good manager,he was over the intermediates for a year and then got this job.
Pa O Callaghan of Ballyhea would be Corks main forward.Hopefully Cork will win but im not too hopeful now.
In relation to needing a bit of "Grunt"up front ,our Senior team needs that.We have a lot of Skilful forwards but the balance is all wrong.

If I'm not mistaken, management at minor level appears to be a problem in Cork for the last while. Ye seem to do well at U16 level but unable to continue it to minor. Do the management over teams at one grade follow that side up through the age brackets?

In fairness, calling it at minor level is notoriously difficult, particularly in the latter stages of the championship. How young lads deal with the pressure etc

Thinkstoomuch · 04-04-2013 03:54PM

Hidalgo wrote: »

If I'm not mistaken, management at minor level appears to be a problem in Cork for the last while. Ye seem to do well at U16 level but unable to continue it to minor. Do the management over teams at one grade follow that side up through the age brackets?

In fairness, calling it at minor level is notoriously difficult, particularly in the latter stages of the championship. How young lads deal with the pressure etc

I'll agree that young lads can blow hot and cold but as Roscommon,and Tippereary proved that with good management it can greatly help a team overcome anything.We are not even competing at the moment in the minors.

The U21 scence is the same.We have a manager in his 4th year that had only ever won one game and still in charge for another term.He's term was not even up for debate.And there is proven successful managers not even getting interviewed for the positions.
The minors have the players and the lads that are up to U16 are well coached,ex captain Mark landers is involved .
But there is no follow through with style or coaches ,the CCB just pick guys that are not good enough to pick a team.
There is development squads that were started but in years down the line it is useless if poor coaches are then in charge that hinder the progress.
This wont change much in the future.
The new Adminstator,Diarmuid O Donovan wrote after ye beat us last year that our minor failure while baffling was no great panic as long as two minor players per year is produced for the senior team then that it a true judge of a minor team.
He went so far as saying that a beaten Cork minor football team in 98 produced 2 all ireland senior medal winners 12 years later that maybe then you can only really judge the success of that team.He beliefs that benfits can be still achieved even if you fail at minor.
I do not agree with all of he's point .
I belive minor teams be successful and if not then questions miust be asked why there not successful.
As Clare have proven yere minors teams are successful and that is helping the U21 team.These guys are being developed in a winning culture.Ye have had Success in all levels bar Senior ,with yere intermediate team winning the all ireland as well in the last few years.
It is bound to help yere Senior team going forward.

Hidalgo · 11-04-2013 08:20PM

Cork beat Clare in minor hurling 3 15 to 2 14. Cork scored 5 of the last 6 points.
Clare led 2 08 to 2 05 at the break. Cork started fast with a 2 02 volley early.

jjjd · 14-04-2013 05:14PM

teednab-el wrote: »

I've a funny feeling we will hammer the shiite out of Clare in the playoff.

Well you certainly got that one wrong! Enjoy Division 1B!

rufty · 14-04-2013 05:22PM

Yes! Great win from the lads. Did well to hold the heads up after the 2nd goal went in. Some amount of wides though. Will need to sort that out but we can celebrate tonight anyway. 1A status assured and safe and those two 1 point defeats earlier in the laegue won't hang over us. Great play. Kelly once again immense.

Thinkstoomuch · 14-04-2013 06:02PM

Well done lads,the better team won.
We were holding on in the end and if we had won this it would of been Houdini like style.
We did not deserve to win,yere half back line destroyed us, as I feared.
Even though this is a young team,you can see the winning mentaility from successful underage teams,it gave ye huge self belief,and when ye needed them the most ,unlike a few of our so called superstars,Kelly,Conlon,Ryan and Honan stood up and were counted.
Clare had some awful wides and still won.Ye will only get better with more games.Ye lacked composure today at times.
If ye play us in Munster we will struggle to even compete with ye.Ye have more players to come back from injury where we were practially close to full strength,with only one player coming in that could make a difference.
Ye have key players and strength right down the centre of the team.We don't.
And our half forward line as a unit are awful.
Congrats on a cruical victory ,the scoreline flattered us, the game should of been won by ye before extra time by more than two points.

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