Clare GAA Discussion - 2024 All Ireland Hurling Champions

Clareman · 24-10-2020 3:37pm

Roscommon win, we retain division 2 status, phew

supernova5 · 24-10-2020 3:39pm

jesus christ, a clare fade out in the last few minutes and a total houdini act by Laois has doomed us

beggars_bush · 24-10-2020 3:44pm

supernova5 wrote: »

jesus christ, a clare fade out in the last few minutes and a total houdini act by Laois has doomed us

Didn't Clare stay up?

supernova5 · 24-10-2020 3:44pm

my mistake, had not taken the head to head into consideration, thought it came down to points difference - way to close for comfort....

Treble double · 24-10-2020 6:21pm

supernova5 wrote: »

my mistake, had not taken the head to head into consideration, thought it came down to points difference - way to close for comfort....

Was a massive chance to get promoted if we had somehow sneaked a win, although we wouldn't survive in division 1 it would have been a lovely reward for Collins and how he has improved the fortunes of this team over the last 7 years
Division 2 next year will be a real bear pit with Cork and Down coming up and Meath and either Mayo or Tyrone dropping down.
Fair play to the lads on retaining their status and best of luck in the championship next week.

windy shepard henderson · 24-10-2020 7:24pm

IT was more or less job done last week in terms of relegation , it would have taken a series of results to put us down , it was always unlikley that roscommon would be beaten given the form they are in , the best two teams have been promoted to division 1 , armagh are an excellent side espically with the forwards they have they wont be out of place up there

to be fair we should be happy to consoliate division 2 status considering several players were missing for most of the league , this is our level pretty much

windy shepard henderson · 24-10-2020 7:27pm

letowski wrote: »

Sure:

https://clare.gaa.ie/clare-team-v-limerick/

The only way I see it is Lohan want's to keep things tight for 45 minutes and spring Shanagher and Cunningham from the bench.

Morey and McCarthy are good fit hurlers, so it's possible Lohan wants them to do alot of tracking against the Limerick wing forwards.

it would certainly appear that way , we were killed in the middle 3rd against them last year , not confident about tomorrow but atleast we looked like a solid side during the league hopfully the intensity levels are their tomorrow

windy shepard henderson · 25-10-2020 3:31am

Redsoxfan wrote: »

Had a quick look - Ultan Kelm would be expected to start also?

they managed to pull out of the hat lorcan mcSravick who is a mcCory cup winner and a serious prospect over the next ten years , the jones family were unaffected by the virus also thankfully :rolleyes:

fermanagh are a deacent team i would have both cavan and fermanagh ahead of laois and westmeath and even us but them the cards

kildare will be kicking themselves over the first two or 3 rounds of the league and what might have been , ironically so will we

Treble double · 25-10-2020 9:55am

windy shepard henderson wrote: »

they managed to pull out of the hat lorcan mcSravick who is a mcCory cup winner and a serious prospect over the next ten years , the jones family were unaffected by the virus also thankfully :rolleyes:

fermanagh are a deacent team i would have both cavan and fermanagh ahead of laois and westmeath and even us but them the cards

kildare will be kicking themselves over the first two or 3 rounds of the league and what might have been , ironically so will we

I don't know I think there has been a myth built up around the Ulster teams and how competitive their provincial championship is.
Antrim are division 4 permanently, Derry are hovering around there lately as well, Down division 3, Fermanagh and Cavan relegated to division 3, we beat both of them and I don't think any of the two of them are great
Armagh promoted, they have some fine players but their is serious question marks about their defence, we had plenty of goal scoring opportunity's yesterday and didn't take them, Roscommon did the week before, I think they will come straight back down because those deficiencies will be exploited in the top Division. Tyrone could be relegated today, Monaghan I have a lot of respect for, but can't beat the top teams when it matters. Donegal are the best team up there

LuckyGent88 · 25-10-2020 11:15am

Tis match day

. Not confident at all but it will be great to watch hurling again. Hopefully we can stay in the fight for the first 40/50 minutes and then go to our bench which looks pretty strong.

Strange enough team, while I’d be skeptical of the half back line, I’m more worried about our scoring ability. SOD and Malone wouldn’t be big scorers, Taylor is more a midfielder so let’s see what happens.

Just want us to be competitive today anyway. I’d have Limerick favourites for the All Ireland so we need a massive effort.

Clareman · 25-10-2020 12:54pm

First off the footballers, another year in division 2 and more importantly playing for Sam next year. I think this is about the level for this team but they've brought through a few players and were 10 minutes from division 1. We have a bench now that doesn't weaken the team when they are called on. Quick turn around to championship next week but I'm hopeful for a Munster final this year.

Clareman · 25-10-2020 1:07pm

Now for the hurlers, have to say this is the most downbeat I've been in a long time about Clare hurling, I can't see us having a hope today, I hope I'm completely wrong but looking at that team the half backs will be completely dominated which will mean that we'll have to bring back a few forwards which will mean that our forwards will be dominated by the Limerick backs when we should be targeting their full back lime.

Looking at the team, we've a new player in the center of every line including a new goalie. I don't think Cleary is solid enough for full back, I can see him going for balls, missing and then leaving Limerick an easy goal chance, we've changed goalie because of 10 goals in 2 challenge matches, goalies are usually not at fault on their own so I'm extremely worried about us leaking goal. O'Connor isn't a bad center back but his wing backs don't make this the most dominate line going, I'd prefer to have him on the wing instead of at 6. Midfield is a new pairing and McInerney is being brought out, I think he was wasted a bit at full back but I don't know how himself and Kelly will go in midfield. I think we found Kelly's best position last year as corner forward who can go out to midfield to get the ball, but he's back at midfield now and he's on the frees, big day from him today, if we're going to have any chance today we have to score every free. For the forwards, there's a huge responsibility on Fitz today, he's out only ball winner, if we've to have any chance today we have to score goals and take every chance we get, having SoD falling around the place with his arms out looking for frees isn't going to cut it today, they are going to have to get good ball and run at their opponents.

Looking at the bookies, Limerick to win by 11 or more points at 3/1 looks to be the bet of the day, considering Clare are 4/1 to win that shows what the bookies think.

supernova5 · 25-10-2020 1:08pm

From the team and subs that lined out in the All Ireland semi final in 2018 we are down 7 players [for various reasons] - that's a big deficit and disadvantage for any team to make up
we just have to get on with the hand we're dealt with at this point, lets hope Clare can be competitive at least and put up a decent showing in the back door/qualifiers

Clareman · 25-10-2020 1:20pm

supernova5 wrote: »

From the team and subs that lined out in the All Ireland semi final in 2018 we are down 7 players [for various reasons] - that's a big deficit and disadvantage for any team to make up
we just have to get on with the hand we're dealt with at this point, lets hope Clare can be competitive at least and put up a decent showing in the back door/qualifiers

Limerick also have 7 changes from the squad that won the All Ireland in 2018 and today's game so it's the same for both teams.

BloodyBill · 25-10-2020 1:42pm

Clare will do much better than is generally accepted. I see them being fired up and competing well. If McInerney and Kelly both hurl well then we could see McInerney being able to sit infront of O Connor. Actually he has to do this because O Conner is not going to catch ball over Hayes. He might break it down.
Full Forward line is 66% good. Obviously Shane O Donnell is our best corner forward of all time but he can't be expected to carry the whole line as he has in the past. Malone I have no faith in..hes got no hurling and Dan Morrissey will have a field day. Taylor is good..I hope he does well.
Ultimately Limerick have the better side and the final score might be more than 5 but I see us standing up and putting on a performance . Youd never know,it might be enough.

Clareman · 25-10-2020 2:14pm

SoD our best corner forward of all time???? Name 3 games where he played well for the full 70 minutes??? I'd say he's potentially our best corner forward but inconsistencies means I'd argue that he's not even Eire Ogs best as Stephen Mac has more medals than him

letowski · 25-10-2020 2:19pm

BloodyBill wrote: »

Clare will do much better than is generally accepted. I see them being fired up and competing well. If McInerney and Kelly both hurl well then we could see McInerney being able to sit infront of O Connor. Actually he has to do this because O Conner is not going to catch ball over Hayes. He might break it down.
Full Forward line is 66% good. Obviously Shane O Donnell is our best corner forward of all time but he can't be expected to carry the whole line as he has in the past. Malone I have no faith in..hes got no hurling and Dan Morrissey will have a field day. Taylor is good..I hope he does well.
Ultimately Limerick have the better side and the final score might be more than 5 but I see us standing up and putting on a performance . Youd never know,it might be enough.

I agree I think Pat O’Connor’s main responsibility today will be protecting the full back line. Limerick have a serious full forward line. He won’t win a man on battle with Kyle Hayes anyway. I’d give Kyle Hayes 5 points from play so long as POC can help limit Limericks full forward line.

Clareman · 25-10-2020 3:08pm

I'd imagine Clare will be content to give away frees rather than letting play develop, besides Cleary are any of our backs over 6 foot? Considering this has to be considered winter hurling we'll going to struggle physically majorly today I fear

BloodyBill · 25-10-2020 3:13pm

Clareman wrote: »

SoD our best corner forward of all time???? Name 3 games where he played well for the full 70 minutes??? I'd say he's potentially our best corner forward but inconsistencies means I'd argue that he's not even Eire Ogs best as Stephen Mac has more medals than him

Stephen McNamara scored some fine goals,great athlete. Ultimately always injured and a one trick pony ...couldn't score points..wouldnt pass ...couldn't. We wouldn't have won in 95 without him.
O Donnell is fantastic..I could name whole Championship seasons when he was abandoned 'up top' and asked the chase 2 or 3 backs and make the ball stick until the cavalry caught up. His vision, his tackling and his unselfishness stand out. I couldn't be critical of him with some of the diabolical ball that he has got over the years.

BloodyBill · 25-10-2020 3:14pm

Clareman wrote: »

I'd imagine Clare will be content to give away frees rather than letting play develop, besides Cleary are any of our backs over 6 foot? Considering this has to be considered winter hurling we'll going to struggle physically majorly today I fear

Agreed. We can't give away goals or its curtains before half time. Sneada Morey is about 5'10 max.. Pat O Connor looks about 5'8 but I'm told he's taller...

Clareman · 25-10-2020 3:46pm

BloodyBill wrote: »

Stephen McNamara scored some fine goals,great athlete. Ultimately always injured and a one trick pony ...couldn't score points..wouldnt pass ...couldn't. We wouldn't have won in 95 without him.
O Donnell is fantastic..I could name whole Championship seasons when he was abandoned 'up top' and asked the chase 2 or 3 backs and make the ball stick until the cavalry caught up. His vision, his tackling and his unselfishness stand out. I couldn't be critical of him with some of the diabolical ball that he has got over the years.

My argument would be that a corner forward should be selfish and should be scoring goals, I honestly think that SoD has been protected by the 2 man full forward line, unseen work, poor ball, etc. etc. excuses that have been trotted out. Last year he scored 1-1, the year before he scored 3 points in the group stage of Munster and followed that up with 1-8 in 3 games, before that he scored 2-4 in 3 games (2-2 in 1 game), before that he scored 1-6 (1-3 against Laois), before that he scored 1-3.

Considering the amount of games that we've played in the past 5 years I think he scoring return isn't good enough for someone that is supposed to be our best player. I know a lot is made of his role in the team, but if he was as good as some Clare supporters make him out to be he'd be excelling at club level. I know I'm being harsh on him but take the All Ireland final replay of 2013 out of his career and he hasn't produced it but for that 1 day alone he'll always be a Clare hurling legend.

caddy16 · 25-10-2020 3:54pm

Clareman wrote: »

SoD our best corner forward of all time???? Name 3 games where he played well for the full 70 minutes??? I'd say he's potentially our best corner forward but inconsistencies means I'd argue that he's not even Eire Ogs best as Stephen Mac has more medals than him

A better player isn't defined by medals. There's no comparison between the two of them.

Clareman · 25-10-2020 4:01pm

caddy16 wrote: »

A better player isn't defined by medals. There's no comparison between the two of them.

True and comparing players from different eras is always open to opinions, I'd imagine that SoD would love to have Conor Clancy winning/breaking ball of him or Fingers playing him into position but he doesn't and in my opinion he hasn't produced the goods for Clare and is overrated.

caddy16 · 25-10-2020 4:06pm

Clareman wrote: »

True and comparing players from different eras is always open to opinions, I'd imagine that SoD would love to have Conor Clancy winning/breaking ball of him or Fingers playing him into position but he doesn't and in my opinion he hasn't produced the goods for Clare and is overrated.

Overrated might be a a bit harsh. He does a huge amount of unseen work.

Clareman · 25-10-2020 4:10pm

Ahhh, the good old unseen work, call me old fashioned but I much prefer to see forwards doing seen work like scoring

caddy16 · 25-10-2020 4:12pm

Clareman wrote: »

Ahhh, the good old unseen work, call me old fashioned but I much prefer to see forwards doing seen work like scoring

Fingers???

Clareman · 25-10-2020 4:36pm

Sorry, left out corner, I think corner forwards should be scoring

lab man · 25-10-2020 4:56pm

Clare making some amount of mistakes

LuckyGent88 · 25-10-2020 5:25pm

I’ll take that at HT. not that pretty from us but still in the ball game. Think our biggest problem have been the puck outs. Poor execution on planned strategy plenty of times.

Let’s stay in this and then spring the bench which I think is stronger than limericks and has game winners.

Clareman · 25-10-2020 5:26pm

The pulling of the quick puck out is badly affecting us

lab man · 25-10-2020 5:45pm

Getting well beat at the moment tk would want to score this

LuckyGent88 · 25-10-2020 6:18pm

Well that went as expected really. Limerick just so much stronger in every area. Too many passengers and average players on our side.

Hegerty given the freedom of the park. He is literally the key to Limerick’s system.

Clareman · 25-10-2020 6:20pm

Beaten by 10 points, very disappointing but not unexpected unfortunately.

keeponhurling · 25-10-2020 6:27pm

Clareman wrote: »

The pulling of the quick puck out is badly affecting us

Was just thinking the same thing. I’d say they was a key part of the game plan.
What was the ref doing there, didn’t seem that quick to me

deaddonkey15 · 25-10-2020 6:30pm

Clareman wrote: »

Beaten by 10 points, very disappointing but not unexpected unfortunately.

Limerick are built like units and we send out lads who look like under 21s. Always going to be an uphill battle from there.

keeponhurling · 25-10-2020 6:32pm

Ultimately Limerick have a stronger team and panel.
We have things to work on. Wouldn’t have changed the result today, but maybe the next day.

The last 10 mins was a bit worrying. A lot of those Limerick points were virtually uncontested, like a shooting exercise.
Were the team just gassed or what ?

Clareman · 25-10-2020 6:36pm

We're probably the weakest team in Munster now. We don't have a half forward line or a midfield, out half backs are always a risk.

letowski · 25-10-2020 6:38pm

I suppose a 10 point loss was expected, if even it flattered us.

We’re completely reliant on Tony Kelly. We don’t have any other free scoring forwards like the other top counties. Maybe we should try Rodgers the next day?

I didn’t get taking off Fitzgerald, he was battling Byrnes well in the first half (although I wanted Shanagher on). Our half forward line pretty much won nothing in the second half. Completely dominated.

I also didn’t get our half back line, particularly the wing backs, not bothering to mark their men. It made little sense, didn’t Hegarty and Morrissey get 9 points between them? Usually ok your center back can drop and be lax in marking, but all 3 standing off their men, you’ll get punished at this level.

Some positives, but we really need more good half backs and half forwards coming through, with size, athleticism and hurling to compete with these sides.

Tony Kelly of course outstanding.

Clareman · 25-10-2020 6:41pm

Our backs were setup to avoid conceding goals, that meant keeping players back in their positions.

Besides Kelly I'm struggling to take positives from today's performance.

letowski · 25-10-2020 6:57pm

Clareman wrote: »

Our backs were setup to avoid conceding goals, that meant keeping players back in their positions.

Besides Kelly I'm struggling to take positives from today's performance.

I get that, but I think we should have made in game adjustments when the game was pulling away from us. Ultimately we would have lost either way anyway.

BloodyBill · 25-10-2020 6:59pm

Clareman wrote: »

Ahhh, the good old unseen work, call me old fashioned but I much prefer to see forwards doing seen work like scoring

If Callanan got the ball O Donnell gets he wouldn't score either.

Pogue eile · 25-10-2020 7:01pm

Clareman wrote: »

Our backs were setup to avoid conceding goals, that meant keeping players back in their positions.

That in its self is a very strange approach to playing Limerick from Lohan, that's not really where Limerick beat teams, played right into their hands turning it into a middle third game.

Pogue eile · 25-10-2020 7:03pm

BloodyBill wrote: »

If Callanan got the ball O Donnell gets he wouldn't score either.

I know you are a bit down and all but catch yourself on a small bit.

To be fair to O'Donnell someone said earlier that he does a lot of unseen work and by god he did a full 70 minutes of it again today!

Clareman · 25-10-2020 7:03pm

letowski wrote: »

I get that, but I think we should have made in game adjustments when the game was pulling away from us. Ultimately we would have lost either way anyway.

The lack of adjustments was worrying, especially when it was clear that our half forwards were being destroyed

Clareman · 25-10-2020 7:05pm

BloodyBill wrote: »

If Callanan got the ball O Donnell gets he wouldn't score either.

2 corner forwards for Clare, 1 scores 1-1, the other scores nothing and doesn't do anything, besides winning a free in the first half I couldn't see anything positive from SoD today

Clareman · 25-10-2020 7:05pm

Pogue eile wrote: »

I know you are a bit down and all but catch yourself on a small bit.

To be fair to O'Donnell someone said earlier that he does a lot of unseen work and by god he did a full 70 minutes of it again today!

He did the full 70 minutes of being unseen today alright........

keeponhurling · 25-10-2020 7:07pm

When SOD does win the first ball, he often takes it into trouble.
The Limerick backs handled him well today in fairness, not one of SOD’s better days

Clareman · 25-10-2020 7:08pm

Pogue eile wrote: »

That in its self is a very strange approach to playing Limerick from Lohan, that's not really where Limerick beat teams, played right into their hands turning it into a middle third game.

Very strange, a 10 point loss is a hammering no matter what way you look at it, conceding 36 scores is shocking.

3 Munster hurling championship matches for Clare this year and we're beaten by 8, 10 and 10 points, hard not to be depressed with not only those types of losses by the nature of the losses.

Clareman · 25-10-2020 7:11pm

keeponhurling wrote: »

When SOD does win the first ball, he often takes it into trouble.
The Limerick backs handled him well today in fairness, not one of SOD’s better days

He has a very strange style where he holds his hurley over his head with his elbow bent, he has to adjust almost every time he goes near the ball, he also struggles to get possession of the ball cleanly first time which gives defenders time to close him down. I think he had 1 shot today which went wide in the first half.

letowski · 25-10-2020 7:18pm

Distribution and use of possession has probably been the poorest part of Lohan’s short tenure for Clare so far. Even when Shanagher came on we hardly got any high ball for him to go up 1v1 with Morrissey. Very little ball out in front of our inside line today. It’s when we lose a player like Colm Galvin the forwards inside suffer with poor ball,

Either way we were blown out of it between the 40s in the second half so it would not of mattered. Taylor, SOD and Shanagher spent most of their time chasing after Limerick half backs than running onto ball.

Clare GAA Discussion - 2024 All Ireland Hurling Champions

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