National Hurling League 2021 discussion

PTH2009 · 11-04-2021 3:19pm #1

Finally the new season is upon us

• Div 1 and 2 Counties were asked if they were happy to return after 3 weeks on the basis that
5 league games could be guaranteed or after 4 weeks if only 3 games could be guaranteed –
overwhelming majority opted for a return after 3 weeks.
o Thus Division 1 and 2 will start on 8th/9th May – Division 3 the following week.
• Div 1a and 1b: As announced in December – remain round robin groups of 6
o No quarter or semi-finals.
o NO DIVISION 1 HURLING LEAGUE FINAL scheduled – there will be either joint
winners for 2021, or if the teams that win Div 1a and Div 1b meet in the
Championship, this will double as a League Final.
o Hurling League Relegation play off to be played as curtain raiser to Senior Hurling
Semi Final in August.
• Divisions 2 and 3 will not have league finals – top team in each Division will be crowned
champions of that Division. Bottom team in 2a, 2b and 3a will be the relegated team.
• British based teams will not be involved

Division 1
Grp A
Limerick
Waterford
Galway
Tipperary
Cork
Westmeath

Grp B
Clare
Dublin
Laois
Kilkenny
Wexford
Antrim

Division 2A
Carlow
Kerry
Wicklow
Down
Meath
Offaly

Division 2B
Mayo
Derry
Roscommon
Donegal
Kildare

Division 3A
Sligo
Monaghan
Armagh
Tyrone
Longford

Division 3B
Fermanagh
Leitrim
Louth
Cavan

breezy1985 · 11-04-2021 6:01pm

2 things really annoy me. Would it kill them to fit an extra week for a final and what happens if the relegation teams are in the AI semi final

PTH2009 · 11-04-2021 8:23pm

breezy1985 wrote: »

2 things really annoy me. Would it kill them to fit an extra week for a final and what happens if the relegation teams are in the AI semi final

Yeah it is a bit farcical

I'd say there praying something like that doesn't happen. More than likely it will be Antrim or Laois vs Westmeath in the relegation match. Antrim and Laois could also play each other in Leinster or the AI qualifiers

PTH2009 · 23-04-2021 6:05pm

https://www.gaa.ie/news/2021-allianz-football-and-hurling-league-fixtures-announced/

PTH2009 · 30-04-2021 5:15pm

Could easily of started the Division 1 hurling this weekend and the have a weekend for the final Tough **** if the finalists got drawn in the Provincial QFs

PTH2009 · 08-05-2021 1:48pm

Let's hope Westmeath put up a good showing today and for the whole campaign. Baring a freak result they will more then likely be in the relegation playoff

breezy1985 · 08-05-2021 1:57pm

PTH2009 wrote: »

Let's hope Westmeath put up a good showing today and for the whole campaign. Baring a freak result they will more then likely be in the relegation playoff

Going up against the last 3 All Ireland winners and a double runner up was a cruel draw. Hopefully for Westmeath it will stand to them in the relegation playoff if they are in it

PTH2009 · 08-05-2021 2:02pm

breezy1985 wrote: »

Going up against the last 3 All Ireland winners and a double runner up was a cruel draw. Hopefully for Westmeath it will stand to them in the relegation playoff if they are in it

They will get a game in Croke Park but some 2 months after end of the league campaign

PTH2009 · 08-05-2021 2:25pm

Galway in 2nd gear

RMAOK · 08-05-2021 2:44pm

PTH2009 wrote: »

Galway in 2nd gear

Their half back line certainly is....

If that was, say, tipp or definitely limericks half forward line, then they'd have gone to town on Galway imo. As a Galway man, I'd be a bit concerned with tht amount of frees/ loose play by our half back line have allowed. The forwards must have been told to go for goals at any opportunity.

Absolutely brilliant point by westmeath's center forward when he just doubled on the handpass from Davy Glennon.

castletownman · 08-05-2021 2:46pm

Some advertisement for the competitiveness of the lesser lights.

beggars_bush · 08-05-2021 2:48pm

castletownman wrote: »

Some advertisement for the competitiveness of the lesser lights.

Meaning?

castletownman · 08-05-2021 2:55pm

beggars_bush wrote: »

Meaning?

What learning curve will Westmeath and the likes experience in getting hammered every week?

Billy Ocean · 08-05-2021 3:26pm

castletownman wrote: »

What learning curve will Westmeath and the likes experience in getting hammered every week?

They seem to have lost they're way completely after the restart, lost to Kerry by 11 and Antrim by 19 in last year's Joe McDonagh.

C__MC · 08-05-2021 4:13pm

Great to have it back but the hurling league is the ultimate shadow boxing event especially this year, couldn't read to much into any result

4Ad · 08-05-2021 4:43pm

Thought water breaks would be gone. Ruined games last year IMO.

dastardly00 · 08-05-2021 4:46pm

4Ad wrote: »

Thought water breaks would be gone. Ruined games last year IMO.

Yeah I agree. I wish they were gone

Billy Ocean · 08-05-2021 4:48pm

Hope there gone post pandemic too, changes the dynamics of a game.

dastardly00 · 08-05-2021 4:52pm

The Eir Sport commentator is driving me nuts with his overuse of the word 'launch'. Every second ball played forward is 'launched'

breezy1985 · 08-05-2021 5:49pm

dastardly00 wrote: »

The Eir Sport commentator is driving me nuts with his overuse of the word 'launch'. Every second ball played forward is 'launched'

Join the Marty party

Billy Ocean · 08-05-2021 6:24pm

Agree with Dalo, this amendment to the advantage rule is going to drive people crazy.

breezy1985 · 08-05-2021 6:42pm

Billy Ocean wrote: »

Agree with Dalo, this amendment to the advantage rule is going to drive people crazy.

Absolute joke there costing Limerick a point

PTH2009 · 08-05-2021 7:08pm

good contest, draw the right result but it may feck up the 1A table now. Still early days

formerlyET · 08-05-2021 9:20pm

Saw an article on RTE - headline - Are referees coming down on limerick?

THEY'VE ONLY HAD ONE GAME! WITH ONE REF!

Are Limerick not responsible for the number of frees they give away? Part of their game plan is fouling in areas where teams have a terrible chance of scoring? It's football stuff brought in by Kinnerk. Giving frees away and not letting the opposition play. It's puke hurling. They play percentages. Preventing goals and open play and chopping players down at all costs. See chop on Alan Flynn. Blatant foul rather than risk a player breaking through - did it throughout the All-Ireland final and all last championship. It's endemic levels of it.
It's going to kill the game. It's part of Limerick's game plan. Tipp started doing the same in the second half then- fouling limerick deep in their half. It's going to spread throughout the game now - unless refs punish teams for persistent following. The amount of frees Limerick gave away today - we have to bring in a black card or something. This cancer will spread throughout the game and stop open hurling and we'll have two teams playing a defensive football brand of hurling. It's an eyesore.

08-05-2021 9:47pm

formerlyET wrote: »

Saw an article on RTE - headline - Are referees coming down on limerick?

THEY'VE ONLY HAD ONE GAME! WITH ONE REF!

Are Limerick not responsible for the number of frees they give away? Part of their game plan is fouling in areas where teams have a terrible chance of scoring? It's football stuff brought in by Kinnerk. Giving frees away and not letting the opposition play. It's puke hurling. They play percentages. Preventing goals and open play and chopping players down at all costs. See chop on Alan Flynn. Blatant foul rather than risk a player breaking through - did it throughout the All-Ireland final and all last championship. It's endemic levels of it.
It's going to kill the game. It's part of Limerick's game plan. Tipp started doing the same in the second half then- following limerick deep in their half. It's going to spread throughout the game now - unless refs punish teams for persistent following. The amount of frees Limerick gave away today - we have to bring in a black card or something. This cancer will spread throughout the game and stop open hurling and we'll have two teams playing a defensive football brand of hurling. It's an eyesore.

Great post.

We've been teetering on the edge of turning into football with the sweeper and general negative tactics over the last while.

If Limerick's cute fouling is allowed to metastasize we'll really be in the ha'penny place altogether.

PeggyShippen · 08-05-2021 9:48pm

formerlyET wrote: »

Saw an article on RTE - headline - Are referees coming down on limerick?

THEY'VE ONLY HAD ONE GAME! WITH ONE REF!

Are Limerick not responsible for the number of frees they give away? Part of their game plan is fouling in areas where teams have a terrible chance of scoring? It's football stuff brought in by Kinnerk. Giving frees away and not letting the opposition play. It's puke hurling. They play percentages. Preventing goals and open play and chopping players down at all costs. See chop on Alan Flynn. Blatant foul rather than risk a player breaking through - did it throughout the All-Ireland final and all last championship. It's endemic levels of it.
It's going to kill the game. It's part of Limerick's game plan. Tipp started doing the same in the second half then- fouling limerick deep in their half. It's going to spread throughout the game now - unless refs punish teams for persistent following. The amount of frees Limerick gave away today - we have to bring in a black card or something. This cancer will spread throughout the game and stop open hurling and we'll have two teams playing a defensive football brand of hurling. It's an eyesore.

I'd say of the 21 frees given against Limerick 5 definitely were not frees and 3 were 50/50. 21 to 10. The ref was biased today. Cathal Barret dived twice and got frees both times.

cosatron · 08-05-2021 9:56pm

formerlyET wrote: »

Saw an article on RTE - headline - Are referees coming down on limerick?

THEY'VE ONLY HAD ONE GAME! WITH ONE REF!

Are Limerick not responsible for the number of frees they give away? Part of their game plan is fouling in areas where teams have a terrible chance of scoring? It's football stuff brought in by Kinnerk. Giving frees away and not letting the opposition play. It's puke hurling. They play percentages. Preventing goals and open play and chopping players down at all costs. See chop on Alan Flynn. Blatant foul rather than risk a player breaking through - did it throughout the All-Ireland final and all last championship. It's endemic levels of it.
It's going to kill the game. It's part of Limerick's game plan. Tipp started doing the same in the second half then- fouling limerick deep in their half. It's going to spread throughout the game now - unless refs punish teams for persistent following. The amount of frees Limerick gave away today - we have to bring in a black card or something. This cancer will spread throughout the game and stop open hurling and we'll have two teams playing a defensive football brand of hurling. It's an eyesore.

I think this has being coming to the game for a while, where it started off with forwards giving away needless frees to give there backs a chance to settle down. To counter act this, teams just have to move the ball faster and avoid bringing the ball into contact and more runners from deep to create multiple overlaps

formerlyET · 08-05-2021 9:57pm

PeggyShippen wrote: »

I'd say of the 21 frees given against Limerick 5 definitely were not frees and 3 were 50/50. 21 to 10. The ref was biased today. Cathal Barret dived twice and got frees both times.

Yeah, blame the ref. When Limerick in every game in last year's championship repeatedly pulled down players in on goal or players who broke through the half back line. Every game. It's football tactic brought in by Kinnerk.
Ref was biased!
The amount of frees were a result of the amount of fouls committed by Limerick. Quite simple.
If it was just one game it would be one thing - but it's a clear pattern of fouls in every game they play -
1. Taking down players if any team gets a goal chance
2. Foul the player who breaks the line.
3. Foul teams in their half-back line where it's hard to score so we can reset and they can't flow.

They do it every game. If they keep getting away with it every team will do it. And we will have one terrible eyesore on our hands. It's a shame they have such terrible tactics with the players they have.

formerlyET · 08-05-2021 9:59pm

cosatron wrote: »

I think this has being coming to the game for a while, where it started off with forwards giving away needless frees to give there backs a chance to settle down. To counter act this, teams just have to move the ball faster and avoid bringing the ball into contact and more runners from deep to create multiple overlaps

That's fair and a good point. But the persistent fouling has to be stamped out - particularly this emphasis of fouling teams in their half back line, preventing the other team from building up any play or cohesion whatsoever. Just stops the game from getting going. No flow.

blackcard · 08-05-2021 11:10pm

Having watched 3 matches today, it confirmed that hurling has changed as a spectacle. Hurlers are fitter, stronger, more athletic and more skillful. I am a traditionalist who misses puckouts being rained down on the half back line and the half forward line. The contest between a full back and a full forward. The man on man contest.

I don't get excited by scores from a hundred meters out. Nor by 2 forwards taking on 3 or 4 backs. Nor by players running off the shoulder and throwing the ball. Nor by the constant overcarrying of the ball. Nor by players winning uncontested ball. Nor by games where point scoring is so easy that the value of a goal is being devalued.

Think I will just watch club hurling and underage matches

lim4ev · 08-05-2021 11:12pm

I'm a limerick man but a hurling man first can limerick be cynical? Yes of course but lads the frees are killing the game I'm not going to argue the rights and wrongs of every decision but I would argue 50% of all frees are unnecessary it's not just in limerick games either plus the ball being so light no goals or goal mouth drama so many super talented teams servingupthis drivel. In fairness to the ref in the kilkenny match he let it run somewhat I'm not one of these guys that thinks unless a guy is killed that the whistle shouldn't be blown either just some of the frees are so soft its unnatural

breezy1985 · 08-05-2021 11:15pm

blackcard wrote: »

Having watched 3 matches today, it confirmed that hurling has changed as a spectacle. Hurlers are fitter, stronger, more athletic and more skillful. I am a traditionalist who misses puckouts being rained down on the half back line and the half forward line. The contest between a full back and a full forward. The man on man contest.

I don't get excited by scores from a hundred meters out. Nor by 2 forwards taking on 3 or 4 backs. Nor by players running off the shoulder and throwing the ball. Nor by the constant overcarrying of the ball. Nor by players winning uncontested ball. Nor by games where point scoring is so easy that the value of a goal is being devalued.

Think I will just watch club hurling and underage matches

Ya riveting stuff

PTH2009 · 08-05-2021 11:16pm

Were there any sin bins today ?

castletownman · 08-05-2021 11:41pm

blackcard wrote: »

Having watched 3 matches today, it confirmed that hurling has changed as a spectacle. Hurlers are fitter, stronger, more athletic and more skillful. I am a traditionalist who misses puckouts being rained down on the half back line and the half forward line. The contest between a full back and a full forward. The man on man contest.

I don't get excited by scores from a hundred meters out. Nor by 2 forwards taking on 3 or 4 backs. Nor by players running off the shoulder and throwing the ball. Nor by the constant overcarrying of the ball. Nor by players winning uncontested ball. Nor by games where point scoring is so easy that the value of a goal is being devalued.

Think I will just watch club hurling and underage matches

It's mad. I was looking forward to the Tipp-Limerick game all week, and while it was close, I just found it a bit by the numbers and robotic almost. Even started browsing my phone and checking the soccer scores, something that I would never do no matter what sport I am watching. Didn't even watch the second half.

I know the league is always second fiddle to championship, but for some reason the hurling league in particular has dwindled in recent years. Although I wonder how much an impact no crowds are having on the games. Massive I say.

Billy Ocean · 09-05-2021 12:18am

Yeah the action wasn't too hectic today but hard to expect fireworks with no challenge games, 3rd level games or pre season competitions as a build up, no crowd obviously taking from it but hopefully later in the summer some spectators can attend, pity my father is fully vaccinated as of April 21, he'd love to be able to go to Wexford Park tomorrow.

PTH2009 · 09-05-2021 12:23am

Billy Ocean wrote: »

Yeah the action wasn't too hectic today but hard to expect fireworks with no challenge games, 3rd level games or pre season competitions as a build up, no crowd obviously taking from it but hopefully later in the summer some spectators can attend, pity my father is fully vaccinated as of April 21, he'd love to be able to go to Wexford Park tomorrow.

Government dont have the balls to try and make something from this

Easily could admit max 1000 supporters a game, have the ticket be both the admission and the proof of vaccination (PDF mobile or print out) but it would create so many issues so its the blanket 'no spectators allowed'

Deiselurker · 09-05-2021 7:03am

Yeah the modern inter county game is not that exciting. Games were a lot better 10 or 20 years ago. No goals in the Limerick v Tipperary game and very few attempts at goal. It has turned into a point scoring contest. Is it time to bring in 4 points for a goal? The new advantage rule is a joke. Why did it need to be changed?

Cool Hand Lucy · 09-05-2021 8:10am

Billy Ocean wrote: »

Yeah the action wasn't too hectic today but hard to expect fireworks with no challenge games, 3rd level games or pre season competitions as a build up, no crowd obviously taking from it but hopefully later in the summer some spectators can attend, pity my father is fully vaccinated as of April 21, he'd love to be able to go to Wexford Park tomorrow.

Agree. Parents used to love heading off to the match after Mass. They’d make a great day out of it. Hopefully, like your father, they won’t have much longer to wait. Great to have the hurling back, even if we’re only following on the Radio/TV.

breezy1985 · 09-05-2021 8:59am

Deiselurker wrote: »

Yeah the modern inter county game is not that exciting. Games were a lot better 10 or 20 years ago. No goals in the Limerick v Tipperary game and very few attempts at goal. It has turned into a point scoring contest. Is it time to bring in 4 points for a goal? The new advantage rule is a joke. Why did it need to be changed?

Ide say refs will be told to go back to the old way or close to it after this weekend. Limerick got an actual score and that wasnt seen as an advantage

Rosita · 09-05-2021 2:32pm

Deiselurker wrote: »

Yeah the modern inter county game is not that exciting. Games were a lot better 10 or 20 years ago. No goals in the Limerick v Tipperary game and very few attempts at goal. It has turned into a point scoring contest. Is it time to bring in 4 points for a goal? The new advantage rule is a joke. Why did it need to be changed?

There'll be some who'll have a seizure at the suggestion it was better years ago but, yeah, it's all by numbers now and boring enough. Not sure four points for a goal will make any difference when teams can expect 25 points+ every game anyway. A goal was a significant score 15 years ago when 16/17 points were scored by All Ireland winners. I see Clare had 0-16 at halftime today.

Barring a miracle it'll be a Limerick - Kilkenny league final.

Sadler Peak · 09-05-2021 2:35pm

Sin binning in the Donegal v Roscommon match leading to a penalty for Roscommon.

PTH2009 · 09-05-2021 2:38pm

Fair ****s Antrim

formerlyET · 09-05-2021 2:41pm

Great win for Antrim

Sadler Peak · 09-05-2021 2:45pm

Aontroim Abú.

formerlyET · 09-05-2021 3:46pm

Why'd you come back, Cheddar? Oh lord...

PeggyShippen · 09-05-2021 3:47pm

formerlyET wrote: »

Yeah, blame the ref. When Limerick in every game in last year's championship repeatedly pulled down players in on goal or players who broke through the half back line. Every game. It's football tactic brought in by Kinnerk.
Ref was biased!
The amount of frees were a result of the amount of fouls committed by Limerick. Quite simple.
If it was just one game it would be one thing - but it's a clear pattern of fouls in every game they play -
1. Taking down players if any team gets a goal chance
2. Foul the player who breaks the line.
3. Foul teams in their half-back line where it's hard to score so we can reset and they can't flow.

They do it every game. If they keep getting away with it every team will do it. And we will have one terrible eyesore on our hands. It's a shame they have such terrible tactics with the players they have.

You got 4 likes for that balderdash. Let's see if you criticise others this year or have you just Limerick in your sights. Tipp got at least 5 'non frees ' yesterday . Lots of dives and just poor reffing. He's a mediocre ref from a county that's gone soft. Hurling is already a fairly tame game physically compared to rugby. Its the likes of you that ll turn it into a bad game of hockey.

carq · 09-05-2021 3:51pm

PeggyShippen wrote: »

You got 4 likes for that balderdash. Let's see if you criticise others this year or have you just Limerick in your sights. Tipp got at least 5 'non frees ' yesterday . Lots of dives and just poor reffing. He's a mediocre ref from a county that's gone soft. Hurling is already a fairly tame game physically compared to rugby. Its the likes of you that ll turn it into a bad game of hockey.

I cant believe you are trying to compare rugby and hurling to attempt to prove your point!?

I see sheep · 09-05-2021 3:58pm

Mike Ashley hurling v Waterford has started at a decent pace, good effort not much quality so far

breezy1985 · 09-05-2021 3:58pm

PeggyShippen wrote: »

You got 4 likes for that balderdash. Let's see if you criticise others this year or have you just Limerick in your sights. Tipp got at least 5 'non frees ' yesterday . Lots of dives and just poor reffing. He's a mediocre ref from a county that's gone soft. Hurling is already a fairly tame game physically compared to rugby. Its the likes of you that ll turn it into a bad game of hockey.

Rugby is going through the exact same changes and soul searching over dangerous play so cop on to yourself there now

formerlyET · 09-05-2021 4:00pm

PeggyShippen wrote: »

You got 4 likes for that

Only 4 was it? Give me another update tomorrow, I never bother checking. Sound.

BENDYBINN · 09-05-2021 4:07pm

Some great throw passes for that goal......

National Hurling League 2021 discussion

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