Replying To 32_4_1:  "I'm not actually a troll. Why is every differing viewpoint a troll? I'll give an example, KK under Cody, we are told this was possibly the best hurling side ever. When Cork sort of revived around circa 2016, they won back to back Munster titles out of the blue.

In one of those years, they met Clare. This, by relative standards, a middle of the road Cork. In the second half one year against Clare, they caught fire, and gave an exhibition. I genuinely never seen hurling played so fluid. Casual sideways 40 yard passes pulling the Clare defence out of shape, their running game, and close intricate passing. Was incredible to watch.

KK under Cody, and Limerick, have brought huge physicality to the game, but it's different watching Cork. I'm from Meath, a poor hurling county, and I remember our coach at underage, always telling us to watch how the Cork players play. The technical skill is simply different! They play a fluid game the way others simply don't or can't

Call me a wum if you want, but it's there for all to see at the minute. When they click and catch fire, can simply do what no other county ever could, and burn teams with lightning pace and skill. It's phenomenal to watch when they are on it! We've all seen them do it, who could ever really say the game has been played more skillfully and fast?

It's wumming infact to claim otherwise tbh. It's well known Cork produce the greatest "stickmen" as they used to say, and now it seems they've put the structures in place and the players are coming through. Cody knew the only way to match them was with physicality, and then they had internal issues. He'd admit as much himself.

I guarantee you Cody himself, would never fancy any of his sides, or ever let them, play Cork in an open game of hurling, even when they were at their worst. Your just bringing trouble on yourself and encouraging them. Call me a wum if you want, as I said had KK and Cork swapped spots throughout history, Cork would probably be pushing 50 All-Irelands, definitely 40+ anyway! That's the reality!"

Replying To 32_4_1:  "I sort of replied to you by replying to the other poster calling me a Wum. To answer directly, Cork are ahead technically. Specifically their running game, their intricate passing, their vision and 40 yards sideways passing to open up teams etc.

I've said this for years and people laughed and never took notice. No other county actually has a specific culture of hurling separate to the rest, except Cork. After Corks internal problems in the late 00s, put structures in place, take a decade to come through.

Every other county went down the Cody Limerick route except Cork. People laughing at them saying they're too weak and their game outdated. I've said it for years on boards.ie etc and everyone laughed. People don't actually realize what's coming here.

As more of their players come through, will play their style quicker and quicker, and will suss out the physical approach. Cork have never once tried to change their style, despite losing, losing and losing again. They'll beat the best, on their terms, playing real hurling.

And people still laugh when I say, people don't really understand just how far Cork are now ahead, a gap that will widen. They've a conveyor belt of talent coming through, playing quick, technical, fluid natural hurling, while the rest are trying to out-Limerick Limerick.

Cork have now sussed out Limerick and the rest, can play around them and burn them. I'm serious when I say others will have to adapt how they now produce players to compete with Cork. Cork are ten years ahead of the rest, in terms of how technically proficient their players are!

As I said, it's there for all to see when they catch fire. This has been coming for a long time, and when Cork finally get over the line, the gap will grow. Their upward trajectory is clear to see, they're starting to make the rest seem slow, and this gap will grow.

Be honest here and answer this. Because I've been called a Wum. When Cork catch fire in bursts, have you ever seen hurling played at such a lighting pace and speed? No is the answer if we're all being honest with ourselves!"

Replying To Viking66:  "You mustn't be watching Cork too much these days. Yes they have retained the short game to a certain extent, but the big change has been going direct to big forwards who can win their own ball.
As regards dominating for 10 years lads like Horgan and Harnedy are very important to their current nearly successful period, both won't still be playing in 10 years time. And last years Cork minors weren't great, they got knocked out by Wexford in a game that wasn't even close, Wexford were leading by 12 points well into injury time.
They are in the mix for the AI this year for sure, but with their playing numbers and population that should be the case every year. It isn't. Even last year it took a poor decision from the ref and linesman and a last gasp Clare point for Cork even to make it into the AI series at all. Hardly dominant hurling."

Replying To Viking66:  "You mustn't be watching Cork too much these days. Yes they have retained the short game to a certain extent, but the big change has been going direct to big forwards who can win their own ball.
As regards dominating for 10 years lads like Horgan and Harnedy are very important to their current nearly successful period, both won't still be playing in 10 years time. And last years Cork minors weren't great, they got knocked out by Wexford in a game that wasn't even close, Wexford were leading by 12 points well into injury time.
They are in the mix for the AI this year for sure, but with their playing numbers and population that should be the case every year. It isn't. Even last year it took a poor decision from the ref and linesman and a last gasp Clare point for Cork even to make it into the AI series at all. Hardly dominant hurling."

Replying To bloodandbandage:  "Why are you responding to what clearly is a WUM???"

Replying To 32_4_1:  "I do watch them, and going long to a big forward, with runners bursting through and feeding off it, isn't the same, as size and physicality for size and physicalitys sake, everywhere on the pitch.

And yes, they're bigger than they were individually, compared to say a few years ago, that's more a coincidence, if a smaller player was more technically skilled would be in there instead.

You never did answer, have you ever seen a team play with the lighting speed and skill Cork play at, at times? I certainly haven't. An ability, on a whim, to literally burn the opposition completely and leave them for dead when they get going. It's incredible to watch.

You'll probably try and argue that, but the reality is no. When people touted the recent great Limerick team as possibly the best ever, Cork in bursts still got at them and played at a speed even that Limerick team couldn't go to. Couldn't sustain it generally, but nonetheless, played at a pace and speed never seen before at times.

For whatever reason, people try not to acknowledge it, but we've all seen Cork play at this level in bursts over the years. It's now becoming clear they are sustaining this level for longer and more consistently, and when they get in that groove, you simply can't get close to them.

This is the point, if Cork finally get over the line and put it all together, which they're now very close to doing, there's actually another few gears in them believe it or not. People call me a wum, but truthfully, when Cork are on it, can anyone get close to them in terms of the speed and skill they play the game at in full flight? No is the answer if we're all being honest.

People can ridicule me all they want, but what I've said for years is coming to pass, and people don't actually realize the gulf between Cork and the rest when they finally get over the line. They pride themselves on being the last county, playing the hurling the "right way", silky and fluid, and adamant they'll win playing that way, and tbh, they're on the brink of it!"

Replying To 32_4_1:  "I do watch them, and going long to a big forward, with runners bursting through and feeding off it, isn't the same, as size and physicality for size and physicalitys sake, everywhere on the pitch.

And yes, they're bigger than they were individually, compared to say a few years ago, that's more a coincidence, if a smaller player was more technically skilled would be in there instead.

You never did answer, have you ever seen a team play with the lighting speed and skill Cork play at, at times? I certainly haven't. An ability, on a whim, to literally burn the opposition completely and leave them for dead when they get going. It's incredible to watch.

You'll probably try and argue that, but the reality is no. When people touted the recent great Limerick team as possibly the best ever, Cork in bursts still got at them and played at a speed even that Limerick team couldn't go to. Couldn't sustain it generally, but nonetheless, played at a pace and speed never seen before at times.

For whatever reason, people try not to acknowledge it, but we've all seen Cork play at this level in bursts over the years. It's now becoming clear they are sustaining this level for longer and more consistently, and when they get in that groove, you simply can't get close to them.

This is the point, if Cork finally get over the line and put it all together, which they're now very close to doing, there's actually another few gears in them believe it or not. People call me a wum, but truthfully, when Cork are on it, can anyone get close to them in terms of the speed and skill they play the game at in full flight? No is the answer if we're all being honest.

People can ridicule me all they want, but what I've said for years is coming to pass, and people don't actually realize the gulf between Cork and the rest when they finally get over the line. They pride themselves on being the last county, playing the hurling the "right way", silky and fluid, and adamant they'll win playing that way, and tbh, they're on the brink of it!"