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All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship 2025

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Replying To midlands:  "Just to change the topic away from red cards, I thought it strange that the Sunday Game, and Donal Og Cusack in particular, made a big issue of the foul on Cathal O'Neill near the end, which resulted in an ordinary free and a yellow card. Cusack maintained that under the rules it should have been a penalty and a black card, on the basis that O'Neill was denied a goal-scoring opportunity. Of course he is right, but there have been a number of similar fouls in this year's championship and I can't recall Cusack or anyone else highlighting those incidents, such as the cynical foul on Stephen Bennett when he was in on goal against Cork. Is it possible that referees have been instructed not to apply this rule, or are they simply taking the law into their own hands?"
There was a couple of these in the Wexford Dublin match earlier in the year as well, or maybe it was the Offaly one, but everyone felt at the time that the black card has been forgotten.

ExiledInWex (Dublin) - Posts: 1417 - 25/06/2025 12:36:08    2620940

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Replying To Cockney_Cat:  "It's too late, the horse has bolted. I used to like professional soccer, but now it's hard to watch with all the play-acting. Hurling and football has been gradually going the same way over the last few years. It's terrible to see."
Not sure if you watch a lot of football but there is not the same problem. Head challanges were cracked down earlier and there is far more acceptance that if you get that timing wrong you are going to the line. Since helmets and faceguards were introduced the level of indiscipline with the hurl around the head has increased - its a ah sure he has a helmet on so he can't get hurt. If genuine slaps to the head were blown and red cards issued players would not be putting themselves into that situation. Yeah lads playact but and they get away with it because the player making the challange put himself in that situation.

zinny (Wexford) - Posts: 2025 - 25/06/2025 15:27:09    2620993

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Replying To midlands:  "Just to change the topic away from red cards, I thought it strange that the Sunday Game, and Donal Og Cusack in particular, made a big issue of the foul on Cathal O'Neill near the end, which resulted in an ordinary free and a yellow card. Cusack maintained that under the rules it should have been a penalty and a black card, on the basis that O'Neill was denied a goal-scoring opportunity. Of course he is right, but there have been a number of similar fouls in this year's championship and I can't recall Cusack or anyone else highlighting those incidents, such as the cynical foul on Stephen Bennett when he was in on goal against Cork. Is it possible that referees have been instructed not to apply this rule, or are they simply taking the law into their own hands?"
I think it comes down to the usual "balancing act"that many referees tend to do in their heads. If the ref had given a yellow to Crummy he would have given a black card and a penalty for the other incident, but maybe was conscious that giving a red and a black would appear unduly harsh on Dublin

PoolSturgeon (Galway) - Posts: 2046 - 25/06/2025 17:53:42    2621055

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Replying To midlands:  "Just to change the topic away from red cards, I thought it strange that the Sunday Game, and Donal Og Cusack in particular, made a big issue of the foul on Cathal O'Neill near the end, which resulted in an ordinary free and a yellow card. Cusack maintained that under the rules it should have been a penalty and a black card, on the basis that O'Neill was denied a goal-scoring opportunity. Of course he is right, but there have been a number of similar fouls in this year's championship and I can't recall Cusack or anyone else highlighting those incidents, such as the cynical foul on Stephen Bennett when he was in on goal against Cork. Is it possible that referees have been instructed not to apply this rule, or are they simply taking the law into their own hands?"
Yeah but there are lads in Hurling that don't believe there should be any cards. If the refs started giving frees for all the fouls they will be slaughtered by the pundits for not letting the game flow, if the give yellow, red and black they have destroyed the game. If Dublin had lost, the discussion would have been about how the ref decided the game with the red card. Until the people at the top decide what type of discipline they want the refs will always be blamed. How may times have the top brass commented on ill-discipline in Hurling - what happened after the muster final and the half time antics. If the same happened in Football the inquiry would still be going on and narrative that something needs to be done to clean up Football.

zinny (Wexford) - Posts: 2025 - 25/06/2025 19:48:04    2621075

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Replying To zinny:  "Not sure if you watch a lot of football but there is not the same problem. Head challanges were cracked down earlier and there is far more acceptance that if you get that timing wrong you are going to the line. Since helmets and faceguards were introduced the level of indiscipline with the hurl around the head has increased - its a ah sure he has a helmet on so he can't get hurt. If genuine slaps to the head were blown and red cards issued players would not be putting themselves into that situation. Yeah lads playact but and they get away with it because the player making the challange put himself in that situation."
Two wrongs don't make a right zinny.
I played long before helmets were mandatory and the helmets must be made of cardboard at the way lads go down hurt now.

ExiledInWex (Dublin) - Posts: 1417 - 25/06/2025 20:26:06    2621082

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Replying To PoolSturgeon:  "I think it comes down to the usual "balancing act"that many referees tend to do in their heads. If the ref had given a yellow to Crummy he would have given a black card and a penalty for the other incident, but maybe was conscious that giving a red and a black would appear unduly harsh on Dublin"
I think he was generally good despite a reputation for being whistle happy.

Crummy if he hit Hegarty can have no complaints. A few border line calls including one in next play for hurley around McHugh neck.

Black card was silly rule and seems to be ignored. Its invitation to go down when forward is being held up.

Frees and cards should be for dangerous play and blatant technical violations. Less the better.

BarneyGrant (Dublin) - Posts: 3688 - 25/06/2025 20:36:23    2621087

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Replying To ExiledInWex:  "Two wrongs don't make a right zinny.
I played long before helmets were mandatory and the helmets must be made of cardboard at the way lads go down hurt now."
I am not sure if I ever played without a helmet although they were not mandatory at the time. and a lot of people didn't use them. There were genuine accidents and deliberate pulls - Tony Doran in 1981 - but the nowhere near the level of carelessness we have today. I agree lads shouldn't be going down unless they are hurt but players are putting refs in an impossible position because there is so much of the hurl around the head these days, split second decisions to determine what is real and not. But there is also another way of looking at it, players don't do what their managers are against, managers are employed by the county board who are elected by the clubs and most of the time a lot of the board go to congress and elect the president so who is responsible for change. The player and the ref are the ones that take the blame when it all goes wrong.

zinny (Wexford) - Posts: 2025 - 26/06/2025 08:24:55    2621134

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Replying To zinny:  "I am not sure if I ever played without a helmet although they were not mandatory at the time. and a lot of people didn't use them. There were genuine accidents and deliberate pulls - Tony Doran in 1981 - but the nowhere near the level of carelessness we have today. I agree lads shouldn't be going down unless they are hurt but players are putting refs in an impossible position because there is so much of the hurl around the head these days, split second decisions to determine what is real and not. But there is also another way of looking at it, players don't do what their managers are against, managers are employed by the county board who are elected by the clubs and most of the time a lot of the board go to congress and elect the president so who is responsible for change. The player and the ref are the ones that take the blame when it all goes wrong."
Agree zinny and its probably that players now take the ball in to contact where as 20 years ago it went on the ground (which looking back was awful tactic).
I think the reality is as said above if a player doesn't go down and get the opponent sent off and the opposition did it 5 minutes later then you would be saying "why didn't I"?
Look I'm honest to say Crummey should have been sent off v Wexford for a very dangerous hit on Chin but to Chin's credit he hopped back up and didn't go down like he was shot.
A man of honour, not a cheat. Others need to learn the same.

ExiledInWex (Dublin) - Posts: 1417 - 27/06/2025 11:31:58    2621460

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Replying To ExiledInWex:  "Agree zinny and its probably that players now take the ball in to contact where as 20 years ago it went on the ground (which looking back was awful tactic).
I think the reality is as said above if a player doesn't go down and get the opponent sent off and the opposition did it 5 minutes later then you would be saying "why didn't I"?
Look I'm honest to say Crummey should have been sent off v Wexford for a very dangerous hit on Chin but to Chin's credit he hopped back up and didn't go down like he was shot.
A man of honour, not a cheat. Others need to learn the same."
I was speaking to a Ref Assessor. Strike or display intent to strike is a putting off offense end of story.

Oldtourman (Limerick) - Posts: 4512 - 30/06/2025 13:51:29    2622645

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How are we feeling about the weekend.

Cork have to be favourites over Dublin (especially given Dublin showed their hand against Limerick and Cork are forewarned as to what Dublin can bring). I think Cork will not butcher their goal chances like Limerick did so I think Cork will win by 4 or 5 points.

Kilkenny and Tipperary will be very tight. Kilkenny have been very very quiet and that is when they are most dangerous. I am saying all year that Tipperary have impressed me. There performance levels have gone through the roof since last year and I fancy them the get a good start and just about hold off Kilkenny. This could go to extra time and I'm going for Tipp by a point after extra time.

LimerickandProud (Limerick) - Posts: 186 - 01/07/2025 13:07:18    2622864

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Replying To LimerickandProud:  "How are we feeling about the weekend.

Cork have to be favourites over Dublin (especially given Dublin showed their hand against Limerick and Cork are forewarned as to what Dublin can bring). I think Cork will not butcher their goal chances like Limerick did so I think Cork will win by 4 or 5 points.

Kilkenny and Tipperary will be very tight. Kilkenny have been very very quiet and that is when they are most dangerous. I am saying all year that Tipperary have impressed me. There performance levels have gone through the roof since last year and I fancy them the get a good start and just about hold off Kilkenny. This could go to extra time and I'm going for Tipp by a point after extra time."
Kk and cork forme

Gaaforlife2023 (Longford) - Posts: 767 - 01/07/2025 13:38:38    2622874

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Replying To LimerickandProud:  "How are we feeling about the weekend.

Cork have to be favourites over Dublin (especially given Dublin showed their hand against Limerick and Cork are forewarned as to what Dublin can bring). I think Cork will not butcher their goal chances like Limerick did so I think Cork will win by 4 or 5 points.

Kilkenny and Tipperary will be very tight. Kilkenny have been very very quiet and that is when they are most dangerous. I am saying all year that Tipperary have impressed me. There performance levels have gone through the roof since last year and I fancy them the get a good start and just about hold off Kilkenny. This could go to extra time and I'm going for Tipp by a point after extra time."
I'd envisage two possibilities in the Cork Dubliin game. Either Cork win comfortably, or a Cork win by annihilation. I wasn't impressed with Limerick's level at the qfinal, a shadow of the 2018-2024 outfit showed up for that one imo.

Tipp KK is a must win for KK imo. Tipp are building nicely this year, but they still have a year1 look about them. In contrast, KK are 6 in a row Leinster champs, 2 all- Ireland finals lost to Limerick. They're still in fantastic physical shape, despite many trips to the well in the past few years. Hard to call it, but I'd go for KK, purely based on my view that they have the greater need at this point.

Pope_Benedict (Galway) - Posts: 4288 - 01/07/2025 14:17:09    2622890

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Replying To LimerickandProud:  "How are we feeling about the weekend.

Cork have to be favourites over Dublin (especially given Dublin showed their hand against Limerick and Cork are forewarned as to what Dublin can bring). I think Cork will not butcher their goal chances like Limerick did so I think Cork will win by 4 or 5 points.

Kilkenny and Tipperary will be very tight. Kilkenny have been very very quiet and that is when they are most dangerous. I am saying all year that Tipperary have impressed me. There performance levels have gone through the roof since last year and I fancy them the get a good start and just about hold off Kilkenny. This could go to extra time and I'm going for Tipp by a point after extra time."
Can't wait for it. Expectations for year were promotion - missed, and a Leinster final - missed!

So in bonus territory now. Great to be dining at the top table in a semi final with 70,000+ Where else would you wish to be?

No idea of how Dublin will do, Not a surprise any more but it was not altogether a surprise to the team either!!!

Once they give it their all and do themselves justice I'll be happy. Preferably with a win but bookie's odds reflect chances I suppose.

Think Tipp will beat the stripey men by 5/6.

BarneyGrant (Dublin) - Posts: 3688 - 01/07/2025 14:29:33    2622898

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Replying To LimerickandProud:  "How are we feeling about the weekend.

Cork have to be favourites over Dublin (especially given Dublin showed their hand against Limerick and Cork are forewarned as to what Dublin can bring). I think Cork will not butcher their goal chances like Limerick did so I think Cork will win by 4 or 5 points.

Kilkenny and Tipperary will be very tight. Kilkenny have been very very quiet and that is when they are most dangerous. I am saying all year that Tipperary have impressed me. There performance levels have gone through the roof since last year and I fancy them the get a good start and just about hold off Kilkenny. This could go to extra time and I'm going for Tipp by a point after extra time."
I wouldn't argue against your analysis. But regarding Dublin. I don't think they 'showed their hand against Limerick'. They scored 3-26 against Wexford, 3-21 v Kilkenny and 3-15 v Galway, in Leinster. In total, I think goal scoring is their strength (they have scored 18 goals in 7 Championship matches). That said, Limerick were below par in the quarters, and Cork should be a tougher test.

As for Kilkenny v Tipp. I really don't know how this will go. But looking for positives from a KK point of view. Tipp had the worst defense in Munster, conceding 9-92, with the 9 goals also being the highest conceded. Galway, who scored 2 goals against them in the quarters, scored only 9 goals in the Leinster round Robin games (Kilkenny scored 15) . The only team to score less goals were Antrim. I've gone about goals a lot, and I realise they don't necessarily win games, but they can have a big impact, not just the 3 points, but the lift they can give a team in a close, hard-fought game.

Cockney_Cat (UK) - Posts: 2860 - 01/07/2025 15:29:21    2622915

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Replying To Oldtourman:  "I was speaking to a Ref Assessor. Strike or display intent to strike is a putting off offense end of story."
Yes but the actions of the player being hit can very easily decide whether its a red or not.
Anyway, we move on. Its done but I'd hate if a Dublin hurler went down like that to be frank!

ExiledInWex (Dublin) - Posts: 1417 - 01/07/2025 19:57:34    2622995

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Re the weekend, I am hoping we can give Cork a good game of it and at least die with our boots on. I don't believe we will win but I didn't believe we would win v Limerick so as a Dublin hurling fan you inhabit a world of hope!
I think Kilkenny will beat Tipp but it will be very tight. Cody being back is huge for Kilkenny.

ExiledInWex (Dublin) - Posts: 1417 - 01/07/2025 19:59:06    2622996

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Replying To BarneyGrant:  "Can't wait for it. Expectations for year were promotion - missed, and a Leinster final - missed!

So in bonus territory now. Great to be dining at the top table in a semi final with 70,000+ Where else would you wish to be?

No idea of how Dublin will do, Not a surprise any more but it was not altogether a surprise to the team either!!!

Once they give it their all and do themselves justice I'll be happy. Preferably with a win but bookie's odds reflect chances I suppose.

Think Tipp will beat the stripey men by 5/6."
Big call tipp by 5 6 over kk writing kk is but we see on Sunday

Gaaforlife2023 (Longford) - Posts: 767 - 02/07/2025 10:21:42    2623081

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Think the dubs will need at least 3 goals against cork to have any chance of staying in this one..I also think cork will know what to expect and I'm worried it could end up very comfortable..I hope I'm wrong.
I'm changing my mind all the time on the other semi..Cody being back is swaying me towards kk and I think tipp will need a score similar to Galway game to have any chance..I can't see them getting the same room from kk backs..
Im going to say a cork/kk final..

CTGAA10 (Limerick) - Posts: 2565 - 02/07/2025 12:24:58    2623119

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Replying To Gaaforlife2023:  "Big call tipp by 5 6 over kk writing kk is but we see on Sunday"
I fancy Tipp to win it out at this stage, Drew with Limerick and unbeaten other than virtual no show against Cork after the sending off at the start. Looking forward to re-run of 1961 final!

BarneyGrant (Dublin) - Posts: 3688 - 02/07/2025 12:35:47    2623122

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Sad how quiet this group is on the week of 2 Semi finals. Feel like these Hoganstand forums are dying a death tbh

Would recommend Cork hurlers forum on peoples republic, you get like 50 posts a day compared to 5 on here over the last 2 days! also tipp have premier view and galway tribal talk hurling .

mr305 (Galway) - Posts: 63 - 03/07/2025 10:49:10    2623357

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