All Ireland Minor Hurling Championship

The provincial competitions get underway at the end of the month

Draw in Munster is
Clare V Kerry
Tipp v Waterford
Cork v Limerick

Semi finals are winner of Tipp/Waterford v Cork/Limerick and Clare/Kerry v Winner of loser play off

Clare have as good a team as last year if not better....8 lads underage from last years panel including Seadna Morey, Tony Kelly and Colm Galvan & Jamie Shanahan who were key players last year for them, along with 4 key players from the ASR panel as well....They have been flying in challenge matches so far beating Cork and Kilkenny twice and the same management as last year are over them and somewhar bullish about their chances.....I personally think the draw is against them, no disrespect to Kerry who have been making decent strides at underage level but they should win that and then it is a 2 month break before they play the winner of the loser play off in the semi finals.....The winner of the loser play off has gone on to win the Munster championship for the last 3 seasons so the extra game is certainly an advantage....Hope they go well, but Clare sides especially at underage level have struggled with the favourites tag and there will be more expectation that last year...It would be great if they went on a run like last years side but it's not the end of the world if they don't as they certainly have the skillsets and plenty of other attributes you want in young lads and a few of them will be senior I/C in 3 or 4 year time barring injury

Players to watch out for include Tony Kelly, Cathal O'Connell, Gearoid O'Connell and Aaron Cunnigham....the first two have the potential to be as good as anything we have produced in a long long time

Leinster got underway yesterday.

hurlingguru wrote:Leinster got underway yesterday.

Who played who?

Westmeath 2-24 Carlow 1-09

hurlingguru wrote:Westmeath 2-24 Carlow 1-09

Big defeat against a team ye would be expecting to beat or at least put it up to

Players not right at all. Management have a part to play. Westmeath are a class outfit but no way should they beat us by 18 points.

I still feel the set up at minor needs to change, Antrim, Armagh, Derry and Down have been producing decent minor teams for years, but one match and that minor is finished? The same could be said of galway, maybe the reason their boys dont progress properly at senior is down to lack of games, it certainly isnt down to lack of medals.

Minor for me is still an age of development even at inter county and some players only ever play two maybe three games tops at it, the straight up way would be to move antrim into leinster and start all that but why not try one of the new formats proposed at senior level with the minors?

top 16, 4 groups of 4, with champs of leinster and munster seeded, i think we need to revamp the hurling set up, i would be in favour of antrim and galway going into leinster but eventually derry, armagh, roscommon, mayo and down will want in and im sure the counties in leinster dont fancy allowing in the full shebang.

One other option would be to include galway in ulster, with best of the rest of ulster Fermanagh, cavan, monaghan, tyrone and donegal entering one amalgamated team and also a best of the rest of connaught team along with kerry entering one amalgamated team, these counties could still compete on their own in the c and b comps but to get them games at top level for development it could work, to provide stars for cavan or fermanagh.

I dont know exactly what to do, but the need to develop better senior inter county hurling could lie at minor and under 16, in actual fact it probably does lie there.......................

A few games in Leinster tomorrow, the pick of them being Wexford v Offaly, Westmeath take on Laois while Carlow take on Wicklow and Kildare take on Meath


Wednesday evening Clare take on Kerry in Austin Stakes Park.....On paper this will be a very strong Clare team, full of top of the ground hurlers with plenty of ability and mobility.....But at minor level you just don't know, consistency and also the fact that there will be far more expectation on the lads than last year....I would say the team will be along the following lines

Quilligan (feakle)
Browne(ballyea) O'Connor (Newmarket) Morey (sixmilebridge)
Shanahan(sixmilebridge) O'Connell (ballyea) Ryan (smith o'briens)
Kelly (ballyea) Colleran (st josephs)
Galvan (clonlara) O'Connell (clonlara) Mulready (sixmilebridge)
Hickey (meelick) Cunningham (wolfe tones) O'Donnell (eire og)

Cunningham has had an ankle injury for the past few weeks but should be alright, if not Peter Duggan of Clooney would be likely to get his place, Michael Ryan is probably under pressure from Martin Moroney from Meelick who had a fine year at wing back for Ard Scoil Ris while Mulready is far from nailed on but given the fact he got a good bit of gametime last year will probably get the benefit of the doubt along with the fact that Frank Meldoy(newmarket) has missed the last month with injury.....

From a form point of view Browne, O'Connell and especially Tony Kelly were all oustanding for Ballyea as they went on the win the 21B title in Clare last week, playing at 3, 6 & 9 respectively with Kelly being scorer in Chief for them. While Seadna Morey and Jamie Shanahan were in great form for the Bridge last night as they won the 21A title, coincidently both played in the forwards and contributed 2-8 of the bridge's 4-14 total....Alan Mulready didn't play 21's at all this year due to a falling out with management over him playing soccer....

The forwards on paper have serious potential and a real eye for goal, Galvan, Tots O'Connell and Cunningham all play senior club last year and look like excellent prospects.....

Same management team as the last two years and they are shrewd operators I would be confident that we will overcome Kerry without too much difficulty, although they only lost by three points to Limerick at this stage last year but I don't forsee that happening here

Carlow 3-22 0-05 Wicklow, Dr Cullen Park FT
Kildare 1-14 1-16 Meath, Newbridge FT
Laois 0-16 1-19 Westmeath, Portlaoise FT
Wexford 3-13 3-10 Offaly, Wexford Park FT

Tipp team for Wednesday night V Waterford


1. James Maher (Clonoulty Rossmore)
2. James Bourke (Moycarkey Borris)
3. John Meagher (Loughmore Castleiney)
4. Jack Peters (Kilruane MacDonaghs)
5. Cathal Barrett (Holycross Ballycahill)
6. Jason Forde (Silvermines) Captain
7. Thomas Hamill (JK Brackens)
8. Conor Hammersley (Clonoulty Rossmore)
9. Eoin Fennelly (Mullinahone)
10. Pat Ralph (Moycarkey Borris)
11. Liam McGrath (Loughmore Castleiney)
12. Tom Kirwan (Ballybacon Grange)
13. Cathal Horan (Mullinahone)
14. Sean Maher (Clonoulty Rossmore)
15. Dan McCormack (Borris-Ileigh)

A very poor Wicklow team today against our lads. We strolled to victory and played with 14 men for a lot of the second half. Offaly in a fortnight will be a much tougher test after the farce with Westmeath.

Cork Minor Hurling Team vs Limerick:

1. Gary Minihane (Courcey Rovers)
2. Killian Burke (Midleton)
3. Colm Spillane (Captain - Castlelyons)
4. Anthony Dennehy (Na Piarsaigh)
5. Cormac Walsh (Midleton)
6. Darren Sweetnam (Sam Maguires)
7. Killian McIntyre (Carrigaline)
8. Robert O'Shea (Carrigaline)
9. Cian Buckley (Na Piarsaigh)
10. Shane O'Keeffe (Blackrock)
11. Dylan Cahill (Cloyne)
12. Cormac Murphy (Mallow)
13. Alan Cadogan (Douglas)
14. John Fitzgerald (Blackrock)
15. Kevin O'Keeffe (Blackrock)

Subs: James McSweeney (Bandon), Colm Barry (Castlelyons), Alan Dennehy (Charleville), Cillian McSweeney (Carrigaline), Daniel Morrissey (Na Piarsaigh), Cillian Cullinane (Pedlars Cross), Barra O'Connell (Blarney), Patrick White (Midleton), Pa O'Callaghan (Ballyhea).

Puke, I heard your minors bet Kilkenny by 10 points or more in a recent challenge match. Your minors must be very strong have you seen them yet? Ive a sneaky feeling Westmeath could beat Kilkenny in the next round of Leinster.

hurlingguru wrote:Puke, I heard your minors bet Kilkenny by 10 points or more in a recent challenge match. Your minors must be very strong have you seen them yet? Ive a sneaky feeling Westmeath could beat Kilkenny in the next round of Leinster.

I haven't seen them this year, but have hurled against a few of them in the club championship and they certainly have ability.....In fairness to the management team they are shrewd operators, this is their third year in charge, in the first season they beat Waterford below in Dungarvan before losing to them in Cusack Park when they fell to pieces and conceeded a couple of quick goals after half time, the management weren't happy with the lack of physicality in the side and made them do a good bit of strength and conditioning ahead of last years championship and it definately stood to them, while I believe the management weren't happy with the sides inability to create goal chances against Kilkenny last year in the A/I final and in every challenge match so far this year there has been a huge emphasis on the forwards to take on their man and create/work goal chances so it is good to see them learning from mistakes and building on them.....

In terms of ability they are a fine side but you just don't know at minor level, the draw isn't in their favour, no disrespect to Kerry but they should see them off easily and will be going cold into a semi final in June against a side who have three games minimum played.....Also given the fact that they contestes an A/I final last year their will be a bit more hype and expectation about this years side and Clare underage teams have never really handled the favourites tag too well.....

1.Eibhear Quilligan E.O.Cuileagain Feakle
2.Jack Browne S.O.deBrun Ballyea
3.Niall O Connor N.O.Conchuir Newmarket
4.Seadna Morey S.O.Mora Sixmilebridge
5.Martin Moroney M.O.Maoiruanaidh Parteen
6.Jamie Shanahan S.O.Seanchain Sixmilebridge
7.Gearoid O Connell G.O.Conaill Ballyea
8.Colm Galvin C.O.Geailbhean Clonlara
9.Tony Kelly © A.O.Ceillaigh Ballyea
10.Alan Mulready A.O.Maoilbhride Sixmilebridge
11.Cathal O Connell C.O.Conaill Clonlara
12.Frank Melody F.O.Maoileidigh Newmarket
13.Shane O Donnell S.O.Donaill Eire Og Ennis.
14.Oisin Hickey O.hIci Meelick
15.Aaron Cunningham A.MacCuinneagain Wolfe Tones na Sionna.
16.Keith Hogan K.O hOgain Clooney/Quin
17.Jarleth Colleran J.O.Cailarainn St Josephs Doora/Barefield
18.Peter Duggan P.O.Duigain Clooney/Quin
19.Shane McGrath S.MacGrath Feakle
20.Dave Barry D.deBarra Clooney/Quin
21.Brian Carey B.O.Ciara Sixmilebridge
22.Damien Moloney D.O.Maolomhnaigh Meelick
23.Eoin Enright E. MacIonnrachtaigh Kilmaley
24.Oisin O Brien O.O.Brien Clonlara

Many from last years team Puke?

Beware banner boys. This Kerry minor outfit are going to give ye a good run.

hurlingguru wrote:Many from last years team Puke?

Puke is inspecting a knicker factory in Taiwan at the moment HG.

However I do remember one of last years lads, young Morey at corner back. He had an absolute stormer there on the day of the final. Three or four of last years starting 15, Galvan from Puke's club starts at midfield, a tidy enough young lad.
But as Puke says, it's hard to know with minors. We had what we thought were great minors last year, the best in years. A big effort was put in with them and they failed to click on the day. They had the ability, but I'd fear the level of expectation got to them.

You're nearly better with minors to let them expresss themselves and scrap all this tactical mish-mash. The colleges final is a case in point, free flowing, great long range scores and no negativity whatsoever.

Boxtyeater wrote:

hurlingguru wrote:Many from last years team Puke?

Puke is inspecting a knicker factory in Taiwan at the moment HG.

However I do remember one of last years lads, young Morey at corner back. He had an absolute stormer there on the day of the final. Three or four of last years starting 15, Galvan from Puke's club starts at midfield, a tidy enough young lad.
But as Puke says, it's hard to know with minors. We had what we thought were great minors last year, the best in years. A big effort was put in with them and they failed to click on the day. They had the ability, but I'd fear the level of expectation got to them.

You're nearly better with minors to let them expresss themselves and scrap all this tactical mish-mash. The colleges final is a case in point, free flowing, great long range scores and no negativity whatsoever.

Morey, Galvan, Kelly & Shanahan all started last years final, while Aaron Cunnigham came on as a sub in said final as did Mulready and played well while Cathal "tots" O'Connell started a couple of matches last year and made a few sub appearances but had his appendix removed the week before the final.....Melody and Moroney were both on the panel last year as well

Of the starting team Quilligan, Browne, Shanahan and O'Donnell are underage again next year

Clare 6-24 Kerry 1-08
Waterford 2-16 Tipp 1-13
Limerick 2-14 Cork 0-12

The Puke wrote:Clare 6-24 Kerry 1-08
Waterford 2-16 Tipp 1-13
Limerick 2-14 Cork 0-12

2 surprises there Pukey. You will now face I assume the winner of the Tipp/Cork clash. The extra game will improve them, wheras' the Banner boys had a relativley easy enough outing....Work to be done yet.

Boxtyeater wrote:

The Puke wrote:Clare 6-24 Kerry 1-08
Waterford 2-16 Tipp 1-13
Limerick 2-14 Cork 0-12

2 surprises there Pukey. You will now face I assume the winner of the Tipp/Cork clash. The extra game will improve them, wheras' the Banner boys had a relativley easy enough outing....Work to be done yet.

I wouldn't have said they were big surprises, Waterford have been very good at minor level for the past three years while cork are a shambles given their size and pick...

As I said in the first post on the thread the draw is against us and there is the possibility that we may well only get two games this year while Cork or Tipp despite losing the first game could end up playing 8 games at this level this year if they get through the backdoor...

But minor level isn't about winning trophies, it is about producing hurlers capable of competing at senior level and if you win a title or two that is a bonus.....There are a few lads on this team that will be intercounty hurlers for clare in 5 years time

Carlow 1-10 3-15 Offaly, Dr Cullen Park
Meath 4-08 4-22 Laois, Pairc Tailteann
Westmeath 1-11 2-10 Kilkenny, Cusack Park
Wexford 3-10 1-18 Dublin, Wexford Park

Fair play to Westmeath for putting it up to Kilkenny

They're a serious outfit who could qualify for a Leinster final.