Vast Retirement of Kilkenny Hurlers

Just after hearing that John Dalton has retired aswel. Is there anything going on? Wouldnt have expected Dalton to retire, thats 5 gone for Kilkenny now.

5 are gone but let's remember here: Only Eddie played in the Final last year. And his retirement along with Ryan's and Kavanagh's were probably expected.

Cha was a surprise but he hasn't been near as good as he was prior to a fever he picked up in 2008 or 2009.

I liked Dalton but think he only had the one year in a six year intercounty career where he was a first fifteen player. Losing out to Murphy for the corner-back position last year as probably a devasting blow to Dalton.

All is still good in Kilkenny.

Tipperary without Lar and Waterford without Mullane are much bigger losses than the sum of Kilkenny's five. Even Eddie, great and all as he was, has been replaced already by Fennelly.

Dalton never got a look in after last years league final when he lost the head.

Agree that none are massive losses unless some of Kilkennys players lose form or get injured as the depth won't be there as it has in previous years. Give it 2 to 4 years and we will have a very competitive hurling championship again. Tipp will struggle to replace Kelly, Curran, Cummins, O'Brien, Corbett etc as they found out last year when Fanning left and they have already taken the pick of players off their 2010 under 21 team while Brian Hogan, Shefflin, Hickey, Tyrell and JJ are already or will all the wrong side of 30 come the end of the championship.

Given the age profile and the quality young hurlers Dublin, Galway, Waterford, Limerick and Clare are producing at present all 5 have plenty of scope for improvement while Tipp and Kilkenny will most definately come back to the pack. That is not to say that Tipp and Kilkenny won't win the next 5 or 6 titles between them but I expect it to be far more competitive than it has over the past 4 or 5 years all the same