Hurling Championship 2013

Yes folks I'm back.

I know most of the few that's left are mainly football experts but I think the hurling championship of 2013 has been one of the best in years and we're only in June.

We have seen in Leinster:
Slight underdogs Laois defeating Antrim, getting them to a quarter final against Carlow which they won easily and then ran Galway very close in the semi final.
Wexford gave Dublin an almighty fright in Wexford Park and escaped with a draw. The Dubs duly took care of them in the replay.
Offaly put it up to the Cats in Tullamore before Kilkenny's class shone through. Then Kilkenny grabbing a last second equalizer in Portlaoise last week to deny the Dubs a famous win only for them to come back this week and defeat the Cats which in my opinion is the biggest championship upset since Wexford's defeat of Kilkenny in 2004.

In Munster:
The biggest upset was Limerick's deserving victory over Tipp where the more hungrier and hard working team truly beat the 2010 All Ireland Champions.
Cork caused a minor shock when defeating a youthful Clare side in the Gaelic Grounds last weekend.

Qualifiers:
Westmeath struggled over London as did Wexford over Antrim.
Waterford beat Offaly.
Westmeath put it up to Waterford today for 35 minutes before the Deise ruthlessly disposed of the Lakesiders while My beloved Carlow came o so close once again when nearly defeating our Wexford neighbours only for them to pull away for a 2 pt victory.  

Lets not forget Donegal defeating Roscommon in the Nicky Rackard Final and Warwickshire beating Longford in the Lory Meagher Final.

It may be June but I can't wait for the rest of the hurling championship!  

Agree HG - The hurling championship has thrown up some unexpected results. One of Kilkenny and Tipperary will go next week too and for the winners - a game with Waterford.

Dublin have shaken up things again. Have to hand it to them. Looked like the progress they'd made was a flash but they've come roaring back.

The big news could come next if Tipperary beat Kilkenny. Which they could because so many of Kilkenny's stars are totally out of form. If it's Tipperary who go crashing out, then what about Eamon O'Shea? Firsts season in charge - what a disaster.

What can you say......I was in a small, almost sea-side village in Wexford yesterday evening, about a mile from the ocean, when the word went around that Jimmy's of Riverchapel were showing the hurling qualifier on an outdoor big screen...cue a rush to Jimmy's....

With the Wexicans losing to Clare in the qualifier, ignoring the football agin' Longford, the mood was for Waterford to redress the imbalance. A few Dubs, with villainy in their eye, howled for the Cats and as Jackie Tyrrell burst through a phalanx of Deise attackers Boxty found himself in the Kilkenny camp.

This was epic stuff, Cats on the ropes, last legs, gone, done and dusted....Not so, as Cuchullain-esque, Tyrrell, Murphy and Joyce repelled the Raiders while Larkin, vintage like, supplied and scored.
The Deise responded, in the form of Moran and the substitute Ray Barry----level pegging at the death as Matthew Ruth swept over the winner  

Extra time, as the sun lowered in balmy conditions. Step up the real warriors...Taggy, Power and Hogan swept points over from outrageous possessions and positions, as Tommy Walsh, Hogan and Joyce found their feet....Bad shot selection cost Waterford, Tyrrell is a collossus, Cody has work to do, Ml.Fennelly looks
ring-rusty but Shefflin looks a shadow of his former self.

Did you see RMD on your travels? He was Wexico bound also y'day!

bald eagle wrote:Did you see RMD on your travels? He was Wexico bound also y'day!

RMD was hotelling-it (reduced price) in some slum-land kip in Wexford town, acting imperiously, as Boxty held court amongst the Wexican peasants with the answerable question;

Name the Dubs with dual medals:

Answer in 60 seconds..

At Leinster level..Senior.

Boxtyeater wrote:

bald eagle wrote:Did you see RMD on your travels? He was Wexico bound also y'day!

RMD was hotelling-it (reduced price) in some slum-land kip in Wexford town, acting imperiously, as Boxty held court amongst the Wexican peasants with the answerable question;

Name the Dubs with dual medals:

Answer in 60 seconds..

At Leinster level..Senior.

David O'Callaaghan?

1 Up.

Boxtyeater wrote:1 Up.

Frank burke
Pierce grace

No.....

These are off the cuff names, courtesy of age, I've seen them all (I think)....Four in total?????

Des and Lar Foley, Des Ferguson and Dotsy make up the quartet. 1961 LSHC followed by success at football in 1963 or thereabouts for the first three. Subject to correction I might add.

Conal Keaney?

Good one NSG, give yourself a pat on the back.