Weekend GAA

[megager]

A feast this weekend. The munster hurling final is, in my opinion the zenith of the irish sporting calender, and many an occasional has eclipsed the all-ireland final in September. Its fresh (as a neutral, not to our rebel contingent) that this year there is a new rivalry. I suspest those rebels will still be playing well into the autumn and will be ready to clip the tail sof the cats. I wish I could say the same for Galway, but unless we can co-erce the cats into sipping some poisoned milk, I fear early august will be our waterloo.

Guinness Munster Senior Hurling Championship
Final
Thurles 4.00 Port Láirge v Luimneach
Referee: Seamus Roche, T. Árann
I fancy Limerick to pull a surprise here. Ive always admired Waterford, but they are porous and Limerick might just have the beating of them.


Bank of Ireland Connacht Senior Football Championship

Final
Hyde Park 2.00 Sligeach v Gaillimh *
Referee: Brian Crowe, An Cabhán


It has to be Galway here. Im not sure how well equipped they are for a sustained championship challenge though. I still suspect Mayo will lurk in the shadows, and I suspect will catch us in the quarter final. Hope I'm wrong.

[yodabenitez]

Hey Ger, we're just never going to agree on this stuff....

Waterford & Sligo for me...the former cos I think thy're the only other team with a chance of 'doing' the cats & the latter for family / emotional reasons & I just don't think Galway are that good.

What price the double?

[megager]

On my way to bookies with the life savings so. You would get fair odds on that.

You are right, I dont rate Galway, but they should be good enough to beat Sligo ( but I am Partizan).

Ill be cheering Waterford (love them) but those Limerick boys are resilient. Nice to have a non Cork- Tipp final though isnt it

[yodabenitez]

Yes it is but I have to admit my general soft spot in the hurling is for Wexford...spent long happy summers in Rosslare as a kid

[megager]

I fondly remember a summer in 2004 when wexford scored a last minute goal to beat the cats and then a few hours later, the mercurial zidane vomitted enroute to a double ( remember his first , the penalty) late on against england.

Hurling for me though is dominated by Noel Lane's goals in the finals of 87 and 88, listening to it on a beat up transisitor radio as I was too nervous watch it on TV. Got to see the Sunday game that night though so it was good.

[yodabenitez]

Ah Zidane...England...2 - 1 ...backed the corrrect score about 13/2 as I recall..Carlsberg dont do the last 5 mins but if they did...

87 - 88 not in touch with hurling then my friend, I was a bona fide member of the travelling community...London...Dunkirk...Amsterdam...Gedser (it's in Denmark - not much hurling!)...Copenhagen...Hamburg..Broke (it's in Dublin ...about 1990!)!

[callyno3]

Waaaherford and Galway for me. Even as a rebel I have to agree with Meagar that it is good to see the munster championship goin around, pity it's not happening in leinster. So tip for the wknd is atreble waterford galway and cork.

[dougal]

Come on the Deise!! :p

I think Waterford will have too much firepower for Limerick. It should be a cracker though.
Clare will be up for the game against Galway big time and I can see them taking it especially at home.
Galway should be too good for Sligo though on Sunday.

[megager]

Galway were dreadful in the hurling. Again! Iexpected them to topple Clare (who very very poor too). Good call Dougal.

[FinnanNo3]

Armagh beaten....Delighted.

[megager]

Hey Ger, we're just never going to agree on this stuff....

Waterford & Sligo for me...the former cos I think thy're the only other team with a chance of 'doing' the cats & the latter for family / emotional reasons & I just don't think Galway are that good.

What price the double?

Yoda strikes again....Its the force I tell you....Give this man a weekly tips thread...Forget the Celtic tiger

[yodabenitez]

Guess who didn't back his own tip again.....I'm giving up this golf crack as I only won 2 yoyo's on that:rolleyes:

[Fowler's God]

Waterford for the all-ireland me thinks

[yodabenitez]

They're probably the only side capable of beating Kilkenny but I'm going to nail my cats to the mast and say Kilkenny will end up too good for all...again.

[sean]

I agree yodabenitez, the Cats are looking a class act again this year. Still though, I reckon Cork and Waterford are both capable of giving them a run for their money.

[megager]

They're probably the only side capable of beating Kilkenny but I'm going to nail my cats to the mast and say Kilkenny will end up too good for all...again.

No chance. Galway to beat Cats, Derby to win premiership, United, Chelsea and Arsenal to go down.

Ok Cats to win.

[yodabenitez]

Lmao:d:d:d

[megager]

Hurling
Qualifiers Group A
14 Jul 2007 Galway V Antrim Pearse Stadium, Galway
14 Jul 2007 Laois V Clare O'Moore Park
Qualifiers Group B
14 Jul 2007 Offaly V Dublin Tullamore
14 Jul 2007 Tipperary V Cork Thurles

Football

Leinster
15 Jul 2007 Dublin V Laois Croke Park
Ulster
15 Jul 2007 Monaghan V Tyrone Clones
Qualifiers
14 Jul 2007 Derry V Mayo Celtic Park
14 Jul 2007 Westmeath V Donegal Cusack Park
14 Jul 2007 Kildare V Louth Newbridge
14 Jul 2007 MeathV Fermanagh Navan

Well after last weeks debacle I should retire.

Anyway I reckon, Galway, Clare, Cork, Dublin will prevail in hurling.

Football, should be Dublin, but not by as much as last year, Tyrone (will be more difficult than many expect, but they should be too strong), Mayo, Donegal, Kildare and maybe Fermanagh ( they always have one surprise in them).

Yoda, over to you. Any accumulators or doubles youd suggest. After last week you are to be respected!

[yodabenitez]

There are times when the best tip is to keep the money in the pocket and it looks like this might be one of those weekends, but as were on a bit of a roll here goes.

Don't like accums or even doubles usually so in the never ending search for a bit of value....

Cork / Tipp - Draw
Dubs to win the football -6.

Here's the disclaimer.....no liability is accepted for any daft headbangers who may be tempted to believe I actually have jedi powers (I'm really Gandalf in disguise:))

[Alex Raisbeck]

Come on Muineachan

[megager]

Come on Muineachan

I think everyone outside Tyrone will echo those sentiments. Monaghan are a very exciting team. They need a good start to have any chance though

[FinnanNo3]

While I think Tyrone will be way too strong we can always hope. Muineachán Abu.
Looking forward to both games tomorrow, hopefully the football championship can kick into life. Its been pretty poor so far.b

[Alex Raisbeck]

Monaghon pushing Tyrone now.
Wish id done a handicap bet.

[callyno3]

so whats the bets for this weekend guys? Waterford and Cork could go either way. Would be really harsh on waterford if they lost, to go out from their first defeat while cork have already lost 2, too close to call for me. in hurling Tipp and kilkenny to win limerick to shade it against clare. donegal and laois to win in football.
Anyone else for predictions ?
Cmon the rebels;)

[Fowler's God]

Wateford, Kilkenny, Limerick and Tipp to win i'm afraid, my own county wexford are just not going to be in it against Tipp not good enough at all.

[phil]

I don't think Cork will slip up again. Remember they were missing 3 players in the first game. Kilkenny won't be beaten, Limerick should win, and, being a yellow belly myself, I have to go for Wexford against Tipp. We live in hope:rolleyes:

[megager]

Tipp to beat wexford, easy enough Id say.
Limerick will beat clare easy Id say.
Loughnane to beat Kilkenny, but not Galway. A 10 point win for the Cats I'm afraid (and another empty summer of discontent in megagers cambridge lodgings)

Finally Waterford and cork. I really really want waterford to win this, but its Corks, so the rebels by 2 points I think. But dont listen to me, its yodas tips you should put your money on.

[sean]

Although ultimately I'm only concerned about how the Rebels do on Sunday, I can't wait for the games this weekend. For me its Tipp, Kilkenny, Clare and Cork to come out on top this weekend.

[callyno3]

well done wexford !!! great result

[callyno3]

so whats the bets for this weekend guys? Waterford and Cork could go either way. Would be really harsh on waterford if they lost, to go out from their first defeat while cork have already lost 2, too close to call for me. in hurling Tipp and kilkenny to win limerick to shade it against clare. donegal and laois to win in football.
Anyone else for predictions ?
Cmon the rebels;)

Looks like I haven't a clue about Gaa cork/waterford and kilkenny were the only good calls. :o

[stevieg]

Just back from Croke Park,only bothered to go to the second game, while Waterford where lucky to get the draw in the end they threw the match away in the first place,they should have been home and hosed but silly wides and poor defending for the Cork goals let Cork back in.

[yodabenitez]

What a weekend of hurling...the most magnificent sporting action in the world bar none.

Now for football...how about this for neck on the block....semis to be made up of...
Kerry
Dublin
Sligo
Meath

[megager]

SFC Quarter-final Draw:
Sligo v Cork
Tyrone v Meath
Dublin v Derry
Kerry v Monaghan

I think Cork, Tyrone, Kerry \nd Dublin will advance. Would love to see sligo advance but I thnk cork will have too much. I had tipped Monaghan to make semis, but no way they will beat kerry. The dubs may need a replay to overcome Derry, but I think they will. Finally Tyrone should see off Meath, who just stumbled through against a poor Galway side.

[Fowler's God]

go on wexford i am never making predictions again lol i thought we were going to get hammered, restored a bit of pride back into the shirt hopefully will will put up a better performance against Kilkenny this sunday!!!!

[yodabenitez]

I think Cork, Tyrone, Kerry \nd Dublin will advance. Would love to see sligo advance but I thnk cork will have too much. I had tipped Monaghan to make semis, but no way they will beat kerry. The dubs may need a replay to overcome Derry, but I think they will. Finally Tyrone should see off Meath, who just stumbled through against a poor Galway side.

Someday you will be right my young jedi, but bookie dockets a lot will you tear up in pain before you come to understand the ways of the force...lol (...not sure the little green lad ever ended a sentence with lol...lol):)

[sean]

Football wise, I think it'll be Cork, Tyrone, Kerry and Derry. Fancy a shock somewhere along the line and I reckon Derry could be the one's to pull it off!

Hurling wise, Kilkenny should have no problems (I know I said the same about Tipp last weekend but the Cats are a different class altogether), and unfortunately I think Waterford will take Cork this time. If it wasn't for some poor finishing the last day the Deise would have been well out of sight before Cork started to storm back. Should be another cracker, I hope.

[yodabenitez]

Just a polite question on GAA logic....

How is it that a semi-final ends up as a curtain raiser for a quarter final replay??

Answers on a postcard to PO Box Loadzadosh

[willk1977]

Just a polite question on GAA logic....

How is it that a semi-final ends up as a curtain raiser for a quarter final replay??

Answers on a postcard to PO Box Loadzadosh

it's because of the possibility of the Cork V waterford game ending in a draw. It would mean the Wexford game being delayed

[sean]

Just a polite question on GAA logic....

How is it that a semi-final ends up as a curtain raiser for a quarter final replay??

Answers on a postcard to PO Box Loadzadosh

Admittedly it shouldn't happen. I think the GAA have just looked at this game on paper and realised that Cork v Waterford is just going to be a much bigger spectacle on the pitch than Kilkenny v Wexford. As much as I want the yellow bellies to win, I reckon Kilkenny will have it wrapped up by half time. Cork v Waterford won't be decided until the last few minutes. Had you put the replay on first, I think you'd have seen a fair amount of Cork and Waterford fans leaving Croke Park to beat the traffic before the semi final teams took to the pitch - and that would be embarrasing for the GAA.

[sean]

Just after getting back from Croker, gutted but fair play to Waterford. There was a 5 minute spell in the second half where they got the goal and a few points which put Cork to bed.

By the way, I have a ticket for next Sundays semi if anyone wants it, got a bit cocky during the week and assumed Cork would be playing in it, looking to get rid of it now :D:D

[megager]

Football

Quarter-finals
11 Aug 2007 Derry 3:00 Dublin Croke Park
12 Aug 2007 Kerry 2:00 Monaghan Croke Park

Hurling

Waterford V Kilkenny ( I mean Limerick)

Ok Kerry and Dublin. Ive already got it wrong 3 times with waterford ( as yoda can testify) and many dockets have been torn up. I may as well go for number 4. Limerick to beat the decies. That will make me as popular as a fart in a spacesuit on this forum Id say.

[sean]

Super stuff from Limerick, was down there today and the atmostphere was something else. To me it looked like Waterford already had Kilkenny in their heads and didn't really show up for the first 20 minutes. Here's hoping Limerick haven't reached their peak already and will give the Cats a game in 3 weeks.

[liverbird!!]

Dubs again show how to nearly f**k away a lead.
Will they ever play a full 70 minutes? altough they
have the ability to win Sam this year, its weather
they want to is the problem!!!

[yodabenitez]

I have no doubt they want to, the question is whether they are good enough?

Although Kerry were not good yesterday, in no small part due to a terrific performance from Monaghan, the Kingdom will come on from that.

The Dubs have shown a worrying frailty at the back against both Derry & Laois, in both games had the opposition taken handy points rather than going for goals it would likely have been two drawn games.

Kerry will not make such mistakes.

[sean]

The worst thing for Dublin is that Kerry got a big scare yesterday, and will come back to Croke Park a more focused and determined team in 2 weeks. I can't see anything other result than a win for the Kingdom...

[megager]

FAO yoda, finally got a few right. Unfortunately my previous betting exploits (many torn dockets) mean I am still short one kidney and a liver

[yodabenitez]

A true jedi learn to suffer the pain of the dark side he must only then can balance to the force he bring:)

[sean]

Super result from Cork today against Meath, didn't make it down myself to Croker cos of the clash with the Pool kickoff. From the highlights though Cork looked very impressive, can sit back and relax now for the Kerry v Dubs game.

On a sidenote, did anyone hear Spillane on the Sunday Game questioning the lack of Cork supporters at the game? A bit rich coming from a Kerry man who only had 600 supporters at the quater final last week. Granted I'm no man to judge not being at the game today (Liverpool always come first) but still a bit unfair to go making an issue of it!

[megager]

If it is kerry v cork in the final it will be a sea of red. Ill be cheering on the rebels from here.

[pam]

croker - desperate looking for 2 tickets for people special to me - should anyone have 2 or get hold of 2 i would really appreciate them please ;)

[callyno3]

Most nuetrals will be shouting for limerick on sun. Can they dethrone the cats?? probably not but fingers crossed anyway.
Repeat of munster final in the minor when Tipp got the better of cork, will the rebels be able to turn the tables? Whos your money on?

[YNWA]

Ahhhh, 3 pages on GAA, i feel sick! :eek:

[megager]

In fairness it is 3 pages over the entire championship...

Think it will be kilkenny and tipp double.

[sean]

Ahhhh, 3 pages on GAA, i feel sick! :eek:

To be fair, megager is right, it is only 3 pages covering the entire championship, and its nicely tucked away in the "Other Sports" forum so it shouldn't really bother anyone who doesn't want to be bothered by it ;)

Kilkenny will surely walk away with it on Sunday, the only hope is Limerick make some sort of game out of it and don't walk away embarrassed.

[JOE]

True Sean, and these sort of topics keep the forum alive...And on the Snday game, i'll be up for the underdogs...you never know...

[paddyb]

kilkenny should walk away with it on sunday but hopefully limerick will give them a good challenge.
Its not good for the game for a team to get thrashed in an all ireland final.
Waterford and Kilkenny would have been a good game but it wasnt to be!

[YNWA]

In fairness it is 3 pages over the entire championship...


Half my point really, there would barely be 3 posts on the league matches...

[Fowler's God]

Hope Limerick beat Kilkenny it would be the best thing for hurling

[yodabenitez]

Don't necessarily agree with that. Think Kilkenny are outstanding as a team, all the attributes that make for greatness.

No disrespect to Limerick but for me it's Kilkenny +6, although as a betting proposition it's hardly worth it, maybe double it with Kerry +6...is that the fiery breath of Munster on my neck???

[megager]

yoda strikes again. I took the double advice

[stevieg]

I think Waterford would have given Kilkenny a harder game - a better forwrd line.

As they said on the Sunday game, Waterford got nothing out of winning the Munster title except 3 games in 15 days which arguably took the wind out of their sails and led to their poor showing against Limerick.

Next year the winners of the Leinster and Munster title go straight to the semi-finals.
Probably means they have to go a few weeks without a game which will probably not suit either.

[sean]

Next year the winners of the Leinster and Munster title go straight to the semi-finals.
Probably means they have to go a few weeks without a game which will probably not suit either.

Its a bit of a catch 22 alright - I remember a few years back when that was happening, the Leinster and Munster champions complained at having to go so long without a game. Ultimately I think Waterford lost against Limerick because their minds were already set on Kilkenny in the final, not because the wind was gone out of their sails.

[sean]

Well, looks like this topic is going to fade away after this weekend, and I'm going to finish up by saying best of luck to Cork this weekend. I'll be down in Croker shouting them on (look at me, I got a ticket :D ) and hopefully in work on Monday with a hoarse throat and a sore head from celebrating tomorrow night!

[callyno3]

Cmon the Rebels !!! Hopefully masters will prove his worth.! would like to see Goulding at some stage.

[sean]

Cmon the Rebels !!! Hopefully masters will prove his worth.! would like to see Goulding at some stage.

Think we'll see Goulding at some stage alright, I wouldn't be confident of Master's fitness lasting the full 70 mins. Losing Lynch is a major blow, but I got a feeling we can sneak it.

[yodabenitez]

Looking forward to this just to restore my faith in Irish sport after a poxy offering from the paid ranks!!

[megager]

Id love to see Cork do it. I think it will be Kerry by 5 points

[megager]

Yipee. Fair play Galway. They did very well to win it despite the controversy. Not a bad year for our underage teams again...

[sean]

Yipee. Fair play Galway. They did very well to win it despite the controversy. Not a bad year for our underage teams again...

Fair play to Galway indeed. Great finish to that game.

The senior game was just awful, Cork never turned up and Kerry ran the show from start to finish. I knew it was over when Cussen was switched back into midfield as it highlighted Kerry's superiority in that department and it completely ruled out our forward options. Fair play to Kerry though.

[callyno3]

Cork were out fought, out classed and out played today.
some awful defending for the goals. poor game and some very fussy refereeing

[SUPERFAN]

the GIFT of a Goal at the start of the 2nd Half must've been a Killer.
in fairness,it was all over after that......

[yodabenitez]

Ahem....free money is a wonderful thing....

You have two choices, you can back Kerry & Kilkenny now to double next September or you can wait until they play crap in the league and get a slightly better price...the choice is yours my friends.

If you have a few quid spare you can take Monaghan in Ulster & Sligo in Connaught at the double if your feeling frisky.....

[yodabenitez]

BTW Ger ... mine's an orange juice....

[megager]

I see in another thread you may have written a docket on ireland to beat france. I presume the bet was to lose by less than 50 points??

I hope you covered that double, some of your tips were incredible (especially the sligo in connaught and the dublin - meath draw)