Originally posted by william munny:
Thoroughly enjoyed the performance of galway yesterday and like most of the hurling world,glad to see the kk invincibility tag thrown to the ground (though like many still think they'll win the a-i)BUTis the ridiculous tackling ante going to be upped even further in order to 'win the collisions' in our modern game? In the 70 minutes of yesterdays game,there was only about 25 + minutes of actual action within which there must have been at least 60+ fouls : head high tackles,jersey pulls,hurley holding between both sides - fxxking ridiculous.The things which many were criticising kk all along justify the manic,serial fouling as 'galway kking kk' -Obviously Galways skill set was truly wonderful yeaterday (and by god their frustrated fans deserve days like yesterday) as has been kk's for years but does hurling now our sport DEMAND complete trasngression of the rules in order to even compete at the highest level? Normally , very reluctant to criticise referees but for me yesterday's frenzied ,serially transgressions will mean more gym work,more tacklebags, more illegal physicality etc.
Great day for the 2012 championship but another sad reminder of how the modern day game requires as much conditioning as skill.

Originally posted by william munny:
Thoroughly enjoyed the performance of galway yesterday and like most of the hurling world,glad to see the kk invincibility tag thrown to the ground (though like many still think they'll win the a-i)BUTis the ridiculous tackling ante going to be upped even further in order to 'win the collisions' in our modern game? In the 70 minutes of yesterdays game,there was only about 25 + minutes of actual action within which there must have been at least 60+ fouls : head high tackles,jersey pulls,hurley holding between both sides - fxxking ridiculous.The things which many were criticising kk all along justify the manic,serial fouling as 'galway kking kk' -Obviously Galways skill set was truly wonderful yeaterday (and by god their frustrated fans deserve days like yesterday) as has been kk's for years but does hurling now our sport DEMAND complete trasngression of the rules in order to even compete at the highest level? Normally , very reluctant to criticise referees but for me yesterday's frenzied ,serially transgressions will mean more gym work,more tacklebags, more illegal physicality etc.
Great day for the 2012 championship but another sad reminder of how the modern day game requires as much conditioning as skill.

Originally posted by ollscoil:
I agree with William here, hurling is now a game without rules and referees are having as much a say on a result as the players because he is not blowing for scoreable frees which could prove the difference. I saw numerous fouls yesterday, some of them were bookings as well yet no free was awarded. All this will lead to is more fouling until a point is reached when players no longer need to be coached the art of tackling and hurling becomes as much a wrestling match as a ball playing field sport.

This message has been edited - 09-jul-2012 @ 22:17

Originally posted by ProjX:
My fear is that a skillful side like Limerick may not be prepared for a physical team like Galway or Kilkenny.

Originally posted by hurling immortal:
would you ever stick to watching that godawful sport.. whats it called again.. oh yeah gaelic football..and before you call me a hurling snob i love alot of sports ie soccer, baseball, american football and ice hockey but im sorry gaelic football is pure, unadulterated s**te..id rather watch two goldfish go around their bowl for 70 minutes..

Originally posted by ProjX:
My fear is that a skillful side like Limerick may not be prepared for a physical team like Galway or Kilkenny.

Originally posted by hurling immortal:
would you ever stick to watching that godawful sport.. whats it called again.. oh yeah gaelic football..and before you call me a hurling snob i love alot of sports ie soccer, baseball, american football and ice hockey but im sorry gaelic football is pure, unadulterated s**te..id rather watch two goldfish go around their bowl for 70 minutes..

Originally posted by hurling immortal:
would you ever stick to watching that godawful sport.. whats it called again.. oh yeah gaelic football....

Originally posted by ollscoil:
I agree with William here, hurling is now a game without rules and referees are having as much a say on a result as the players because he is not blowing for scoreable frees which could prove the difference. I saw numerous fouls yesterday, some of them were bookings as well yet no free was awarded. All this will lead to is more fouling until a point is reached when players no longer need to be coached the art of tackling and hurling becomes as much a wrestling match as a ball playing field sport.

Originally posted by JohnneyCool:

.The surrounding of the man in possession by two, three or four other players isn't a foul and is all too common

Originally posted by Rebel CNC:
Not at all. Problem only arises when one of the tacklers uses free hand to hold back the arm or hurley of man in possesion, thereby not allowing him to play the ball.

Originally posted by JohnneyCool:

H'mm, not sure about this debate. I can understand how some watching may see technical fouls aplenty, but as someone who's played hurling in the north where referee's have the game almost non-contact at club level its refreshing to see genuine hard hits (hate rugby parlance) going in, the opponent taking them and playing on.The surrounding of the man in possession by two, three or four other players isn't a foul and is all too common, but it will raise the skill level of players and teams as they'll need to operate in that environment to survive. The stickwork from some of the players on sunday was superb and the skill levels displayed by Galway shouldn't be underestimated as physicality and workrate will only get you so far, they are far more than that as are Kilkenny in their pomp.At the same time i detest half a dozen or so lads trying to pick a ball in a crowd, awful looking and slows the game down.

Originally posted by Tinmar:
I've said this before about those who unjustifiably criticise Kilkenny and the same applied to Galway on Sunday. If the player with the ball is surrounded by three or more opponents, they have no need to foul him because he can't do anything.

This message has been edited - 10-jul-2012 @ 14:23

Originally posted by lovelypoint:
Come off it. Finding yourself surrounded by several Kilkenny players, is like swimming into a shoal of piranha, with each taking a bite, be it a jersey tug or a wrist tap, or a slew of other minor fouls. Part of the real genius of Cody's reign has been that such niggly fouling has been tweaked to such a level to fly under most referees radars. At best its cuteness on Kilkenny's part, at worst its cynicism, but to deny it happens I imagine you would have to be from Kilkenny.

Originally posted by ollscoil:
I would agree to a point but it wasn't just technical fouls that were left go but aggressive ones like tackling around the neck. Lads are going on about intensity and physicality but if you leave lads do what they like to the man in possession then of course the game will be intense. Every sport would benefit as a spectacle if you ignore fouling in favour of 'letting it flow' but that's not a referees job nor is it good for the sport.Allow neck high challenges, pushing in the back, frontal shoulders and holding the hurley or/and hand if we don't want to see frees for these things but if they are in the rule book then they should be blown. I saw a number of lads who were fouled as they attempted to play the ball and as a result they lost possession and that shouldn't happen in any sport on a repeated basis.

Originally posted by JohnneyCool:
In all fairness to McGrath I think he carded at least two players for neck high challenges, Brian Hogan being one, but in this regard referees are on a hiding to nothing as Cody has already made noises in the press about the physicality being refereed out of hurling and all that. If he'd shown a few to the line on Sunday then he'd have been the worst in the world and received little or no support from Croke park.