Dublin's Drive for Five? GAA 2019

[Diable Rouge]

One bizarre consequence of Cork's victory yesterday is that the hurling divisions have effectively become provincial round-robins:

Division 1A:

Cork
Galway
Limerick
Tipperary
Waterford
Westmeath

Division 1B:

Carlow
Clare
Dublin
Kilkenny
Laois
Wexford

[Diable Rouge]

In the hurling quarter-finals, Waterford had a surprisingly huge victory over Clare, utterly dominating the second half, Galway were comfortable against Wexford, while Dublin caused the shock of the weekend in dumping out Tipperary. Cork won away to Kilkenny in the "relegation" play-off for their first success in Kilkenny in decades.

Semis:

Waterford v Galway
Dublin v Limerick

[Diable Rouge]

Kerry deservedly beaten in Tralee, made poor use of possession when playing with a stiff wind, and Aidan O'Shea gave an immense performance for the visitors. Dublin are officially dethroned after losing at home to Tyrone, so if the final round goes along expectations, it looks like a Kerry v Galway final, though Tyrone could sneak into the decider.

http://twitter.com/GAALeagueTables/status/1107019794895777794

Galway are above Mayo on the head-to-head rule.

[Diable Rouge]

A busy weekend coming up, with all the Round 6 football matches on Saturday, due to the All-Ireland club finals on Sunday, as per tradition. The Kerry panel is building a nice strength in depth, with some familiar names returning to the subs' bench:

http://twitter.com/Kerry_Official/status/1106645990709362690

[elguapo4]

Shit forgot that, getting my hopes up, either way hopefully both of them will go the way of their footballers, especially the Cats.

[Diable Rouge]

Sadly, just to decide placings, rather than relegation - they're rejigging Division One next year, so only Offaly will actually be relegated.

[elguapo4]

Cork v Kilkenny, the axis of evil, in the division 1 relegation play off. Can't decide who I want to lose more,I'll probably have to toss a coin.

[Diable Rouge]

Wind advantage was crucial in today's hurling matches - Offaly enjoyed an 11-point lead at the break against Carlow, but remarkably, the Barrowsiders came back to win by the minimum, so the former All-Ireland champions will play in Division 2A next season, replacing Westmeath who ultimately won against Kerry in the second-tier final. Elsewhere, Tipp hammered Cork by 13 points, Wexford defeated Kilkenny by 7, and Waterford just overcame Galway by two points.

QFs:

Wexford v Galway
Clare v Waterford
Tipperary v Dublin

Limerick beat Laois by 16 points in the first QF yesterday.

[Diable Rouge]

Sean O'Shea with a Maurice Fitz-style sideline score:

http://twitter.com/officialgaa/status/1102259226292953088

[Diable Rouge]

The hurling didn't escape, however, with games in Cork, Waterford and Wexford all called off.

[elguapo4]

I was, glad to see Leitrim reach Croke park for Emlyn Mulligan's sake, it would have been a shame if a player of his quality went through his career never having played there.

[Diable Rouge]

Presume you were watching on TG4 - because of the Dubs match, there was about a half an hour's time delay.

[elguapo4]

10 minutes ago I was going to say "bet you're wishing now it was " but it looks like the late points will be enough to see you over the line, horrible weather and dire game up in Roscommon but Dublin beat the Rossies to put us in with a shout to reach the final.

[Diable Rouge]

It ultimately went ahead, and Kerry moved within a point of the League final, with a hard-fought win over the visitors - Dublin move favourites for the runner-up slot. Sligo relegated from Division Three, with Derry and Leitrim promoted from Division Four:

https://twitter.com/GAALeagueTables/status/1102255324499714048

[Diable Rouge]

Kerry's match at home to Monaghan almost cancelled by a distinctly unseasonal snow shower, but ultimately going ahead.

[Diable Rouge]

Some shocks in the hurling, with Limerick losing at home to Cork, and Kilkenny winning in injury-time at Semple Stadium, but the biggest upset was Dublin defeating Waterford, who had a 100% record up to then.

[Diable Rouge]

Kerry grind out a one-point victory over Galway, but their reward is a two-point cushion on top of Division One, and with their next two games at home, they look good for a place in the league final, where Dublin could yet join them, given two of their remaining games are against relegation battlers. Meath and Fermanagh are the surprise Division Two pacesetters, the former last playing in the top tier in 2006, surprisingly. Only two counties have yet to win in any division, Sligo being pointless, while the only side on one point are Cork.

[Diable Rouge]

An unusual occurrence in a Gaelic football match - play stopped due to an umpire injury (temporarily unconscious).

[elguapo4]

G.A.A annual Congress has voted to let central council open their grounds to other sports on a case by case basis which means that soccer and rugby will be better able to bid for tournaments on the basis of having more grounds available, the new Pairc Ui Chaoimh now opens up Cork to host bigger games.

[Diable Rouge]

Ordinarily, Waterford v Galway would be a shoot-out for promotion, but the GAA are undertaking a predictably convoluted restructuring of Division One based on finishing positions. However, there will be relegation from 1B, and the new few weeks will see a straight battle involving Carlow, Laois and Offaly to avoid the drop, the last-named suffering another costly defeat to their Midlands rivals.

[elguapo4]

Limerick give Kilkenny a 9 point hammering in their own ground, unheard of (Kilkenny are the Real Madrid/New York Yankees of the hurling world), Wexford beat Tipperary by a point and Galway beat Dublin.

[Diable Rouge]

GAA archive launched - free worldwide.

[elguapo4]

Gobshite of the week has to one of the Roscommon forwards (I didn't catch his name). After an exciting game which was level in the last minute of extra time the Rossies won a free right in front of the posts. Their chance to win was lost when the aforementioned gobshite decided to charge into the Tyrone goalkeeper, the referee reversed the decision and correctly gave a throw up (Gaelic football's hop ball) which Tyrone won with the last touch of the game. As expected Roscommon weren't happy but there's too much "hard man " stupidity in Gaelic football and it's good to see it properly punished.

[elguapo4]

Kerry look like serious contenders even though Peter Keane is talking them down, Dublin still a work in progress, the defence is badly missing Philly Mc Mahon's influence and organising skills and Evan Comerford doesn't look like being the new Cluxton, which is a pity cause I'm friends with his dad!

[Diable Rouge]

Just back from the match in Tralee - very high standard for League football, and very encouraging to see Kerry go toe-to-toe with the Dubs for 70 minutes, even after they emptied the bench. Still somewhat premature to be thinking of All-Irelands yet, but full marks from the first three games is a useful starting point.