Search Results for 'National Hurling League'

The Galway hurlers have often been referred to as one of the great underachievers. The fact that they have not brought the Liam McCarthy back across the Shannon since 1988 probably has something to do with this tag. Judging by the way they disposed of the Cork challenge in the National Hurling League final at Thurles last Sunday evening they highlighted the fact they mean business this year. The first half of this game was as good as I've seen for some time, it was as close a championship pace as you're likely to see.

There is no game on earth to compare with hurling, for speed, skill, artistry, movement, and athleticism. Fitness also plays a big part in the game. The Galway teams who played in the 1923 and 1924 finals spent an incredible almost 13 weeks together in Rockfield House, between Craughwell and Athenry. There, they lived like Trappist monks with a 6am reveille sounded by team manager and county board chairman, Tom Kenny, who arrived each dawn in his pony and trap from Craughwell. Out of bed and into a cold bath was the order of the day, and the first exercise was followed by a drink of cold water laced with ‘health salts’ before a solid hour’s toning up physical exercises supervised by trainer Jack Berry. Breakfast of the plainest food, with brown bread the major ingredient, followed at 10am. After an hour’s rest, the team and substitutes played and practised hurling with the free-takers perfecting their art with countless shots at goal from all distances and angles.

Pat Flanagan has been appointed interim Westmeath manager following Brendan Hackett’s resignation last weekend. The Clara native will take charge until the end of this year when the position of manager will then be reviewed. The county board were quick to act to fill the void given that we are only weeks away from our opening championship game.

There’s no rest for the Mayo hurlers as they go into their third league game in as many weeks on Sunday. While some managers would be complaining about too many games too soon, Martin Brennan is of a different mind set. “I’d nearly prefer it this way, it keeps everyone focused and the lads moving along nicely. If we didn’t have a game, I’d be looking for a challenge match against someone else and trying to get good standard to play against so it’s better to have competitive games like this.”

Mayo 0-19

The Mayo management team of Martin Brennan and Pete Finnerty have made four changes to their side from the one which lined up against Kerry last weekend in their opening National Hurling League game to the side who will face Armagh in Crossmaglen tomorrow. Into the side come Shane Morley after a recent hamstring problem, Kenny Robinson who scored a goal after coming on against Kerry gets the nod at number 15. Sean Markham will make his debut in the half back line while Brian Moran who fired over four points after he came on against Kerry will come into the half forward line. Keith Higgins who will also be on duty with the Mayo football team on Sunday drops to the bench for Saturday’s game.

A fortnight ago Mayo made their way across the country to open their account in the National Hurling League for the year only for it to be called off because of the weather; they must make that same long trip again this weekend. Tomorrow (Saturday, March 6) Martin Brennan and Pete Finnerty will be hoping that their side will be able to put their first points up on the board in the match against Armagh, after they failed to overthrow the Kingdom in McHale Park last Sunday.

The GAA's good intention of kick-starting the National Hurling League with a glamour tie between the All-Ireland finalists Kilkenny and Tipperary under lights at Semple Stadium has turned from a good PR exercise into a GAA disaster.

It’s a case of lights, camera, action for our senior hurling team this Saturday night in Thurles. Yes the year kicks off in earnest this weekend and what a game we have in store to set the National Hurling League in motion.

Armagh 2-19