Episode 2: League Finals review & Power Rankings

I'm joined again this week by Sarah O'Donovan, and we give a full review on last weekends league finals. We also give our top 12 power rankings so listen into see whose rising and who's falling based on the league campaign.  Andd we look ahead to this weekends opening fixtures in the Munster Championship as Waterford take on Clare and Tipperary welcome Cork to Semple Stadium on Sunday. Don't forget to follow us on both Instagram where we are @talkingcamogiepod and also on X where you can find us at @talkingcamogie. Alos you can get in touch via e-mail at talkingcamogiepodcast@gmail.com.

Transcript

SPEAKER_02 0:00

And welcome to episode two of the Talk and Komoge podcast. I'm joined again this week by Cyril Donovan. Cyril, you're very welcome back to the pod.

SPEAKER_00 0:07

Thanks for having me back, Joe.

SPEAKER_02 0:08

Didn't do too hard a job last week, so even though I rank predictions didn't go home, maybe two well. I only got two of them right in the end anyway. I think you got one of them in the end. So thanks very much.

SPEAKER_00 0:18

Yeah, straight in. Straight in. Yeah, I have from four.

SPEAKER_02 0:23

Yeah, I've only two, so I'm not much better now. So I think we'll give up the prediction for the time being anyway.

SPEAKER_00 0:28

Uh yeah, I think so. Now I did see Cohal Murray saying that Galway were being written off, I think. Yeah. And uh I didn't think we were writing them off. And if he was talking about us, we weren't writing them off. I think I said I wanted a fairy tale, um, which is a little different to suggesting that Galway aren't good enough. But um I stand by that. I really would have loved Waterford's to do it. Yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_02 0:53

Must be short in the end though. Um but you'll get to it. We'll get to it. Yeah, we get to that anyway. The reaction to the first episode most was good anyway. So if we keep going. Right.

SPEAKER_00 1:01

Did we get a did we get a few digs in? We did.

SPEAKER_02 1:04

Yeah, yeah. Anyway, coming up, just coming up on this week's episode, we have a review of all the league finals that happened at the weekend. We'll also give our own top 12 power rankings so far, based on the league so far, and we'll preview the Munster Championship starting, which is starting this weekend with Waterford Clare on Saturday and then Car Contemporary on Sunday and Semple Stadium. So that's coming up on all on today's episode. So if we get straight into it now, anyway. The league final, the Division One final, obviously Galway won it in the end by two points. What did you think of the game yourself?

SPEAKER_00 1:34

Really enjoyed the game. I wonder, would it have been a different game if Cochle McAllister had reffed it? The first game I thought was much more physical. Um, and I wonder was the second game a little cagier because Liz Dempsey was reffing it, and that's her style of of refereeing. Um I also do think though that Waterford can be very proud of the fact that they got a performance, even though it's one that they're disappointed with because it wasn't as free-flowing as say the the league had been to date. I do think that they didn't let themselves down. And after the All-Ireland final against Cork, that was the big thing. It was like they were inexperienced, they didn't have it, they weren't prepared properly. Whereas I really felt they did very little wrong on Sunday against Galway. It just didn't click for them that the way it had earlier in the league.

SPEAKER_02 2:28

Yeah, I thought yeah, they thought they defended well actually for the whole game. Like did they agree? Calloway didn't create any goal chances either, like in the game. So like they kept Gaway cracking up, like, and I don't know. Gaway had like carried all in really was the difference at the end of the day. Like, really, like she had seven points, five frees, and two from place. So that was mainly the main difference at the end of the day. Like, and we did mention that last week, maybe the discipline might cost them a little bit, but I don't know they didn't give away too many freeze, but still it did that's what basically did cost them again. Like, given wear maybe too many frees.

SPEAKER_00 2:58

Yeah, and that that's what I'm saying about uh that's what I'm saying about Carl McAllister. In the first game, I thought it was much more physical. So I wonder, would it have suited Waterford to have Carl in the middle for the second game? It mightn't have been as, I suppose, you know, free focused. Um, but in saying that, again, you're right, the defense the defending from Waterford was top class. But did they put so much into their defending that they had very little left to go forward? Um, like in the first half, they were with the wind. They were obviously trying to keep the game as close as they could to stay in it, but they needed to kind of attack the game when they had the wind, and they and they weren't able to because they were so focused on making sure that Galway didn't get a get a lead that they couldn't actually, you know, put kind of uh pull back. So certainly I think the experience, the game, the commentary around the game, the fact that it was their chance to win a first national title, that probably played into their hands and it allowed Galway to come in under the radar. Um, even though they're the all-Ireland champions, they had a very I'd say they had a very smooth week, Galway. You know, we'll get a performance, we'll get the job done, we'll be national league champions.

SPEAKER_02 4:09

Yeah, look, I thought Galway handled to Waterford forward very well. Like I thought Russian Black had a good game of fullback, and like one thing I noticed, Kira Higley was in a lot of space a lot of time, and maybe Waterford kind of could have done a bit of a better job there, like she seemed to be able to get find space in offland. Everyone seemed to be on her an off of the time, and that really did play into Galway's hand, I felt the thought a lot, a lot of the game.

SPEAKER_00 4:31

Yeah, it did. And and were you surprised also that Lorraine Bray was, you know, put into a marking job on um Neve Malin? You know, I suppose they they kind of needed, yeah, they kind they kind of needed her, needed her ploughing forward, and it's kind of reminiscent of Tip when they don't utilize Karen Kennedy's attacking, you know, prowess. It it just seemed a little unusual when you're so used to Lorraine pushing forward that she was doing such a defensive job. But again, were they looking to stay in the game in the first half? Like, let's be honest, when you're going up for a coin toss, you don't know if you're going to win it or lose it. So you don't know whether you're going to be with the wind or against the wind. So you kind of have to factor in the fact that we could be against the wind. Let's start this way. It turned out that they were playing with the wind in the in the opening half. And maybe they just said, look, let's just settle in here and we can change things as we go on. If they had known they were playing with the wind in the first half, would they have chosen to set up like that? I don't know.

SPEAKER_02 5:28

It's hard to know, we won't know how, but I thought for Waterford, I thought actually Maria O'Brien had a great game, so she did. I thought she was involved the whole way. She scored three points then as well. So I just thought she had a good game. Like she was probably Waterford's best player on the day for me, anyway.

SPEAKER_00 5:42

Agreed. Yeah, I I I think that you know, Beth and Neve being so well marshalled, and and it takes it takes a job like that score that Beth got in the first half from the sideline, um, to be able to plant her feet and just you know drift it over. There some stunning, some stunning hurling from Beth, and you know, really well marshalled in the sense that she never had the big influence on the game the way the Carrie Dolan did. Exactly. Yeah, so I think I think Zach Marid was able to do it was was good.

SPEAKER_02 6:14

Beth now she started off well, she got two points earlier on, and it looked like she was going to become have a big influence on the game, but after that goal, it kind of just marshalled her a lot better. And whenever she did get on the ball, she maybe struggled to get it up. There was a couple of times she struggled to get the ball up like because she was so well marshalled, and that definitely had a massive influence on the game because if Beth was able to keep going to where she had started, you know, that could have been a completely different game because she has the ability to do it, like there's no doubt about that.

SPEAKER_00 6:37

Like, yeah, but look, we we talked about Kiery Hickey being in so much space um throughout the game. Having those extra players, having that extra support allows the Galway backs to kind of commit fully to tackling Beth, to commit fully to tackling Neve Rocket, and you know, they know that there's support behind them, so they can be very confident in that. I think it just it was a very cagey game. When it got down to the wire, Galway knew how to win it, but Waterford can you know be very happy with the fact that despite not playing to their best, they went toe-to-toe with the All-Ireland champions, and you know, with two minutes left on the clock, it could have gone either way.

SPEAKER_02 7:15

So, yeah, they said like Waterford could definitely take it off from that game, you know, going forward into the All-Ireland Championship, because they said they went toe-to-toe with Galway for the most parts of the game and could have won it easy, it could have gone deep either way, really, at the end there. Because Galway had that little bit of sword more experience at the end more than anything. And the goal with subbench made a bit of a difference as well. Like you had the life of Queen Fakelli coming on there scoring two points as well. So that probably just had a little bit of extra strength and depth then as well coming on, like, because maybe the Walter bench didn't have as much of an impact then.

SPEAKER_00 7:43

Yeah, and look, the under-23 championship last year was a big building block for Col Murray in that he was able to bring those players through an all-ireland championship that was incredibly competitive and come out on top against a quark team that was you know very well organized last year, and that's the difference this year. Those players, having gone through that, can now step into the senior kind of grade and and make an impact like Queevakelli did. That score she got, Jesus. I you know, I'd have been proud of that myself. It was it was it was perfect, like a perfect score to to to finish out a game. So, you know, that's one in the back pocket for her, and she'll turn she'll certainly take mind and come the championship.

SPEAKER_02 8:26

And another thing that I know Gaway had like six different scores to prepare to all of it, just had four. So, you know, that's another, you know, but I but that was another key, I think. Just go well just seemed to have a bit of spread of scores. Like, you know, like Gaway there was a couple of decent scores that caught actually from defenders actually end the day. Rachel Halefi got up for a great score. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Caleb Hickey got one as well as well. So, like, you know, I actually was impressed actually by Leecha Forrest as well. Now I know she was down to start corner forward, but she ended up going into the backlam. But I thought she had a good game back there, so as well. Like, so I thought she had to go to the city.

SPEAKER_00 8:59

Yeah, I think she's I think she's I think she's out and out of the defender. Um, I'd be surprised, you know, if I saw her there come championship um in in unless unless they're planning to play her at 15 and and and pull her back in into the mix as as that cover player. I suppose the the problem with playing the likes of Galway, if you're only playing two up top, that's bread and butter for the for the Galway backs, for Darville Higgins for the likes of Roshi and Black. They'd be delighted to be three on two um against any full forward line. So you are really robbing Peter to play PayPal if you're looking to you know bring a player back to do that kind of defensive work, and you're asking a lot of your Waterford kind of front five to to find pockets of space, they nearly need to start scoring from further out the field um and and not engaging with that full backline for Galway. So that's probably a work on for for the next couple of weeks is to actually get your scores from kind of 45 yards if you're planning on playing a sweeper type player so that you're not engaging with that really defensive full back line.

SPEAKER_02 10:07

And do you think the fact that it was their first league final and they have won like a national championship before maybe that was just part of the reason they played the way they did as well, because maybe they just they don't have the experience of I know they have the All-Ireland final in 23, but they don't have that much as much experience there as Galway do a playing and beat finals like that. And do you think that fed into their thinking as well, maybe, or was it just because it was Galway and they wanted to show up, I suppose, a little bit better against the Galway attack?

SPEAKER_00 10:33

Um I think that you can't discount the fact that they were heavily beaten by Cork in an All-Irel, and for the week following that, the criticism levelled at them for not being prepared for the game was was was a lot, you know, and I I'd say it would have been quite disappointing to read you go into an all-Ireland final giving your best, but at the time Waterford just weren't at that level. Their strength and conditioning wasn't at the level Quarks was at, their striking, their handling, all of those things just weren't at that level for Croak Park. I think this time around they wanted to give a performance, they wanted to stay in the game, and that's why they set up that way, Joe Joe. You know, I think I think they'd be less cagey playing potentially a monster final if they do get there in a in a few weeks' time because the shackles will be off. They have delivered to a degree in a in a national league final in that they've given a performance. The crowd behind them on Sunday was exceptional. Like they they last there was two opportunities late on for Waterford, and you know, one of them I you know I'd have given a penalty um for Bray. Um you know, I thought I thought I thought Roshin Black, you know. Oh yeah. Yeah, I I you know I I thought it could have been given all I could have been given. Um I I'd say I'd say, you know, Bray got up expecting to hear a whistle and there was no whistle, because you know when you're playing matches like that, if you know, if you're taken down like that, that that's against the run of play. That that's a foul all day long. So that was one that was missed. And then obviously there was the ball very late on, kind of on 60 minute marks that Sarah Healy had to deal with, and um Shepard off the line again could have gone either way.

SPEAKER_02 12:22

So yeah, very, very close.

SPEAKER_00 12:26

Yeah, very close.

SPEAKER_02 12:27

There was not much in it, like and I was actually looking at the stats from the game, like Waterford shooting I could see was more than they had 61.1% for goal, it was only 54.2. So, you know, just obviously goal, we created more chances overall, and that you know, just as you were saying before that Waterford maybe just trying to shoot from too close in, maybe, or that I maybe if they were shooting from further out, like you know, if they had the chance, maybe it could have been different, like button. So it's looking a learning curve for them as well going forward anyway.

SPEAKER_00 12:53

Well, you know, it's it's it's like the two-pointers in the ladies' football, you know, that that addition now has kind of forced players to or or incentivised players to learn to kick from uh from further out, you know. So do we incentivize the Camogie players um to take shots from kind of 45-50 yards to to get that part of their game going? Um you know, i i if somebody's able to strike a ball from 50 yards, that opens up the game. So that's that's something that would potentially be useful to Waterford if they are playing that kind of defensive style extra player around the middle of the field.

SPEAKER_02 13:29

Yeah. I think on go and now, you know, that's they probably weren't at their best either, like Sunday, but they still managed to get the win. So obviously, they're still going to be a huge favourite going into the All-Ireland series, like, because they do look the best team in the country at the moment. Like, and I know we were saying about that about Cork maybe last year after the league final, and it turned out different, but it just looked go away, look on a different just look ahead of everyone. Like, even have like Cork there now. This year they're gone back a bit now, maybe because maybe they've lost a few players from last year's panel as well. And like I know Waterford are club and maybe Tipperary, but they still seem to be just a little bit off two of them at the moment, like you know. So it's still like Waterford look or Gaway, sorry, look in a good position now again, anyway, going forward in the Ireland Championship. Like, so you've had to go.

SPEAKER_00 14:10

Yeah, look, and they've they've had to adjust, Joe. They've had to adjust Galway. Like uh Sean Healy isn't coming back, is my understanding. Shimon Gardner's not coming back, so that opens up opportunities for other players to play in those spots. You know, Sean Healy was exceptional last year um for Galway, but it appears they're able to, you know, they're able to fill her shoes already. So, you know, you you're looking at Ailish O'Reilly coming back um in the summertime again, massive addition. And then, you know, let's let's talk about the fact that Neve Malin didn't have a game for the ages, you know, and and Carl Murray took her off. Her form is going to improve, come championship. Um, so even when they were being tested to the limit, they got a result, and come championship, it's it's gonna be a different Galway team again. There's gonna have more firepower added to it.

SPEAKER_02 15:01

Yeah, and they're gonna probably I think you can see Waterford, I think we're more ready for the league. I think they were trying to win the league by goal. I don't think they were full all out yet, so I think they're only gonna get better then as well like so. I think that's and they will get better, I think, going forward. Like you had the likes of Shannon Corbyn there as well. I thought she'd go game on Sunday as well. Not that nice score as well, like and I think they have talent all over the field, really, you know, and that's the thing. Like, you know, it's a full squad. Like they'll have depth then to come on like off the bench as well. So they are in a very strong position, all right.

SPEAKER_00 15:30

Yeah, they are, and and I suppose last year, after that league final, we thought that they were really struggling, and you know, potentially there would be um a need for change, and you know, they bet it instead of instead of giving up, and and now they're all Ireland champions and and national league champions. So certainly something to look at, but Colmur, you know, speaking to off the ball, I think this week spoke about the fact that they've no provincial championship. So, you know, Cork and Tip are going to play in a Munster um quarter final on Sunday before a crowd of 40,000 people. Um, Offaly and Dublin are going to be playing before Offley and Dublin in Tullamore, and Galway will be sitting back on their haunches, and uh it's hard to get competitive games.

SPEAKER_02 16:16

Yeah, it is. Uh you need them, you definitely need it alright, because the longer you're not without a game, the harder it is then to get back into it then when it comes to championship.

SPEAKER_00 16:24

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 16:24

Well, anyway, now the Division 1B final, which was on before the Division 1A final on Sunday, in Northern Park finished clear 311 Dublin 17 points. And this really was the story of goals-win games, like and Dublin will be very disappointed with the manner of the first two goals, anyway, that they conceded, like you know, and it that's what really cost him in the end, like with them first two goals. Like now, the first one I know it was a long ball in, and look, it can happen in that. But the second one called those Kamoge goals job. Yeah, comedy goals, yeah. But the second one, like obviously Kira Jones was coming out with the ball and she played across the ball straight to Laura McMahon. You know, she punished her, like you know. So that's one, like obviously Dobin kind of like shooting themselves in the foot really with that in that game, really. But they seem to be doing in control of the game, like or not in control of it, but they were going well and looking like they were going to win the game.

SPEAKER_00 17:12

Yeah, and and if you consider that new rule, the 45 from the hand as a defender, that new rule that's been implemented. Yeah, if that rule hadn't been implemented, MO Byrne doesn't give that crossfield ball, that goal never happens. Um and just and just previous to that, Sinead Wilde had got an incredible score to push Dublin ahead. Um, and I thought the tide had turned for Dublin. I I thought that that was the score. There was like there was a real excitement about the score, and she gives the fist pump afterwards, she goes back to midfield, and you feel like they have gotten the edge. But you know, as I said, that new rule, the 45 allowing you to take the ball from the hand, makes M O'Byrne braver. Um she tries to spread the play, they obviously try to go up the opposite side, and Ciara Jones gets caught. Um, it's um Anya O'Loughlin actually puts the pressure on her. She's come on as a sub and she steps up on her, presses her, a bit like the Limerclads, you know, and uh there's no no way out for Kieran, and she puts the ball back into Lorna's path, and Lorna makes no mistake, and uh Cork or sorry, Dublin will be most disappointed, I think, with the concession of that goal. The first goal, you know, take it or leave it, it's it's it's a messy, it's a messy infringement on the square, but certainly the second goal they'll be most disappointed with.

SPEAKER_02 18:35

I actually thought, oh, that's a game, and I thought I thought a very good game, actually, that one, you know, of left soul. Cotton Callis, as you said already, like you let the game flow like and you could if it benefit for all for it, like so. I thought there was some good performance, like obviously Lorna McMahon with two six, like you know, I got three points for two three from play, like so. She had a big influence on the game. And so Anya Locklin one one off the bench, like you know, she had a massive impact coming off the bench, like you know, she really impressed it, not just for her scores, but her winning ball and all that when the ball came in, and she was very dangerous in there in the foot for them when she came on for Claire Like so.

SPEAKER_00 19:07

Yeah, I do you know what? I I saw some of the commentary around it afterwards, um and I I'm at I tend to be in agreement. Claire looking very organized this year. You know, I spoke to a couple of the Dublin crew after the game. Um Neve Gannon didn't start for Dublin, she was due to start at at six for Dublin. Um Neve is you know an all-star nominee. Um in the last number of years, uh quality, quality player for Dublin. She had played all the way through the league, her distribution had been really good. Um she's really good to carry ball, she's good to get a couple of scores, she's good to get up the field and obviously defend. When you lose your centre back, Joe before a game, kind of throws the whole thing out of counter, doesn't it?

SPEAKER_02 19:55

I don't know. It doesn't help like that, yeah.

SPEAKER_00 19:59

Yeah, it it it doesn't help. And uh and and I and I think you know that to to kind of they had they had survived that in the sense that they had they were very competitive in the second half, they'd just gone ahead. So to concede a goal, like the second goal, that's where the frustration will come in because because you've dealt with the adversity of having to lose your captain, your centre back. You've you've stayed in the game. Um but what I will say about Clare is I thought they were exceptional uh defensively in the sense that yes, Dublin scored 17 points, right? But no goal chances. Very, you know, very very little, I thought, by the way of, you know, actual real threat um from goal. Ashlyn Gannon um worked really, really hard. Ashing O'Neill worked really hard, Ashing Maher, but physically Claire stood up to them, and there was a bit of there was a bit of needle there. The cleric fullbacks, the half backs, they were leaving the hand in a little late, they'd be pulling the the hand, they'd be pulling the jersey, all stuff that you can get away with if you're cute, and I just think that's where the maturity from Claire showed up. Do you think?

SPEAKER_02 21:10

You know, they think so, yeah.

SPEAKER_00 21:11

They they were just they were bossing them a little bit than um more than the Dublin water as well.

SPEAKER_02 21:17

Yeah. Oh yeah, I think so, yeah. You could see you notice that they were watching the game live then as well, yeah. You could see it. And look, probably get away with it more than as well, with cotton, obviously refrain is it because he'd let so they probably had tried that on their mind as well. Like, you know, but I like I thought Claire Hatter had a good game actually. She was used as a spare kind of spare player in the first half, and I thought she brought him really well there in that in that job light. So I thought she had a really good game for Claire actually.

SPEAKER_00 21:41

Yeah, yeah. Look, I I was impressed. I thought obviously uh Laura McMahor's two two six is is a very impressive score and and the contribution from the bench, but collectively Claire looked very organized. Um they knew how they were to bring the ball out, they knew who their outball player was. Players were. They knew when to carry it, they knew when to let it off. And as I said, they were very mean defensively. And they ran the gauntlet with some of their some of their tackling. Because they knew Cahel was happy to let the game flow. And I think Dublin needed to be as mean on the other side, and they weren't.

SPEAKER_02 22:15

Yeah, so like that'd be Dublin. I did learn from that. David is a point not to go up now back to 1A because obviously you said it last week. For them every year is either winning promotion in the league or staying up in 1A or maybe win the Atlantic Championship. And I look they have forgot the 1B this year. So they're going to the Atlantic Championship now. I think it says it offly to have next song. Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 22:37

Under a little bit of pressure, Joe. And and by the opposite token, I think Claire could do really well in the Munster Championship. Um, you know, with they'll be going in as underdogs in the sense that obviously Waterford were in the National League final. Cork are are tepid at best. Tip can be got at, and uh Clare are very organized, so we could see a surprise. Could we see Claire as as Monster Champions come, you know.

SPEAKER_02 23:05

Waterford anyway, Saturday in the first round. So and I think maybe the fact that three a week got you know to one and Waterford lost could actually play into Claire's hands like because they've come in full of confidence when Waterford trying to get over that lead to final defeat, you know, could affect him a little bit, especially just went one week in it out, so you just never know what might happen there.

SPEAKER_00 23:23

Like I think the underdogs tag is gonna suit Claire. Um, and and the thing about it is Claire and Waterford played out a draw last year. Do you remember Croak Park?

SPEAKER_02 23:32

Oh, yeah.

SPEAKER_00 23:33

So no love lost there. Claire won't be afraid of Waterford. So yeah, I think Claire got everything they got out of the league. And um on the balance of it, I had gone for Dublin last week because I thought they would be a faster, speedier team um than Clare. But I think Claire's physicality and you you know being live at the venue. Do you think that was the difference?

SPEAKER_02 23:53

They were just different. Like you were right about Dublin having the faster players and the speed, but just Claire stood up physically, and Dublin just couldn't deal with that on the day. And that's really that played a big master park I'd not doubt about it. Like, yeah, yeah. And that was a huge key, yeah.

SPEAKER_00 24:08

So and that was yeah, so that's that that put me down. I I had two from two from two on the other side. Uh Waterford and Dublin didn't do me any favours. Thanks, lads.

SPEAKER_02 24:19

And on Saturday, of course, we had first we had Division II and Division III finals, division two final, which is in Banner, Kerry won one seven to Meets eight points. Like, and I watched back this game because I wasn't at live. I was going I watched back because I was at the minor semi-final between Tipperary and Galway actually Saturday. But I watched back at the YouTube channel, and I thought Mead were probably the better team for the most part, as far as I was concerned, and just like Patrice Deagan got seven points out Kerry's one seven. Like you even said that last week they're probably too relied, and they're in like the war, and Shannon Collins got the goal all right, but like Kerry were in trouble, like they were struggling, like another for the goal, like they would definitely lost that game. Like, they struggled like Mead had seemed to have the game, but just the goal was the difference in that game was I like.

SPEAKER_00 25:02

Uh the wind played a part in it too. I think uh both teams only scored two points against the wind. You know, Meade went up six points to two at half time, um, very comfortable, or or or so it looked. Well, when a when there's a win like that, you can't really be very comfortable, but I agree with you. I think Mead were on top. Um, I thought they were a physically better team than um Kerry, or they looked they looked physically stronger, but was it their bench that kind of proved the difference? Because Shannon Collins comes on and gets a goal, Daniel O'Leary comes on, they were introduced kind of on 43 minutes. I thought Kil Kerry didn't have the bench to bring on. I thought Meade would have actually had the bench, they'd have had more players, but it proved that Kerry had just enough um to to make that difference. And when you're dealing with a tight squad like that, 17, 18 players like me or like Kerry are clearly, um they know their players inside out, so they know the players who have 45 minutes in them, 15 minutes in them, and you know, those two players made a real difference. But you know, as you said, you know, Patrice Diggan seven points, um Shannon Collins goal on the other side. Me only had two scores for two scores as well, yeah. Like in a in uh say it's the third tier down, these are your adult teams, two scores in each camp, not enough.

SPEAKER_02 26:21

Not great, no, no, no, it's not.

SPEAKER_00 26:23

And like as competitive as the game was, people want to want to see scores in in these games. Like it was dogged, it was one seven to eight points, and you know, Maggie Randall had a had a great game in goal uh for Mead. And save Yeah, and save the penalty from yeah, save the penalty from Patrice. I've had a couple of run-ins with Maggie over the years when I was playing with Dublin, and she is tough as old boots, so I wasn't surprised to see her uh doing so well again uh against Kerry, but Mead will be disappointed because they needed to go up. You know, they they they needed that. Um and I and uh does that kind of does that impact them this year, you know, for the championship, knowing that they're they're stuck down in in in 3A again.

SPEAKER_02 27:12

It could be, yeah. Could have an effect on it, yeah. Yeah, like yeah. You were saying they're about to win, like I know the win had Kerry had to win in the second half, but even with the win, you didn't think they were gonna they didn't look like they were gonna claw back to the deficit or really yeah, which was points anyway. So they needed the goal, like you know, as well. And like they missed the penalty, and then when they missed the penalty, you're thinking, yeah, this is probably gonna be me saying me, we're probably thinking that look, this could be our daylight, but like they obviously got the goal then for Sean Collins, and that was fifty that was on fifty-five minutes, you know, and and and that's that's the that's the killer blow for them, isn't it?

SPEAKER_00 27:44

That they um did you did you fight did you it was the weather on Saturday with aside from the wind, was the ground was the pitch heavy?

SPEAKER_02 27:52

Like I I wasn't at the match now, so I don't know. But it I look from looking at it, but you can't see from looking at that. I just watched it on YouTube, so I can't tell for definite, but if it it did rain quite a bit Friday, so it probably did play it probably was a little bit alright, you know. Yeah, would have been a little bit like yeah.

SPEAKER_00 28:08

Because it because we'll obviously talk about the other game, the Armagh game, it looked like the pitch was it was brighter. Do you know what I mean? Things were definitely yeah, so that made into the house as well.

SPEAKER_02 28:18

Shooting accuracy in that game, like Carries was only 40%, like meat was 47%. So like that's kind of the story of that game then as well, I guess in it. Like, you know, just it wasn't it wasn't look, I it wasn't the best game I've seen in a long time, and you know, the shooting kind of says that, like, you know, missing chance a lot of chances. And I'll I'll know the win might have might have played a part in that as well, but at the same time, it's quite a little bit better, like at that level.

SPEAKER_00 28:43

Yeah, I'll I'll come back to you on something actually that Damien know Damien Lawler said at the close of the the senior games, the the Division 1A and Division I B. He said to Ursula and to Amory uh two average games, or and I and I thought, no, I I actually really enjoyed both uh Komogi games on Sunday, whereas Saturday, this game between Kerry Amead was dour. Do you know? So I I would you agree with with Damien.

SPEAKER_02 29:15

No, not on that one, not on the two Sunday games. I enjoyed the games on Sunday actually. That's a good Clear Dublin, and I thought that was an exciting game. And the Water for Go game was close, and that and the Waterford fans like were in numbers there, and they really got into the game like and made it a little bit more exciting than as well, because they got behind their team, like you know. So I enjoy both games actually on Sunday.

SPEAKER_00 29:33

Yeah, I I I was kind of surprised that he used the word average, and maybe he's watching too much hurling, you know. So maybe maybe the hurling for the league, you know, and you and you and you switch into Camoge for the weekend and you just think it's slow by comparison, which which it is, but you can't compare athletes and oranges, you know what I mean? So so I was I really enjoyed the two games Sunday. Uh the carry meat game Saturday was dour. Yeah, it was dour.

SPEAKER_02 30:02

We also had the Division III A final on Saturday as well between Armand and Roscommon, which Arm won 114 to 1.8. And overall, I think they deserved the win. Like Sinead Quinn had a great game, one four for and Rachel Murray scored not three three points. Like, but Armagh I think overall deserved the win. Like, even though Roscommon came back at them and like they got a goal, which Armah might be disappointed to see. But then a few minutes later, which were a seven points in it, they had another great chance. Like, you know, I was it Rachel Fitzmorris had the chance as well, but Devon pulled off a great save in the goal for Armagh. So it was a great save, actually, and that kept them like seven points ahead at the time. And I think that was the winning of the game, really. Actually, there at that moment there. Well, not maybe the winning, but it stopped them getting back into it. It would have been four points in at that stage, and Roscomman would have been on a roll there, then that kind of just seemed to that save Roscomman kind of set kind of pulled back into it then and started getting a few more scores after that.

SPEAKER_00 30:54

Like, yeah, look at what they had a nine-point halftime lead. Um, they were up 110 to 4. So the game looked to me dead and buried at halftime. So you have to admire Rascommon for coming back in the second half and and making it competitive. Um, like that. Armat had seven different scores.

SPEAKER_01 31:11

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 31:12

Um Rascomman only had three different scores. Very reliant, very reliant on Conley as the free taker. Rachel M Rachel Fitzmars had one one and Kotlin Egan got the two points. But yeah, but like you look at you look at Armat, obviously nine points ahead at halftime. There's a bit of complacency sets in, Joe. You know, you're not you're nine points up. Um and they got the goal after five minutes, so they were very much in control at half time. And I suppose, you know, with with with a team like Armat, they've been in Croke Park a number of times in the last number of years, and they've been very competitive, and they've ended up losing the game. So I'm surprised that there's a bit of complacency there because they haven't been, you know, incredibly successful over the last number of years. Is this something that's possibly psychological with them that they need to tie down games and not allow teams back into games because they've put themselves in a great position to win the game? But as you said, that goal goes in from Rachel Fitzmars, and the game's back to four points, and Rascommon have the win could be a very different game. So a learning for Armah, as as you know, in control as they were of the game, definitely allowing Ras Common back into the game when they have it signed sealed and delivered is something they have to be wary of when they go into the junior championship.

SPEAKER_02 32:32

Uh well, like they'll be they'll be confident they're not going into that junior championship because they are a good team, like they have there's a good spread of scorers there. Like one nine came from play as well, like so they can definitely score anyway. There's all doubt about that. Like, as I said, I think it was seven different scores, like so. Yeah, so they are a good team, and they're just not too bad defensive leader, like so. They're the fancy of the chances going into that junior championship anyway.

SPEAKER_00 32:53

Oh, they're out now favourites now, I would say. But um, having watched them the last number of years, they can be very good, they can have very good purple patches in games, and then and then is it that they switch off? Is it that they you know move away from the process? I'm not sure, but I suppose this is evidence on on Saturday. They go nine points clear, they look to be cruising, and in the second half, Ras Common, you know, making a dog fight for for a period of ten minutes, they they obviously withstood that uh pressure in the second half this time out. So it's just a case of bringing that form into the championship and making sure that when a team has a purple patch, they can withstand that then.

SPEAKER_02 33:33

And like on Roth Common, like they'll be disappointed obviously to lose that one again. And they would have been hoping to get promoted, but they'll also be they'll be confident enough, I suppose, going into the championship though, because they weren't too they don't put up to them in the second half, like, and they as I said the second goal goes in, it could be a different game. So like it'd be diff be difficult, obviously, to take on a in the championship, but they'll be confident enough. Like they have some good players there as well. Like they just probably need to find more some better scores, maybe going forward. Yeah, look at that. I think that's going to be cheaper.

SPEAKER_00 34:01

Three different scores, yeah. Three different scores. Yeah, it's not enough. So that's probably going to be the focus for Mary Green for for the summer is to kind of unearth the couple of players who who have the ability to get scores, or you know, really focus on that attacking play to know that that's the difference, that they will have to beat our MA. Um, because you you won't win a junior championship without beating our MA. So that's the bottom line for Rascommon is that they will have to you know increase that spread of scores in order to be that competitive to get a result like that.

SPEAKER_02 34:35

That was the league action for the weekend. Now we go on to our power rankings, their top 12 power rankings, based on things we go from 12 to 1 anyway. We give you give yours, I give mine then, and that like that. So I'm sure there'll be a few controversial calls in this, and people mightn't be too happy because they're counting maybe not as high as they want wish at that, but anyway, you give your number 12 first anyway. And okay, my number 12, awfully. Alright, I've gone for down number 12.

SPEAKER_00 35:02

Okay.

SPEAKER_02 35:04

And I went offly number 11 alright, just because down in the league and stead up ahead down. So that's that's where you're thinking I was there. And plus, not to do with the fact that I'm from Offle or anything, but just that's my you know, that's my thinking there. Just uh I just caused offly bet down in the league and stead up in division 1B, so that's where I was thinking there, like.

SPEAKER_00 35:24

Yeah, um I saw down against Dublin um in the league and and I thought I thought they were building. And and you know the way these things kind of move away. I still I still think that they're a better team than Affley. So I'm gonna put them at eleven.

SPEAKER_02 35:44

Yeah. Oh yeah, nice film. And who do you end up at number ten?

SPEAKER_00 35:48

Um I put Limerick.

SPEAKER_02 35:52

At 10. I've I've gone Wexford at 10, so I have so and I've gone Limerick at number nine. So we'll have an agreement so far.

SPEAKER_00 36:02

Um I go Wexford at nine.

SPEAKER_02 36:05

Oh yeah, all right. I just thought Limerick I went Limerick because they finished third in the league and Wexford I think so. And I've Dublin at number eight though. I've called my Dublin at number eight because they'll lose in the final on Sunday then as well. And I think just keep staying in Division 1B like I'll just get to my eighth for now.

SPEAKER_00 36:27

Um yeah, I I I think I'd agree with you on that. Yeah, I I think I think eight's a fair it's a fair place for them to be right now based on what we've seen. Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 36:37

I know seven and six out this one I I did think about because I went with I was a close I went it was between Anshram and Claire for me. And because Claire won on Starting Sunday, I put them sixth, but I put Antrim seventh. But I was thinking because like I thought Antrim had a good league though at the same time, even though they were relegated. Like they did beat Cork and they only lost to Click Gold, I think about two or three points, was it? And they did have a good league, I thought, so but I just because Claire got promoted and won Sunday, that's where I went with them in sixth and Antrim and seventh. But it was close for me now that one.

SPEAKER_00 37:09

Oh, um, I like okay, so so let's be very practical here. Claire gonna go into a Monster Championship, and we think they can be competitive against Waterford, competitive against um against Tip, Cork. So do I think Antrim come championship would be as competitive against those teams as Claire? No, so I put them at seven. Yeah, that's what I'm saying. Even though I did I did think they did very well against Kilkenny, um, and I did think they did very well against um Cork. So Antrim at seven for me.

SPEAKER_02 37:40

Claire at six, isn't it?

SPEAKER_00 37:42

No, Kilkenny at six.

SPEAKER_02 37:43

Oh, Kilkenny at six, all right. I've Kilkenny five now, because I think I know they're kind of trying to develop in the game, but I think they've shown enough that they can't that they're not a million miles off as well. Like so, and like they had a good win over Tipperary as well in the league and hot as well. Um they showed that they have a bit about them. I think they're not a million miles off, but uh I've Kilkenny fifth and I've got I'm I'm putting I'm putting Claire at five.

SPEAKER_00 38:08

So you've you've you've Claire at six and you've killed Kenny at five, and I've killed Kenny at six and Claire at five.

SPEAKER_02 38:15

Yeah. And I have I've clerked on in a number four on standards like Cork on in at four. Yeah, I've Clark on in a four. I just had the disappointment in the lead. Like I'd had just like the only one the one game and like lost two entries were relegated, so I had just on four and I had them in a four at four.

SPEAKER_00 38:36

Nah, I'm putting I'm putting tip at four. I think Cork had beat Tip in a in a game of consequence still. So I'm going tip at four, cork at three. Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 38:51

And I've waterford second and Galway first.

SPEAKER_00 38:54

Yeah, that's fair. That's fair, but we'll we'll disagree on our top four. I'm tip four, cork three. All right.

unknown 39:00

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 39:00

And we'll I will know and we'll know Sunday, Joe.

SPEAKER_02 39:02

Yeah, we'll know Sunday we'll be yeah, that's yeah.

SPEAKER_00 39:07

If if Tip be Cork Sunday in the months championship, then I'll uh I'll let you back.

SPEAKER_01 39:12

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 39:13

But right now that's our twelve.

SPEAKER_02 39:14

So what's the to so um we'd say that five, I think we've agreed on anyway.

SPEAKER_00 39:21

So we've agreed on five. That's five's not bad, but yeah, it'll be interesting to see if our if our top four changes.

SPEAKER_02 39:27

Yeah, yeah. Some of them for me were close calls now. Like even Offia down was a close one as well, because it was you know, as you said yourself down, maybe showed a bit more in the league, but I but they bet Dublin and Offie were well beaten by Dublin as well, so like it was a close one as well. And the same with like I suppose Ansham and Dublin, that was close as well, as well for me. Like, but I just think Antrim showed a bit more in the league. And the fact I know they were relegated, but they bet Clark like as well, which was a good win for them, like you know.

SPEAKER_00 39:53

Yeah, I agree. And and they were and they were very competitive against Kilkenny, like you know, on 53 minutes, I think they could have got a goal against Kilkenny, or they did get a goal against Kilkenny and they brought it back. So, do I think Dublin could have got that close in the league as Antrim did? I I I'd be without Neve Gannon, you know. I think I think that's a that's a question mark. So that's why Antrim have gone ahead of Dublin for me.

SPEAKER_02 40:15

Anyway, on to different games came out between Tipperary and Cork in the Monster Championship. It's a part of double header with the hurlin in Seba Stadium. So it should be a cracky game, like it should be a good because hopefully the crowds will come in for both games, like and get in for the Kenogee game before. But what are you thinking on this game anyway, going into it?

SPEAKER_00 40:32

I think Cork are at their lowest ebb that they've been at in a long time. Um I think there's a real sense of uncertainty about Cork and where they are, um, you know, and and what they've what they've unearthed it in the league, you know. That result against Galway, the last game out, we'll they'll be very disappointed with the fact that they allowed Tip back into a game that they had effectively closed out at halftime, they were very, very disappointed with, and Laura Hayes didn't tighter disappointment after that game. Um for the first time in years and years, I genuinely don't know if Cork have enough experience in their team to win big games. And I suppose right now, um my thought process is that beat Tip Sunday and they're back on track because Tip are top four, Cork are top four.

SPEAKER_02 41:30

Yeah, both teams in the end, top four, like yeah. You're going back to that league game, like Cork 172 up a half time, like and I know there was a win there as well, but like they got Cork Tiberi Tiberi could have won that game at the end as well, they had chances, like yeah, and like there's one thing I've been covering a lot of Tiberi games over the last few years, they have the ability and the quality there in the squad to push on and maybe win a lot of Ireland, but they just don't seem to be able to get over the line there at times. Like they've lost an awful lot of semi-finals in the last few years. Like it's just so there's I don't know if it's a confidence thing or just the mental thing now at this stage, you know. But I've noticed well particularly last year now, and even at times this year, if they hit a couple of wides after confidence just seems to drain altogether and they go out games for 10-15 minute periods, and it cost them. It cost them in the All-Ille semi-final last year. Like when after just after half time against Galway, it was close. They hit a couple of two or three bad wides, and then Gaway ended up pulling away like a winning hand enough. And it happened in the league this year against Gaway. There were I think seven, two up something like that come after half time. Gaway got a bit of an unfortunate goal, but then Brery just seemed to fall off then again for another for the next ten minutes or something, and got Gaway right back into the game, and look, Gaway ended up winning the game then in the end, like by a few points. So like that seems to be something there with Tiberi at the moment.

SPEAKER_00 42:44

Yeah, yeah, I I was very disappointed with them last year in in Nolan Park for the semi-final of the All-Ireland against Galway. I really thought in the second half they were rudderless and they really lost um their way. You know, it wasn't a case of like Waterford against Galway last week, we're in it to the death and we're doing the right thing and we're making the right decision. They just completely fell apart in that second half against Galway last year, and I was thinking, God, you've got so much experience, and and this is what you're offering in the last 20 minutes. And I was disappointed for the players themselves because when you look at that uh Kamoe documentary that was aired in November, like the effort, the commitment, the the the enthusiasm that they have for the game as a group and the individual players in the group. I was so disappointed that that's what they that's what they finished up the season with, that really flat second half performance. So yeah, Tip have a lot to deliver on this year um as a group because the girls are getting older and they've been around the team a long time, you know, and it it it doesn't seem like they have the same, and Joe, you'll be able to tell me this it doesn't seem like they've the same conveyor bent of belt of players coming through as Galway or Cork.

SPEAKER_02 43:57

No, they've those not as many. They've had like they've had Kiva stakeln that was broke through this year, but that's the only one that seemed and she is a very good young player. And Sarah Carker came through last year, but there's not a massive amount coming through. I can know the one the All Ireland Minor a couple years ago, but so far I think it's only two Kiva and Sarah that have actually come through and regularly onto the panel like so, you know. So yeah, they don't seem to be have the biggest biggest pick as Corker tip goes, like so. Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 44:22

But if you Joe, if you look at it, right? Name the top three players in Waterford. To my mind, the top three players in Waterford are Brianna O'Reagan, I think, is huge. Because I think having a goalkeeper of that caliber is huge. Um Beth Carton, and then you're between Rain Bray and Eve Rocket. Yeah. Um for Cork, you know, you're looking at um Laura Hayes, you're looking at um Serse McCarthy, and you're looking at Ashley Thompson, right? Who are Tip's top three? And are those are Tip's top three as good as the six I've just named?

SPEAKER_02 45:04

Okay, probably uh supposed Ema McGrath's back this year now, so I think she'd be a big plus for them because she missed last year, but and then it'd have maybe Rossium Howard, maybe, but after that, you know, had on her day, like you know, but yeah, you're probably right, though. They're probably not in the same level as the players we mentioned before that.

SPEAKER_00 45:23

Yeah, and that and that's probably the the difference is those marquee players. That's where Waterford, I think, have stepped ahead of tip. They still have those marquee players, and and I think Cork still have those marquee players in big games, even though you know they've they've had uh uh I suppose Cork, Hannah Looney's gone.

SPEAKER_02 45:40

Um Aifa Healy's gone too, isn't she?

SPEAKER_00 45:42

Yeah, and and the two Mackeys, you know, haven't seen sight nor sound of the two Mackeys, and obviously Ashing Thompson's been out with that uh broken elbow. Um, not sure if she'll be back in time for championship. Um, haven't heard anything this week or last. I probably should have made a couple of phone calls, but I didn't. Um but that's what I'm saying about Tip. I don't think they have the same marquee players as Waterford and Cork do right now.

SPEAKER_02 46:08

And you just have to look at like the under-23 championship there. Uh Tipperary they're on beaten, but they've drawn two and one more. Cork have won all three of their games. Um I'm not tip Bet Cork in the Munster finally, but I was at that game. I was very impressed by some of the Cork forwards in that game, like as well.

SPEAKER_00 46:23

Like so, you know, so like the Rose Murphy, yeah.

SPEAKER_02 46:26

And they're very impressed. Like, and I think maybe they have better younger players coming through than as well, like it's Corkwood as well. Like so, I think like we said, Cork, they might be in the bare place right now, but we I think we said it last week as well, they're never going to be too far away, like a county like Cork can have such a big pick then as well. Like, you know, so well, yeah.

SPEAKER_00 46:43

I I think if you get if you get your marquee players on the field for Cork, if you get Laura Hayes onto the field, you get Ashing Thompson, um Amy Lee obviously in goal, you know, very, very organized, very straightforward. Um, and then you Sersha. And and uh I look and that's just three. I'm just naming three, but like we haven't spoken about Amy O'Connor, um her pace, her athleticism. There's so much that Cork can do right on their day, but I certainly think they've taken a different approach to the league. And um, I'm hoping their league approach won't be their championship approach because we'll be uh be very far away otherwise.

SPEAKER_02 47:22

But just one thing I want to say on Superior now. Last couple last year and the last year four, they were very unlucky with injury though to keep players well. So I don't think that helped them. Like they had your likes of Queen Matati was injured and Red Evereston got injured, like in a few players, like even in the semifinal last year, if Korean Via went off injured uh won the game, like you know, but they there are big losses to uh I appreciate that. Have been unlucky with injury like over the last couple years, like so you know if they keep a full squad, I think it'll be in there thereabouts, but I they just seem to have that thing though, it's just not there to go over the line now when it really matters. And I think it's something now that it's been going on too long now for just to be like, you know, say, oh, we'll get there. You know, it could be it could be a mental thing now at this stage, like but it happened so many times.

SPEAKER_00 48:02

Look, we've we've been very straightforward the last number of years. The two form teams are Galway and Cork, and to get to an All-Ireland final, you have to get through one or the other, you know, and uh and the one year that uh Waterford got through, it was the case that Waterford um beat Tip, wasn't it? So like yeah, so so neither Waterford or Tip have had to get through Cork or Galway to get to an all-Ireland final. So maybe this is the year that both of those teams put their money where their mouth is and and um get to a final having beaten one or the other.

SPEAKER_02 48:35

Are we going to give a prediction for this game now? Well, we just leave it after our bad run of farm rounds.

SPEAKER_00 48:41

I'm happy to give a prediction. I'm going cork. I'm going cork on Sunday. I I can't I don't think they can be as bad as they've been in the in the last number of games. And I think they'll have learnt a lot from giving up that league uh game against Tip. They should never have they should never have given up that result. They were they had the they had the homework, they had the work done. They as you said, one seven to two up at halftime and cruising and left and left tip back into it completely fell apart.

SPEAKER_02 49:07

I think I'm gonna go with Cork as well, just from the fact that I think they have just more about them, and I know they had a poor poor league, you know, but as you said, the league game they let's shoot away really, and I don't think they'll do that again if they get ahead. I think just the breary. I just I'm still not 100% convinced with them uh just yet. But as I said, I still think they have the ability to go on and maybe win in all Ireland if they get their act together, like and just if they can win, get just over the line for the big game like a semi-final. But I don't think judging them from I've seen them so far in the league, they were very up and down and hit and miss. So I think I just think Cork would probably just have too much for them in this game anyway.

SPEAKER_00 49:44

But yeah, look, the the beauty of the new or is it is it a beauty? The is it the top four teams are in on what are on one side? So you know, tip tip, and it might suit a team like Tip for the championship to be playing games where they're not under any pressure, they're guaranteed a quarter final. Um sometimes that allows your players to build a bit of momentum in the summer, get some scores under their belt, you're not worrying about having to win the game. I don't know if any you know whoever's listening will obviously may not be familiar with the fact that on the left side of the top four teams who automatically go into a quarter final, there's there's no jeopardy. No jeopardy. So it's an opportunity. Say I'm a I'm a you know a fringe player for a tip.

SPEAKER_02 50:29

Yeah, really, yeah.

SPEAKER_00 50:30

I I get thrown in in some big games and I get some real experience and I and I and I make an impact and then my team trusts me. Um that's huge. Whereas with when you're going out every week to guarantee that you have to get a win.

SPEAKER_02 50:43

It's different, yeah.

SPEAKER_00 50:45

Players don't get the same opportunities at the end.

SPEAKER_02 50:47

No, they don't, no, it's not.

SPEAKER_00 50:48

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 50:49

And just so a quick one now on Saturday we have Waterford and Clare, which I think should be an interesting game now after last again. So just get your quick thoughts on that one ahead of the game.

SPEAKER_00 50:59

Like I said, um Clare will be fearless Saturday. Um I think they'll really enjoy this this tilt at Waterford. Will Waterford's um petrol levels be lower, having exerted so much energy against Galway? It'll have they'll have to be. It'll you know, they'll they'll have there will be leggy. There will be a legginess about Waterford just because they put so much into getting so close to Galway. Um and I think there'll be a freshness about Clare on Saturday because they've gone up to 1A. They did very well against Dublin, they had a spread of scores, and they were able to bring in those substitutes who had a big impact. So very hard for me to call this one on Saturday, but I actually only because I want to see uh Waterford give a tilt at a Monster Championship, get into a Munster final and try and win one, I'm gonna give them the nod against Claire, but just yeah, just I think I'll give it to Waterford as well.

SPEAKER_02 51:54

Just I think they'll just have too much for them on the day. But just actually on the Monster Championship, Terry are in the senior championship for the first time actually this year. So we'd just see how they got on now in the Monster Championship. I I don't think they'll pull up any tree judging by their form. They'll have to improve an awful lot on their league final performance if they are going to pull up on a tree, you know, or maybe cause an upset or something, but it'd be just interesting to see how they got on in the though at the same time.

SPEAKER_00 52:16

It's unfortunate for them that Claire and Waterford have got their act together um, you know, this year. The there was a potential, you know, for them to do quite well, say two years ago when Claire's form had fallen off Cliff, but the Claire I saw on on Sunday, um Kerry wouldn't get near him.

SPEAKER_02 52:35

No, probably not. No.

SPEAKER_00 52:36

Too many, like just too organized.

SPEAKER_02 52:39

Yeah, and too too defensively f very strong as well. So yeah and I just don't think Kerry would have the followers, you know, at the moment just to cause enough trouble for it for them.

SPEAKER_00 52:50

Uh I'd agree. I'd agree. So it's it's unfortunate because they may they would have been competitive in previous years when when Claire weren't as organized as they are now. And like I said, I'm giving Waterford the nod, um, but only just. So I've gone for Cork and Waterford the weekend, and you have as well. But sure, look, our predictions were in the bin last week.

SPEAKER_02 53:09

So probably good for Capraria there, then so they can thank us next week if they want. Anyway, that's about all for today's show. Just want to mention our Instagram page. Follow us on Instagram where we're at. You can find us at Talk and Comoge Podcast, and we're also on X at talk and Comoge Pod. And you can email the show if you want. Email us at talk and camogie podcast at gmail.com. If there's any if you want to t ask any questions or if there's any complaints you want to make about the power rank and maybe in particular, our predictions and how bad they are, maybe. But yeah, that's again email talkingcomogie podcast at gmail.com. So send us your emails if you want, and also Instagram talk and comoge podcast and ex and talkingcomoge pod.

SPEAKER_00 53:51

Joe, who's in next week?

SPEAKER_02 53:53

And next week I'll be joined by former Austrian player Elaine Darmady, where we will review the two monster games. And we'll also be talking about the under 23 championship in depth, discussing the pros and the cons of the under 23 championship. So that's off to come next week. So tune in again next week. We're all you can find us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Amazon Music, among others. So don't forget to give it a five star rating as well. So thanks for listening.

SPEAKER_00 54:17

Slowly going up the slowly up the rankings, Joe. Very slowly.

SPEAKER_02 54:20

Hopefully, hopefully. And Clara, once again, thanks for coming on again this week. And appreciate it. It's been a pleasure for this chat and chip.

SPEAKER_00 54:26

No worries, Joe. Thanks, Million. Thanks for having me, and good luck.