Episode 4: Munster and Leinster semi-finals preview & Rules discussion

In this week's episode I am joined by Elaine Darmody again as we look back on last weekends action in botht the Munster and Leinster championships. We also have a quick look at the Under 23 championship ahead of the final set of fixtures in the Round Robin stage. We also discuss the new rules been trialed in Camogie throughout 2026m, and look at which ones are working. And we also have a quick look at this weekends Munster semifinal between Waterford and Kerry on Monday.

Don't forget to follow the Podcast on Instahram @talkingcamogiepodcast, and also on X @talkingcamogiepod. And you can email the pod with anny questions or sugestions for any topics to discuss.

Transcript

SPEAKER_00 0:00

And welcome to episode four of the Talking Comogie podcast. I'm joined again this week by Elaine Darmery. Elaine, you're very welcome back to the pod. Thanks for coming back. No problem, Joe. Two weeks. Two weeks in a row. So I suppose look, it was an interesting weekend there with everything going on. We had like the Comoge, the Munster semi-final between Tiberi and Limerick and them both semi-finals in the Lansford Championship. Some interesting results in that as well. Absolutely.

SPEAKER_01 0:26

Yeah. I mean, I suppose the I suppose the most surprising result of the weekend would would would be the Wexford-Kilkenny game. We we definitely I got it wrong last week anyway, going for Kilkenny, probably based on tradition more than anything else. But um free play to Wexford and got got over the line and in a tight game, which are normally the ones that Kilkenny traditionally men and women would thrive in, you know, a one-point victory. So yeah, uh a great victory for Wexford and you know, positive performance maybe as well from Limerick. So, you know, uh positive we're taking from teams that are going to be in group two of the championship.

SPEAKER_00 0:58

Yeah, that's what I was thinking. Group two, it should be interesting. Group this year, like, because any two teams come out with like there's a chance like anyone could come out with really like Claire have looked, I suppose, the most impressive of the six so far this year. So, but that's it's there for anyone there if they want it, like I suppose there's six teams like if they want it, you know.

SPEAKER_01 1:16

Absolutely, yeah. And I suppose with the victory for Wexford over Kilkenny, it maybe would give you know a bit of hope to the other teams as well. I mean, Kilkenny might not be the Kilkenny of old, but that black and amber jersey is still you know an intimidating sight. So I think for all the other teams now, when they see that Wexford result, they'll say, sure, there's no reason why we can't take or try and take Kilkenny as well, whether they're Avens or not. Now, obviously, it's a different question.

SPEAKER_00 1:39

And like that's that was Kilkenny's first defeat in Anstrip since 2015, I think. And that was Wexford Bestham then as well. So, like that's a long time to go down with defeat like. And I was looking at actually Leinster Championships. Dublin last won it in 1987, and since then, only Kilkinney and Westford have actually won it every year between the two of them. And actually, going back the Leinster Championship of the whole only four teams have won it, like Dublin, Wexford, Kikinney, and one other team which won the very first one. Do you have any idea who that team was? They won the very first Leicester Championship. Well, before you say I think it was 1934 now, the first one, but do you have any idea who it might be?

SPEAKER_01 2:14

Not a two.

SPEAKER_00 2:15

We'll take a stab at leash. No, it was loud actually. They won the very first one, yeah. And every only Dublin, Wexford, and Kikini have I think Dublin like every year from 1935 to 1967 won every week, won every Lancer Championship as well. For that long time. I don't know if who'd have played a long time, but just know that they won every year from that time anyway. So yeah, it's interesting.

SPEAKER_01 2:36

But then I suppose Dublin have probably look, it's 50-50 game now, probably with Wexford, you know. Um so it's a great chance for both teams to to get a bit of silverware and to maybe get a bit of silverware that they haven't maybe been thinking very closely about because sometimes in these situations you do tend to focus on the All Ireland Championship. But the Leinster Championship, I would say, for Dublin and Wexford has been a huge positive for them.

SPEAKER_00 3:01

And look going back to Friday night, their Wexford continue game. That's a massive win for Wexford, so they and I suppose as we we both predicted, I think the kinny to win last week, and probably judging that on forum as well, maybe the league, because Dublin Wexford probably didn't have the best of the league, but they really stepped it up on Friday night, like and it was a reserved win in the end. Like I know they got they got the goal in the first minute, like from a free, long free in, and it took, I think it took a deflection and went to back ahead, but like they were really defensively the worst, very solid. So I thought.

SPEAKER_01 3:30

Yeah, I mean they were very, very they were very aggressive, very positive, very on the front foot with the with the Kilkenny forward line. They really didn't give them a a second, you know. And again, when you look at the scores from from play from Kilkenny, you know, I think overall, I think they got six points maybe from from play or seven points from play. Yeah, any day that that happens, you'd say it to yourself, that gives you gives you a huge footing, huge starting off point. And uh Wexford, they they clearly didn't lack any any belief because they really wet went at Kilkenny. And we were seeing last week that maybe Kilkenny are not the Kilkenny of old, but it's still it still takes a bit of uh, you know, it still takes a tough mentality to say, yeah, we can really we can really beat Kilkenny, especially for Wexford, who've no more than us, no more than than Dublin. You know, you're sick looking at the Black and Amber jersey beating you, you know. So they've obviously put down a marker and they said, listen, not not today, maybe with Kilkenny maybe not not going that well. Obviously, our miners were playing the following the following Sunday as well. So it was obviously a great opportunity for them, and their backs were really the platform for it. But they had a good spread of scores as well. And I mean the likes of Linda Bulger, there's you know, still toiling away, we provide great leadership and great experience in a game like that. And as I said at the start, seeing out a victory, a tight game against Kilkenny, that that's even a bigger, bigger achievement, really, you know.

SPEAKER_00 4:50

Yeah, as you said, Linda Bulger, I think she played the last time Wexford backed Kilkenny, which was in a competitive game, which I think was 2017. So yeah, she's been going strong. So, like, well, like for Wexford, just winning that game now, the belief that will give them not just going into the Lesnar final, but into the All Ireland, like in the group said, is that's a massive boost for them, like so they and badly needed, like for the county.

SPEAKER_01 5:11

Yeah, I mean I'm sure we we all remember Wexford in the the early part of the you know the the 2010s or the early part of the 2010s and a bit before that, you know, they were absolutely fantastic and wonderful, wonderful Komobia players. And really, they're you know, they're a county that it would be great to see them back competing really, really, really strong, you know, because they bring a certain style and uh you know a certain skill level to the to the thing. And look, they're playing Kilkenny again in the uh in in obviously in the group stages of the championship. So the whole no fear going into that game, but as as we've we've seen with the hurlers, sometimes when you when you when you poke Kilkenny, you get stung pretty quickly soon afterwards. So we'll just have to wait and see how that pans out.

SPEAKER_00 5:52

Well, on Kilkenny, now obviously just eight points tempt from Freed, and then for a lot of the game, they were relied on Freed, like stay in it, like each pretending guess was a good on freed ball. They relied on, and that's the second time that's happened to them this year. Even the game against Waterford in the league, you think about I think after 14 points, 12 or 11 or 12 were from free. So Kilkenny, they're maybe right in the great in their best of place in the moment again, it's something that'll have to improve maybe if they're shooting from play as well.

SPEAKER_01 6:18

Yeah, I mean Laura Laura Murphy looked pretty dangerous, all right, in the forward line. I think Katie Nolan came on and got two points from from play as well, coming off the bench. But again, you know, you're looking around at the rest of them, as you say, Ifa Prendergas very good on the freeze, but you just it's not it's not the ruthless nature you'd normally associate with a Kilkenny forward line. But look, I think you have to give Wexford as much credit now as maybe being critical of Kilkenny because they really, really were quite, you know, really positively aggressive in terms of attacking the ball, in terms of not allowing the Kilkenny players any any time, and they just didn't seem to get into any kind of rhythm up front at all.

SPEAKER_00 6:53

And like just on Kilkenny, is there a danger now that they don't actually qualify for the quarter final now at the All-Ireland Championship this year? Because, as I said, it's going to be a tough group to get out of. Like you have your clear Dublin as well, seem to be finding a bit of farmer again this year after a bit of a bad year last year. And Kilkinney, yes, it seems maybe they're not at their best at the moment. Like they're going through a bit, I suppose it'll be building phase. So is there a danger that they don't make it out of the group?

SPEAKER_01 7:18

I think in that there's a danger for every team, really. If push came to Shove, you'd probably still back them to come out of it. Do you just back that they'd have enough know-how to get out of it? But I mean, if you look at the group, I mean, Wexford obviously will have take huge positivity from that. Dublin are in the Leinster final and could potentially win and have been motoring very well post some big scores. Limerick, although you know the score line might look particularly, you know, strong in favour of Tipperary, they had a very, very young team out. And again, they'll they'll go they'll go at Kilkenny. You have Clare, who had you know a very, very, you know, very good league, looked like they were shaping up pretty well. And look, in awfully, you know, we've nothing to lose coming up from intermediate. So we'd be able to, you know, go to go into those games, especially a game like Kilkenny with the shackles off and just really go for it. And look at you, you never know. So I think every game for Kilkenny, the more than for every team, it's fraught with a little bit of danger. But you'd imagine they they just might have enough know-how, but you're looking there saying, Well, what teams are going to miss out? And you can make a case nearly that every team to go could go through. So it is fraught for a little bit of danger. And although they're not in the same probably league as the teams in group one, they would obviously probably prefer to be in group one because they would be guaranteed kind of to get through to the knockout stages.

SPEAKER_00 8:34

Because just looking at some of the stats from that game, like Bedford probably won 16 or 11, 14, 111 from play, which is very impressive, so it is when you think about when you think about it.

SPEAKER_01 8:44

It is, yeah. And I mean you've you've five different scorers as well, you know. So it's if every player you know chips in with a point or two, it's amazing how the scoreboard ticks over because your free taker will probably always get you maybe five, six points or whatever. So, you know, if everyone else is kind of chipping in with a point here, a point there, it's amazing, you know, how how it can all total up in the end. And again, as you say, a good bit from from play, which would indicate that you know they were kind of moving well and creating scoring opportunities.

SPEAKER_00 9:13

Yeah, like Chloe Cash, even though she was on the freeze and she scored one-seven, like four of them were from play as well. I thought she had an excellent game in the middle of the field was the main difference. And Joanne Dillon then as well got three pints up, both big games from the likes of them.

SPEAKER_01 9:26

Yeah, and like Joanne Dillon, I suppose, lots of experience as well, you know, and no more than Linda Bulger, probably around. I think maybe she might have been around in 2017, maybe as well as a sub. So, you know, they are a long time. I mean, you think 2017, you think it's only a couple of years ago, but actually it's it's nine years ago. So you know, you think well it's only a couple of years, two or three years ago, but it's not, and she uh she she had a great game and three points from play. Look at any day you return that out of 114, like that's that's a big contribution.

SPEAKER_00 9:54

And yeah, like Wettsford now, I think the league final or the Lens the final is in three weeks against Dublin. So that about a few weeks now to prepare for that. But they they'll have a chance going into that like for the wheel. I know Dublin bet them in the league and that, and but like the confidence they get from that now. So they have, and I said three weeks now to prepare, so big game for them now is also.

SPEAKER_01 10:13

It is, yeah. And I mean, you know, we can take a certain amount out of the league and you can say, you know, this result and that result. But I think when you look at the conditions that the league was played in and you look at the conditions now, I mean it's amazing and within a couple of weeks how the pitches have dried up, the ball is moving quickly, you know. So I think they're quite in a way, they're quite similar teams, Wexford and Dublin, you know, powerful runners, physically strong teams, powerful in the air. So I, you know, I really, although Dublin have have been very, very impressive, I I would nearly call it still maybe maybe be proved totally wrong, but I would still call it fairly 50-50. It possibly lean towards Dublin a little bit, but only just on the back of posting higher, higher scores and that kind of thing. But I mean Wexford after beating Kilkenny. So it's all about now can they back that up? Like was it a one-off performance, or is it a sign of things to come? So it'll all you have to probably tell now against Dublin how where where they stand.

SPEAKER_00 11:05

As you said, sometimes it can be easier to get up for the games like Kilkenny, maybe, and than it would be against a team like Dublin. You know, you know, Kilkenny a bigger maybe challenge to take down in that. Well, anyway, now we move on to Sunday and down at Parky Quiv, Tipperary and Limerick in the Munster semi-final. Tipperary's had a big win, well, 10-point win, not 25 to 112. But Limerick actually played all right in that game. There was some good signs there. They played some good click ho hurling, and you could see what they're trying to build there, and it's as a young team, so you can see what you're trying to build, like play through the lines and all that, and you know, get fast moving in and they played. So they're not they're not a million miles away though, either, like looking at them.

SPEAKER_01 11:43

No, they're not. And I mean Limerick underage teams, you know, minor teams in that over the last couple of years have been very competitive. And I think it's just a matter of they're very much, I think, a team that are, you know, Tipperary are just that couple of years ahead in terms of their their progression and in terms of their style. But I think Limerick then are, you know, they are, as you say, they are building. I think they had that they have eight hundred twenty three players or something like that playing. So, you know, that would indicate quite a young profile. That's not a bad thing at all, but obviously you have to have patience with a team that is that young in terms of them finding their feet, finding that bit of experience, because it is a totally different thing, you know, from playing from being a good minor to playing then against adult comogi players who are, you know, have been around for years, have have the bit of experience, you know, and they're just able to maybe play you in such a way that you have not been exposed to before, you know, at minor level. So listen, I think I think it was a positive performance from Limerick. Again, you know, you're looking at we keep going back to the thing about forwards, but you know, I think they scored was it one ten one thirteen or one twelve, you know, nine nine points from free. So again, look, forwards, we I suppose probably bias saying it, but they do they do win you games, and you look at like Tibreri scored 25 times, posted a big, big score. And I mean, that was even without I don't think Grace O'Brien or Tlod McIntyre even got on the score line, yeah, score shift. So you know, so like that that's that's that's huge for them. But for Limerick, again, you're looking at that group too, and you're saying every nearly every team going into it has has something positive, you know, maybe to to go for maybe to Kenny, maybe not so much, but you know, Limerick will take heart from that, and they won't I don't think they'll fear anybody in in the group, but I think maybe they're just they're quite young and maybe still a little bit raw, and I think patience is probably needed for a year or two for them to to build build the team, build a bit of experience.

SPEAKER_00 13:32

Yeah, I think they've said they're coming team. I know it's like one thing from the performance, they had a few chances that maybe just they didn't seem to forwards lack the confidence when it came to shooting, and the shots were very uh not maybe not tame was not the word, but like just there was no didn't seem to have the belief in themselves when they were shooting. There was a couple of the forwards, and I think that was a big part of it for them. Like I think and that will come with time, I think, for them. Like, you know, playing games like that as well and playing against opposition like that, they learn from it, and then it will come with time, I think.

SPEAKER_01 14:00

Absolutely, yeah, absolutely. And I think sometimes, look, as a forward, if your confidence is not is not high, you you you don't strike you almost strike the ball not to hit it wide. So, you know, so sometimes then obviously it can drop a bit short or or whatever. And that's yeah, it is. It's a little bit of it's a little bit of confidence, and that's where maybe your experienced players just say, you know, just go for it. You know, it's actually nearly it's it's nearly better, you know, to put the ball out of play and hit it wide than it it would be to to launch the ball into the goalies possession and then it's driven up the field straight away 90 yards, you know. So just probably probably a little bit of rawness, a little bit of confidence, knowing when to shoot, know when is the right opportunity to shoot. And again, that that just comes with time. It's very, very difficult to you know get that overnight. You know, you kind of have to get it in in an experience situation, and again, it's communication among the forwards, you know, take your score or it's not on or recycle or whatever, and it's just talking to one another is probably communication, is probably something that again, younger players maybe don't always have the confidence to be talkers, and I think that comes with with time and with experience.

SPEAKER_00 15:05

And like Tipperary, the big good win for them into a Monster Final now. They won the Monster Final Championship in 2023 and the league obviously in 2024, but they never haven't really kicked on from then. But another win here now in the Munster Championship will be a big boost for them as well, I think. And like that game, the 25 points, that has nine different scores, like which is a very impressive, like widespread scores. So, like they're going well at the moment, Tabri, like they've kicked on from the league, and a couple of good results now in the Munster Championship seems to be clicking in to gear nicely for them.

SPEAKER_01 15:34

It does, and I think look at it, uh I suppose the weather's the same for everybody, but there would be a team that probably the drier ball and the faster ball would suit them, you know, in terms of the way they play, in terms of their stick work. And again, we're we're repeating ourselves here in relation to the forwards, but you know, and if you have nine different scorers on a team, then the opposition are wondering, well, you know, where the where are the threats? Because there seems to be so many. So it's very, very difficult then when you have scoring power from a number of different sources to shut down all those sources as the opposition, you know. So you might hold one or two players scoreless or maybe get they get a point or something like that, but if you other girls then with the ability that they have to score, it becomes it becomes a great weapon for Tipperary and a difficulty for the opposition.

SPEAKER_00 16:14

Tipperary, you seem to have a very strong squad actually this year. Like you know, players coming off the bench every game, like Ether Dwyer came off the bench and the weekend, got a point, Kate Ralph got a point coming off the bench, and against Corshi came off the bench and got two points. And like you have the likes of Sleen Gaynor now injured at the moment. Now, talking to James Heffin at the beginning, she'd probably beat out for the month of the final, but she's about maybe two or three weeks away. And Isabel O'Donnell, another injury, she'd probably be more long-term, but they're not 100% sure if winning she's two back, but it will be a long-term injury. But they do seem to have a very strong squad there this year at their disposal.

SPEAKER_01 16:48

They do, yeah. And I mean, we we saw Celine Gaylon in the last game taking off a half time with an injury, and she had been playing, you know, playing very, very well. And obviously, number six is a pivotal position. And Clever Mara went in there, and you know, it's been it's been it was fairly seamless, you know. So, yes, it's very important. Every team is going to get injuries, so that's just the nature of it. So I don't think they'll be rushing Celine back for a Monster final, they'll be trying to make sure that they have her for the later stages. But yeah, I totally agree with you. I think the the depth of the panel and the options that they have and the game changers that they may have on the bench. Uh, you know, he's gonna have a he's gonna have a nice problem picking his first 15 in the first night championship, you know. Whatever about the monster final.

SPEAKER_00 17:29

A few youngsters coming through as well this year from the minor team that won the All Ireland a couple years ago. Like Quiva Stakelin's brought through this year, and I've I've seen her a good bit over the years. Like, she definitely has the ability to kick on and be one of the best promoting players in the country over the next few years. Like, she just seems to have this uh effort as well. She just she doesn't need much space when she gets to the ball. She can just she doesn't know where the goals are, and she just throw over the bar. Like she doesn't miss, she doesn't need much space when she gets the ball. Like she just has this about her. You know what? I've noticed a little bit of curless and with Tabri Miners over the years, so like she's definitely one for the future.

SPEAKER_01 18:01

Yeah, I mean she's got four points, I think, from from play the other day, and she can also hit freeze. And yeah, you're right, she's very tidy, and she, you know, she seems to have loads of time, but yet she doesn't have time, which is always a a great sign of uh of a player. So again, she's you'd imagine if she says injury free, she's only going to improve with time and playing with them with the with the players around her, you know, you know, the emer McGraths and and Torah McIntyre's and the Grace O'Brien's, you know, like you know, the Karen Kennedys, she's only going to improve. And again, I suppose the delivery of ball in there has been has been excellent as well. And that gives the forwards every opportunity and it gives them every chance. You know, if you can if a ball is played into you a 70-30 ball where you're 70% in you know in your favour, it makes a huge difference because the 50-50s, you know, they're they're a bit more difficult. But so you'd have to give credit to the players further back the pitch as well, in terms of the delivery that they are that that they're giving into the forwards. But yeah, she's definitely one, she's definitely one I think that'll that'll improve. And I think, as we said last week as well, they they seem to work very well as a unit. You know, a lot of off the ball running from making space for another, a lot of right passes given to each other, give the ball to the player in the best position. So if they keep doing that, they're they're gonna be they're gonna be a force, that's for sure.

SPEAKER_00 19:14

And the Munster final, I think it's the weekend of the 17th or the 16th and 17th. I think it's part it'll be part of the double header, one of the Munster hurling games. So I'm not sure which yet, but they'll be playing Waterford or Carrie. You'd expect it to be Waterford, but that but if we did Waterford, that should be a really good game. Like the two of them to bring Waterford building a great rivalry the last few years, like they've always been close games, like when they've met. So if it's I guess it should be another great game that day as well, like and it'll be a massive boost for both teams to win a Munster Championship like this year, going ahead into the other island group stage.

SPEAKER_01 19:44

Absolutely, yeah. And to Waterford, you know, Waterford, as we said as well, probably just need that bit of silverware as well, you know, just to keep the belief there. You know, they they've been knocking on the door at a very high level now for a couple of years, and you know, just to keep the momentum going, it would be no harm to you know have a have a have a trophy in the bag before the start of the championship. And I mean it's a hard, that's a hard, a hard game to call. Again, you know, there's threats on both on both teams, and it may come down to panel depth and who's available, who's not available, because with all respect to the Munster Championship final, if anybody is in doubt injury-wise, they're probably not going to be risked. So it'll depend on the what what personnel are available and what both teams' attitude is towards it, I suppose, in terms of you know, really, really going for it and who they have. So, yeah, difficult one and played before a hurling match as well. Fantastic, absolutely brilliant. I think it's been one of the great positives of this year is that they seem to have really been able to try and get those games, you know, jointly with um with hurling games, and I think it's fantastic.

SPEAKER_00 20:45

Yeah, and look, Saturday we had the other Leinster semi-final, and look, we spoke last week a bit about the gap between senior intermediate teams, and it really showed their Saturday in the Dublin Carlo game, like Dublin coming through 7-16 to six points. Like, it was a look, this is the sort of game, it's not a great look for Camogi as a whole, really, is it, when you think about it?

SPEAKER_01 21:06

No, it's not. But at the same time, I mean, I think hats off to Carlo, they, you know, for wanting to be obviously playing at that level as well, and knowing that possibly that this something like this could happen. I think again they're trying to they're trying to improve how much that will knock them and knock their confidence, you know, it's hard to is hard to tell. But yeah, it's not it's not a great look. And again, it goes back, I suppose, as we said last week, you know, you're you'd just be afraid that the gap is is actually widening between the top 10 or the top maybe you know senior counties and what's below. But look at it's probably the same in in hurling to a certain degree. And I think we should be doing everything that we can to try and close that gap. And how you go about that, look, I don't know. Without going back over it again too too long to harbor the point, I think the the the removal of the second teams from the intermediate championship, in my opinion, is a negative anyway. But look at uh not not a great. And look for for Dublin, I suppose it's confidence boost, it's confidence building. But again, when you look at the preparation, I suppose, that Wexford have had for a Leinster final versus the prep that Dublin have had now, you'd say Wexford's preparation would have been would have been a bit stronger with a tighter game. But again, look at Dublin, it just keeps them ticking over. Maybe you know, girls getting on the scoreboard, 7-16, great score to post, confidence, uh competition for places, you know. So it's positive for Dublin, negative for Carlo, but I'd I'd hope and think that Carlo won't you know dwell too much on that and they they'll get back then preparing for the intermediate championship.

SPEAKER_00 22:34

Yeah, look, I want him to give Carlo the credit, they never gave up in throwing the game and they kept going like right to the end. So they have to get the credit for that. And I was very impressed, actually feel sheeting in the midfield for them. Toshi had a really good game, like she kept going the whole game. She was up and down the pitch, scored three points, two from three and all, but she really did put in an effort for the whole game. And I'm like straight positive, like I said, they're not going to play a team at Dublin's quality then either in the championship. So, you know, and uh they learn a lot from it, I suppose, then as well, like in terms of just what it takes like to get up to that level, I suppose, as well. Like so maybe in the long run they might spend them. But like on Dublin, like they really did start off like the first ten minutes, maybe five five, ten minutes were a bit even, but once Dublin put their foot down and they kept the foot down like the whole game and just kept going for goal a lot the whole time, and emphatic, like really in the end, like you know, like Ashley and Gannon, what 3-4 in the game, like you know, and Eamer Keog got two, three, like so you know, some really impressive confidence boost as well for the players as well, going into the Lanster final in a few weeks.

SPEAKER_01 23:35

Yeah, absolutely. And you know, there's competition for places. I mean, it was a bit like that when the off league game, they didn't start overly, you know, quick in the first few minutes, it was quite even for a while. But then once kind of they once I suppose they kind of got their first goal or got a couple of points together, it's almost like the the momentum they seem to go on these kind of fits of of you know where they could blitz you, you know. And I think that's probably what happened in the in in the game as well versus Carlo. And you know, there's girls wanting to get their place on the team, and and they're gonna stay being rootless. And look at it, it's it's not maybe the prettiest to see, but you know, that's it. This is this is senior camoe, unfortunately. And you know, there's there's no they're not gonna be making any apologies for going for goals or staying trying to get the scores because they have a job to do, and you know, they've done it emphatically.

SPEAKER_00 24:22

Yeah, and look that's our review of last weekend's action. Just a good good go through the results of other games in it, like the minor championships ended at the weekend, all the finals were on in the minor C final, Kevin had a victory over Lau 1-9 to 2-4. In the minor B final, Armad made 217 to 10 points. And on Sunday in Northern Park in the A Shield final, Westford had an impressive 213 to 1-9 win over Watford, and in the A final Klikinney made a two in a row with a big win over Galway, 317 to 1-9. So, like Klikinney, obviously, that's two all the minors in a row. So the future to have obviously good players coming through then as well. I know it's there's a big step up between minor and senior, not everyone makes it, but they seem to have good players coming through anyway. So maybe it won't be off for too long, then anyway.

SPEAKER_01 25:10

No, definitely not. And I mean, Court called it last week. She she said that you know, she had seen, especially the Loreto team, quite quite often asked uh during the schools competition this year, and was very, very impressed by them. And I think they had quite a number of players that were left, you know, had had had won the minor Ireland last year that were still underage again this year. And although those girls, I suppose, can't come up to senior this year, you would imagine that some of them will be drafted in an ASAP next year onto the onto the senior panel. And you know, even for the senior panel themselves, while morale might be a bit low after the defeat to Exford, sometimes as a as a senior player, when you when you see a team coming coming in your county that's got you know massive potential and you know huge ability, it does lift your your spirit as well, because you say, well, these are coming, and you know, you can't expect too much of them straight away, but it does kind of does kind of give you a little sense of positivity that there is talent coming. And I mean that was a very emphatic win. I think you know probably thought it would be a little bit closer, but uh Kilkenny Kilkenny did what they have been well known to do and were pretty emphatic about it.

SPEAKER_00 26:16

Also do we end in the under-23A championship group 8 Galway had a 119 to 27 win over Dublin, which leads it now, there's one group game left in the A, and every team by four games like Cork and Tip are already guaranteed if facing a semi-final. Cork had nine points, Tipperary second with eight, Kilkinny in third and seven, not fully guaranteed, but a short weekend would put them two. Galway are at fourth and six, Dublin fifth and fourth, and Waterford bottom in zero points. So Dublin they can go through, they need to either be like their minus eighteen points different at the moment, like Kakinney plus twenty, and Dublin played Kilkenny, like so they'd have to turn that around like minus eighteen to plus twenty, big or they could if they beat Kilkenny and if Waterford were to be got Galway, then they go through. But it's kind of like a big ass for Dublin to go through now at this stage.

SPEAKER_01 27:05

It is the only thing is it's in their own hands, I suppose, in terms of you know, if they do get the performance against Kilkenny, but it it it is and it isn't in their own hands, you know. The you know Kilkenny are obviously looking to cement their place, but a big win for Galway, yeah. I mean, Galway started out the day behind Dublin in the table, so it this that win has pushed them on into contention now for the knockout stages. Waterford, you'd imagine, it's probably a step too much to ask them to turn Galway over, but I don't think Galway will be taking any chances either, knowing that you know they're they're not guaranteed unless that they get that victory, you know.

SPEAKER_00 27:40

And the other game is Cork versus Tipperary, like the winner goes top, but uh will finish top, like and the loser uh could actually end up finishing fourth the way it is, depending on the other results like as well, like depending on the whole goal. So like it could be like they could end up playing in the semi-final, actually, as it turns out as well, because it's first play fourth in the semi-final, so they could end up playing in the last two game and then in the semi-final. And this will be their second meeting of the year, like they met in the Monster Finals, which temporary won by three or four nine, I think it was, was actually a really good tight game on the day. Like there's not much between the two sides, so it should actually be a good game that one as well. Like, you know, whether these four teams really go for it or not, I don't know, because they're already guaranteed a semi-final spot. Like, and that but shall we see? But we go on, I I think Cork like they lost the last time off to Klikney, like they were actually beaten well, I think, but up to that they've been 100% record. So as I said, it should be a good game between the two of them.

SPEAKER_01 28:32

Yeah, absolutely. And look, it's cork and tip. I mean, I think if they met in darts, there'd be there'd be a competition, you know, among them. So again, it depends probably in the short term how they how they approach it. But yeah, I mean that that competition uh in in in that A grade is very, very, very, very close. And it's great to see it. You know, it's great to see that there is such, you know, there's not one team maybe running away with it or two teams, you know, it's it is very, very close. So it'd be interesting to see how it how it plays out, even in terms of yeah, as you say, uh semi-finals and final, you know.

SPEAKER_00 29:04

And just a quick one on the on the 23b, the final round is that is that this weekend as well. There's no really it's just mainly to see who finishes where, really, because like Claire have played all four games, the five things in this clear played all four games at their top on nine points at the moment. Wexford and Limerick set joined second on six points, and Ansham are fourth and third down bottom on zero points. Like in Limerick play down in the final game, if they win that, they'll finish level on points with Claire, but they'll have a far superior scoring difference, so they'll finish ahead of them. And the other game is Wexford and Ansham. So like Wexford were to win now. Well, they probably finished top of the group because they have alberto got scoring difference in Limerick and Clare. So, but like it's probably just it's Claire Westford, Limerick and Antrim, just probably just mainly playing for positions in that one at the moment. So they're all at the weekend as well. On to the next part. We're just gonna have a look at the new rules that have been tried out this year in 2026 in the comoge. And I'll just I think there's eight in the whole. I'll just go through them there anyway for a minute, but then we can discuss them. The first one, like, number one, tougher punishments for defense. Like if players argue with the ref or question decisions, boxing to move forward 30 metres, and only team captain is allowed to speak to the ref and continued defense can lead to further discipline. Number two, free take and protection rule, 10 metre rule. Opponents must stay at least 10 meters away from a free taker, and no distraction, verbal or physical, allowed. Breaking this free boss 30 metres close to the goal. And third one, sideline management punishments. Manager selectors can now be penalised for arguing with officials abuse of interference, punishment free for opposition from the 20-meter line, straight in front of the goal. And the fourth one charging rule softens slightly. Previously it was one bad charge and automatic yellow. Now it's just the first offence, you get a warning, and for PFS it's a yellow. Fifth one is a helmet rule. If a player removes a helmet or helmet comes off, she must leave the field until player stops. And six is the sub restrictions, which is a new one, and very important. No subs are out after 30 minutes of each half, like a half time or a half time and extra time, unless it's an injury sub or a concussion sub. And the player must come back on the field first. Seven is the sideline pup change, which is the one where you get sideline from inside the 45, you can take it out of your hands. And then just another one, general respect for officialness crackdown across the board. Strong enforcement on behaviour, more punishment for teams and official. So like you made it a rule changes so far, and which one do you think have worked best?

SPEAKER_01 31:32

I think a lot of them are very similar to what's going on on the hurling on the GA side, you know. And there's there's clearly a huge push. I think it started out probably on Gaelic football and has moved into to hurling and komogi as well, in relation to you know the descent and you know, speaking to the ref and all that kind of thing. And having talked to a couple of referees, you know, locally, they they would be hugely in favour of it. You know, the problem I would have with it is that I suppose, especially the one from the sidelines where the management are are, you know, there may be some some we call it abuse directed, is that you know it's it's quite subjective, you know. So you would just hope that, you know, if someone questions a decision, that that's not deemed to be, you know, grounds for moving the ball up the field, you know, because we all know we can all get we can all get a little bit hot and bothered and maybe, you know, ref, what's that for? You know, and it might be said maybe even in a bit more of an aggressive tone, you know, does that constitute moving the ball up to the 20-metre line for free? I don't know. We'd have to see how it how it plays out. But I would hope that, you know, it's it's I would hope that you know the referees take it in the in the spirit as well, you know, that they're not, you know, been very, very pretty about it. But maybe to just get to the point where nothing is said, and that's probably where they want to get to. Um but human human nature, I suppose. I think it looked good, I think it is good because referees are thin on the ground and I wouldn't do their job for any amount of money. So, you know, anything you can do to help them, I think, is is probably right. The captain thing, we have a slight issue with that, only from the sense of if my captain is cornerback number two and an incident occurs at the far end of the field, you know, a controversial incident. I mean, and only the captains can speak to the ref, you know, are you gonna have has the captain run the whole way from the far end of the field, you know, and that kind of thing. So, you know, I I think maybe, maybe, maybe two designated players or something like that, maybe the captain and a vice captain or something like that might be just very, very, very small, very small thing. The removal of the helmet again, shuts similar to the GA. The free-taking one is an interesting one, all right, you know, in terms of having that bit more, I suppose, respect, I suppose, for the opposition taking the free. I like I like the idea of it. But again, I'm not sure. Some of these rules, I suppose, you kind of think, yeah, would probably be very, very welcome at underage level. You just wonder about whether they're they're kind of needed at adult level, but I suppose you can't really bring it in for one and not for the other. Yeah, and I suppose the sub as well is an interesting one. I think that could be one that could be adopted by the GA in in time too. Because you'll see it. We we all we've all seen it. We've all seen the stalling of games and trying to break the momentum of games and trying to, you know, in the last in in in injury time, I'm you know, I'm bringing on one sub and then 30 seconds later I'm bringing on another sub, you know. So I think that's a good one, to be honest. I think that'll work well. But look at the problem, of course, there is all it takes is for one some incident to happen, and you know, you know, maybe there's 10 minutes of injury time for some reason or other, and a team has to play 10 minutes without being able to maybe make a substitution, you know.

SPEAKER_00 34:32

So the sideline, what have you read at a sideline one? I I've found it other ones. So I thought it's worked a little bit because it makes the game a little bit quicker then as well and gets the play going a bit faster and it gets longer ball pocket longer, it gets longer, maybe out of the ball where it's five, and it gets a bit more competitive, I think. I that's from my point of view. Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 34:53

I mean, yeah, again, I think I think for juveniles it's probably a good thing. But really, I mean, adult inter-county camoe players, you know, I I get why, you know, they're trying to quicken the game up, but I think adult intercounty comogi players should be able to take sideline balls that are going to travel quite quite a considerable distance. And I just wonder, are we kind of um, you know, in really making the game not too easy? I suppose it's probably no one the free from the from the you know out of the out of the hand rule as well. I get that it's trying to quicken the game up, probably in one sense, but I also think it's it's also you have to be careful that you don't take some of the skills out of the game either, because you don't want, you know, essentially now like cornerbacks might never need to be able to learn how to take a sideline, you know. So just yeah, again, I think maybe from juvenile perspective, maybe it might work a little bit better because you can often see it, you know, there'll be a sideline ball down on the 13-meter line, and the ball travel 10 metres and it'll be down there and poking and rooting and all that kind of thing going on. But I think in adult comoge, I I, you know, I think maybe we're diluting it a little bit. I don't think it's I don't think it's really needed, but I I get the other side of it, and it's quickening the it's quickening the game up. But I think you're taking a skill out of the game in one sense, which I wouldn't be overly keen on.

SPEAKER_00 36:05

You're obviously on a tri period for the year, and I know we're assessed looking at the math of the league and make a final decision at the end of the championship. But like you can see like most of them, as we've said, they're kind of to help the referee, and maybe from that perspective, maybe only the sideline one and really maybe the free one, but will affect the play, really. So, like you can see the response for the referee, most of them I can see them maybe being kept, like you know, probably the helmet rule as well, because but in church and see those sideline ones say, but uh of your own opinion, what would you keep yourself and which would you get rid of at the end of the year?

SPEAKER_01 36:40

Well, yeah, I think the descent ones, I think they'll stay. I think the removal of the helmet ones, again, I think they'll try and align it as much as they can with the GA and with the with the hurling side of things, and I think that makes sense because you know, one thing that does kind of I suppose annoy the casual attendee at a camoe match is that they're they believe that the rules are exactly the same in terms of camoe and hurling. So I think you know they should probably be aligned as much as possible. So yeah, I think the descent ones are good, I think they're needed, and I think absolutely keep them ones. This the removal of the helmet, same thing. The subs one, it'll be interesting to see if that's kept. I I think I think it probably will be kept, but I just you'd wonder if there could be one incident that could occur during the year that may lead it, you know, a certain set of of criteria or certain set of circumstances that would um would render that one having to be looked at again. But I think it's a I think it's a really good one. I'd even personally I'd I'd even go further on that, and I'd go further on it in the GA as well. Like as a player and as a spectator, you know, it's very frustrating, you know, in the last 15 minutes of a match, you know, you can have five substitutes, which is fine, but there can be five individual substitutes done, you know, and five individual breaks in play. And if you have two teams, there could be nine stoppages for one sub to come on each time. I I think really there should be maybe three instances of substitutes introduced, but allow five, if you know what I mean. So you could bring on maybe two, two and one or three, one and one, or something like that. But it it's a bugbearer of mine, anyway, that maybe in the 50th minute there'll be a sub brought on, and then in the 52nd minute there'll be another sub brought on for the same team. And you're saying, why could you not have done the two of them together? You know, and I think it's really only it's a lot of it is from a negative perspective, it's trying to break momentum, it's trying to stall the game. And I get why it is, I get that's game management and all that, but from a spectator perspective and a player perspective, it really does break the momentum of a game and break the flow of a game, in my opinion. So I would go a little bit further on that one, but that's only that's only my personal thought on it. I think the sideline one, I I wouldn't keep the sideline one. I think we're taking a skill out of the game, and that doesn't sit that easy, that that easy with me. I mean, again, if you wanted to have it up to under 16 level or something, if you could do that, but you probably can't have a rule at one age group and not at all across the board. But I think we're taking a skill out of the game by by not having sidelines uh inside a particular area of the field.

SPEAKER_00 39:02

And let's look at that. Would there be any extra rules that you can think of maybe off that you'd like to see brought in, you know, maybe to improve the maybe improve the game rather than you know, from the improving the game side of things, like there are any extra rules you'd like to see brought in, or even anything that maybe make the game a little bit better, something that could make the game a bit better, or maybe more competitive, and help close maybe the gap between the top four teams, maybe five teams, and the rest of the team.

SPEAKER_01 39:28

Yeah, I like I don't think there's a rule that's going to necessarily do that. I think it's just a matter of resources and things, you know, things like that, and and trying to trying to see what's the best exposure that we can give counties that are struggling a little bit, you know, how to to you know close the gap in standards. I mean, as I mentioned there, the subs, the subs uh rule, I I would extend that. I I just like I say it's to me it's it's it's it's gone beyond a joke now at this stage where you know there's one sub been brought on five different times, usually in the last 10 or 15 minutes of a match, and I think it's just completely breaking the flow of a lot of games. Again, I would probably align the uh the rules maybe a bit more with the with the GA rules, you know, the playing of the hurl and that kind of thing. And listen, hey, did it for years, got away with it for years, and absolutely probably for for people like myself that were maybe a bit slow coming to the ball, it was great that you were able to play the your opponent's hurl. But again, I think we should probably be you know really going for the the player that goes out in front to get the ball and is positive about it, and then you know their hurl is is flicked from behind um or flicked in the air or whatever, it probably isn't it probably isn't fair, and I think we should probably maybe align align that rule maybe a little bit more with the with the hurling side of it. As I said, you know, I would one of the frustrations of people who are casual komogi supporters would be that the you know they go to a match and then they start shouting about something and you're kind of going, oh no, that's the rule, you know. So I think we should probably close close close the you know the gaps between the the the hurling side of things and the comogi side. But in terms of a rule that's going to improve standards or something like that, I don't think there's anything really that could that could do that. But I would hope that they would revisit uh the intermediate and the junior junior, you know, even junior as well. I mean it's not just intermediate. I mean if if Eclair want to put in a second team in the junior championship or Voffley want to put in a second team in the junior championship and whatever, you know, um I think that would only hopefully enhance the the competition as well.

SPEAKER_00 41:26

Hopefully should look there's probably it's hard to come up with uh full approved something as possible, just that'll improve it random greatly double like it's just up to the powers that's supposed to be that maybe hopefully they can come up with something you know that will help as we go forward. Anyway, now look quick look ahead to next weekend's action. Like we saw we already went over the under 23, but just obviously and also I think it's on the Monday, the one other Munster semi-final between Waterford and Kerry. Like look, it's a Kerry's first ever time in the Munster Daniel Championship. It's obviously a big game for them, and it's obviously a tough game as well when we took a game against a very strong Waterford side. So like you'd expect Waterford to be well, they're obviously strong favourites, and you'd expect them to get the job done. But I suppose just for Kerry going into it, just maybe just trying to be competitive, maybe and put uh put in a good performance like for their own sake, like really more than anything, like just to show that they're able to compete against these top teams, like if they do get the chance.

SPEAKER_01 42:23

Yeah, again, it's got a it's got a similar feel to it, I suppose, to Waterford and our two at Dublin and Carlo in the sense that you've got an intermediate team coming up against uh uh a powerful senior team. So hopefully the game will be a little bit closer. Obviously, Offaly played Kerry last year in the intermediate All Ireland, and you know, I was impressed with Kerry even on the day, although they didn't get the victory. You know, they've some some some really good players, but I think again it's it's you know the difference really is that you know for Kerry, Kerry have and a lot of the intermediate teams, they probably have six, seven, eight players that are you know of very, very good standard, would probably hold their own. But the problem is that then the rest maybe are just not at that level, you know. And look, there's nothing that can be can can really be done about that. I mean, girls are putting their hands up, they're training as best they can to be on a senior or on a first team. So, but really for Kerry, I suppose it's it's just uh it's probably a game in one sense that they're dreading, and in another sense that they're probably saying to themselves, look, let's go have a cut, and there's nothing to be won or lost, and uh, you know, from from maybe getting a defeat, we'll learn something and we'll move on. You know, it's just a game that it has to be has to be kind of played. You would fancy Waterford, absolutely, it would be probably a a huge, probably a bigger shock even than than Wexer Big and Kenny if if Kerry were to turn over Waterford. I just I don't see it happening, to be honest. I think Waterford too much firepower.

SPEAKER_00 43:46

I suppose for Waterford it's a difficult game for them, like going into because like they're locked out, you're expected to be to win it, like but it's the type of game where if you're not fully at it, like as well, you know, and you're even if Yeah, even if they do go out and win the game by a big score, it's they're going to be said, I should look at we're going to carry like you're expected to win. And then if they do struggle to beat them, they're going to people be saying, like, maybe you're not as good as we thought you are, maybe, and you might struggle in the challenge. So for them, like going in, they just have to win the falls and just be as professional as they can be, I suppose, and make sure that you do get the job done.

SPEAKER_01 44:18

Absolutely. Yeah. Yeah, you're right. It is a difficult game. And I think one of the things with these types of games is that you've got to get the job done early. If you leave a team that an underdog in the game, you know, if they're in the game at halftime or even 40 minutes into the game, then they they start to get they start to get confidence and you start to get nervous. So I think in these types of games, the the only way you can really approach it as the hugely strong favourites is to go out and first 15 minutes get the game won. You know, get the game won, get your lead built up, get the I suppose it sounds terrible, but demoralize the opposition really, that they don't feel that they have a chance because the longer you leave the minute, the more nervous you become and the more confident they become. So you just don't want any tricky situations. But again, maybe it's an opportunity for some girls. I mean, I'm not saying he's going to the manager's going to play a weakened team or anything like that, but you know, there may be a couple of fringe girls who get their opportunity, and they, of course, will be looking to take it. So, you know, I think that's probably a way of of you know of avoiding maybe any, you know, complacency, you know, where you'd have maybe a couple of fringe players who will be going at it if their life depends on it, and you know, get get get the job done. But I think look, Watford are professional enough, they've probably been in these situations before, and like I said, they just want to get the job done, they want to get the job done early.

SPEAKER_00 45:36

So I get a quick prediction off now. Presume you're going for I'm going for awful anyway, so I just presume you're gonna I'll follow you so Joe.

SPEAKER_01 45:44

I'll go with that one.

SPEAKER_00 45:45

Uh that's just about it for this week. Uh I'd just like to remind you again of our social media or on Instagram at Talk and Comoge Podcast. And you can get us on X as well at talking comogie pod. And you can email the show at talk and komogeypodcast at gmail.com if you have any comments or any suggestions you want to want us to talk about going forward, maybe. I'd like to talk to thank you for coming on again. It's been a pleasure to have you on again. And next week will be the first of our monthly interview slots where we have we'll have the next player to talk about the career and their life and everything, just and promo in general. And I'll be joined by Sarah Donovan for that. But we'll be interviewing former car player Rina Buckley for that one. So make sure that you tune in for that one as well now next week. Anyway, once again, Elaine, it's been an absolute pleasure having you on. And we'll see you again at some stage in the future, anyway.

SPEAKER_01 46:36

Absolutely. Thanks, Joe. And that that sounds like a great uh great pod next week. Listening to to Rina. I mean, she's one of the most decorated players, if not the most decorated player I'd say, in in Kamogee. So fantastic, uh fantastic player, fantastic person to to have on, and look forward to hearing that next week.

SPEAKER_00 46:52

That's it for now this week. Bye.