Episode 11: Weekend preview and championship to date

I'm joined this week once again by Sarah O'Donovan as we look back at the Senior championship so far, and discuss where each team stands after two rounds of group 1. We also look ahead to next weekends action, and give our predictions, in what will be a pivotal weekend for the teams in both Group 2 of the Senior championship and the teams in Group 1 of the Intermediate championship.

Also this week is the latest power rankings with all 28 teams taking into account for the first time. 

You can follow the pod on Instagram at talkingcamogiepodcast, and also on X at talkingcamogiepod, and you can email the show at talkingcamogiepodcast@gmail.com so feel free to get in touch with us if you havee any views on anything we discussed on this weeks episode or on the power rankings. Or if you habe a topic you would like to hear discussed in future episodes let us know.

Transcript

SPEAKER_02 0:00

And you're very welcome back to this week's episode of the Talk and Komoge podcast. I'm joined once again this week by Sarah O'Donovan. Sarah, you're very welcome back to the podcast.

SPEAKER_01 0:09

Good stuff, Joe. How are you?

SPEAKER_02 0:10

Too bad now I'm yourself.

SPEAKER_01 0:12

I am. I'm I'm actually glad you invited me back because my predictions were in the bin. So uh it's good to be able to talk about it. Good to talk.

SPEAKER_02 0:23

I think a lot of them, I think we all got most of them wrong, all of us. Like I thought we weren't expecting cork. Well, we thought not that we weren't expecting cork, we just thought we didn't know what they were going to be like after the year they'd had up to that stage, and we didn't know what way they were going to be. But look, they've come in and they've been fairly good, like in fairness. You know, they've looked very impressive, I thought, so far.

SPEAKER_01 0:42

They have, they have, and I'm happy to eat humble pie on this one. I had seen them in the Munster Championship in that opening game against Tip. I thought they looked very disorganized, I thought they looked quite raw, and that time away from the spotlight the last number of weeks has really suited them, and they've really, I suppose, improved as a team over the last kind of four to six weeks, and a bit of vengeance, obviously, and a bit of revenge against Galway, and then a very cohesive performance against Tipperary on Sunday. But you know they're all but assured of a semi-final place now. So it's it's it's about I suppose building momentum now and making sure that they keep the girls sharp because obviously last year they were the standout team and in the final they I suppose they looked off, they looked off for them in the final. So definitely they need to be a team that is at it, under pressure, and and you know, I suppose questions being asked of them to be able to turn up and and and deliver a performance.

SPEAKER_02 1:57

Yeah, I thought on the weekend there against Tipperary. Look, we've made more to the game in a few minutes, but I thought, especially in the second half, I thought defensively they were excellent, like you know, to just get Tipperary not. Like any ball that was going in there, Cork were just winning every one, like they were just not giving Tiberiri couldn't get any momentum going in the second half, and very impressive. And I thought, look, obviously Amy O'Connor was superb I thought in that game. Was it 11 points, six for play or something? You know, she just caused havoc in there, like in the full foot in the full-fire line, and Tid just couldn't deal with her.

SPEAKER_01 2:24

Yeah, so Cork seemed to be very good at retaining the space themselves and then making the space for the likes of Amy. So they kept it very tight at the back, and then they obviously you know gave opportunities for for the likes of Amy to get on ball, but also I thought their off-the-shoulder running was excellent. There was some big scores, there was that um excellent score in the first half that darted in the full back line, and you know, a bit of patience, I suppose a good build, Laura Hayes' ball into the middle of the midfield, and that's the kind of play we'd have expected from Cork in the league and in the Munster Championship, and we didn't see it, but it was certainly back to the four on Sunday against Tip. So definitely from definitely from Cork's point of view, they'll be very happy with the bank of work that they've done over the last, I suppose, two months, and the proof is in the pudding they're they're sitting pretty on top of group one.

SPEAKER_02 3:25

I just want to say actually, I thought Emma Murphy had a good game for Cork there. Now she didn't scored a point, but I thought just she won a lot of poke-outs there, like and set up a lot of play, was involved in a lot of good play for Cork. Like I thought she had a really good game and played a massive part in it, like you know, I've said with how she won the ball and set up a lot of scores as well. Like, you know, I thought she had an effective game and made a big difference in there in the win forward line.

SPEAKER_01 3:47

Yeah, and and look, she she likes to drop deep as well, and she's a really good ball carrier. And I suppose we've seen that over the last four or five years with Cork. She's been, you know, I I won't say a periphery player, but in in previous years, they've been obviously relying on players like Hannah Looney, the likes of Laura Tracy, the likes of uh Ifa Healy, the Mackeys. So there's always been kind of players that Emma's been kind of, I suppose, looking up to, and she's been on the, I suppose the she's been on the outside. And you know, with these players gone, it's time for the likes of Emma to step up and and she's really enjoying the role. And uh her athleticism is is huge for Cork, and she just fits into that mould where she's constantly available for for an off-the-shoulder run.

SPEAKER_02 4:37

Uh and look, we'll go look more into that in a few minutes, but first of all, just I'll go through the results from last weekend's action starting in the junior. The final round at the group stage was on at the weekend. Mayo had a 112 to 1.6 win over Monatin, who were approved the 100% record. And Lout had a big win over Donegal on a 218 to 1.8 scoreline. And the group finished Monatin finished top with six points after two, three games. Lout also had six points in second. Mayo were third on three points, and Donegal were fourth on three points. I think the semi-finals that were on, not just weekend, but follow weekend. I think it'd be like first versus fourth, which will be Moneton and Donegal, and then second, third Mayo. Like I'm not 100% sure on that, but it just the way the group finished, like got two teams on six and two teams and three. So, and look, Mayo had a big week win over Monet and there to begin to wrong beating 100%. So it's obviously a close group, like close, it's very close between the four teams. And whoever wins it, like it'd be massive boost for Kamoge, I suppose, in the county. Uh, whoever does go on to win that, like you know, and hopefully, you know, whoever wins it, like young, maybe the young girls in the county can see that that county again success and hope get them involved then in Kamoge, like as well, like so be big from that perspective as well. But it's going to be closer. I think I think any team's capable of beating anyone in them, but in that and I think it's the semi-finals. I think it's the we get after next, anyway.

SPEAKER_01 5:50

Okay, yeah, yeah, yeah. I suppose when you're looking at the at the Gaelic football and the resurgence and the men's Gaelic football, it's it's been fuelled by teams improving you know dramatically with the new rules and and making, I suppose, big scalps. And that's what we want to see in the commogi, as well as teams making big scalps and and generating positivity around the around the games. And in order to do that, you have to start delivering quality in in these games. So that's what this summer is about, I suppose. Teams putting in more effort and delivering on the big stage in a couple of weeks' time.

SPEAKER_02 6:26

Yep. And in the intermediate group two now, those there were fixtures at the weekend. Meet Carlo 4.15 to 112, and Leash had a 3.12 to 1-9 win over Westmeat. That the final set fifths in that as well. And that's the same as the senior in group two, where the top two grew to quarterfinal, and Leak Leach finished top three wins out of three, and the other three teams like all finished level and three points. Like Meat second, West Meat third, and Carlo fourth. I think like Meat and West Meat, I think there's only like two points in the difference in the point difference. So look, West Meat can count themselves very unlucky, you know, to find themselves, I think, in the relegation battle now, but like just two points, you know, two points in the point difference. So it's just it's unlucky, like really, you know, but look, Leecha Meat obviously going through now to a quarter final where they played or bottom two teams in group one, which are like Antrim Kerry down or Derry. So that's Kerry down or Derry. Antrim, or in semi-final, so yeah, like there's a lot of experience there, isn't there?

SPEAKER_01 7:22

You look at Antrim up senior, obviously, for the league and getting that scalp against Cork, and you look at Mead unlucky against Kerry in the National League. Kerry, obviously, you have lots of experience over the last couple of years playing Crogue Park, Leash again, lots of experience playing Krogue Park the last couple of years. So I suppose it's just finding which teams keep their performance levels up and have managed to keep their players in the country because obviously the J1 and the exams and players looking to travel for a you know a period of time, these teams can change very dramatically. Um so the teams that can manage to hold on to their players for an extended period of time team tend to be the teams that do well, but there's nothing between those teams right now, I I think.

SPEAKER_02 8:08

And in the Premier Junior, the round three, Armagh 3.15, Tyrone not nine, Kavan 16 points, Khalir 1-9, and Oscomman had a massive win over Wicklow 721 to 1-6. And as that stands out, after three games, three rounds, Roscommon topped three wins out of three, just on ahead of points difference with Kevin, who are also three wins out of three, Armagh on six points, Tyrone and fourth on three points, Kalir have three points, and look, Wicklow lost all three games, and look have a minus 80 points difference. So look, they're struggling obviously at that level at this year, anyway. So, but other than that, it's very it seems to be very even, like Roscommon and Kevin three wins out of three. You lost Kevin and Armagh I think in the first round, so they're obviously going well. Like I think this is they're back in common years. I don't think they were there last year, but back in and now this year. So look, they're obviously going well and seem to be fine there now this year.

SPEAKER_01 8:56

Yeah, yeah. I I suppose I had fancied Armah at the start of the year, so I'm a little surprised that Kavin beat them first day out, but you know, it was time to rectify it from Armagh's point of view, and then you know, Ross Common are shooting the lights out. I know we had discussed them in the league as well, and we thought they probably needed a couple of extra scoring forwards, if I remember back. So I think I I think clearly they've obviously focused on that, or or certainly they've got their scoring boots on, so it'll be interesting to see how they progress and if they can keep that level of form going. And you know, no no better team than than Kavant actually to push both Arma and Rascommon. So this this could be a very interesting, I suppose, couple of couple of weeks for for these teams. Big price, big prize, yeah.

SPEAKER_02 9:44

Yeah, big prize. Like, yeah, so look, so let's go on to now this senior action to again. Look, start with Galway, Waterford. Look, Galway picked up the first win after look, it was a disappointing performance against Cork as supposed to first the out. I don't think anyone's expecting Cork to win by as much as it did, but look, they came back, the bounce back anyway. It went down to Waterford, it's not an easy place to go. And look, they came away with a three-point win. Like, I didn't think it was I don't think Galway were at their best even in that game, to be honest with you. Like, you know, I think in the last 20 minutes of the game, I think there was only like both teams only scored like two points each, or something. I think like it was 11 to 11 with about 20 minutes to go. From like I'm not maybe got that wrong later, it's time to be corrected. If everyone wants to correct me 3-3, but you know, so um I don't think both Gaul will have hit their best game. I maybe look if because of the way the group is this year, that maybe they're just pacing themselves, you know, before the knockoff stages are you think.

SPEAKER_01 10:30

Yeah, uh I look, I suppose the the old reliable stepping off. Ifo, don't know who with the with the flicked goal. What I would say about Waterford is they had to go to tip and get a result, they did that. That'll be the thing that they'll probably focus on from say the the last two games, that's the massive positive. They're three points off the All-Ireland champions, two games on the trot. These are one-score games for Waterford. And I suppose we're still concerned about Waterford being too reliant on Beth, and again, Beth was outstanding against Galway. Can Waterford in the time between now and August the the kind of I suppose they'll will they be in the will they be in the semi-final or will they be in the quarterfinal? Do they need an extra game? Um would it suit Waterford to play a team that's not one of Cork or Galway just to get a bit of fluidity going? Does that make sense? You know, would it suit them to play a quarterfinal against a team where they can just kind of get a bit of confidence and see how far above the the group two teams they are, yeah, or would it suit them to go straight into the semi-final and be able to put all their energy into finding that quality which bridges that one-score gap between between themselves and and and the likes of Galway? Because if they've brought it down to a one-score game between, say, the National League final and and obviously this this championship game, they've definitely improved and and they're continuing to improve. So that's my question about Waterford is you know, whatever whatever Galway are doing, and even if they're kind of just tepid, even if they're tipping along, can Waterford find the quality to bridge that one score gap?

SPEAKER_02 12:25

And just on that game, I thought these peak had a great game for goal. Like she stood five points for play, like stood up at some great scores in it, like you know, and suppose could you know and look at the admitted if you don't know who got the goal, but needs was brilliant, like and you'd need that sometimes also when maybe you're not going as well as you'd like, but you just need some player to stand up, you know, and be counted, like you know. If because I don't think, as I said, I didn't think they were at their best, like, and just you need someone, I suppose, to stand up and be counted on a day like that, don't you? Just to get and get you to win. And look, they're up and running now, suppose of the championship, and they've temporarily down extra home to two weeks fine, so they'll be a lot a bit more confident now after this, after that.

SPEAKER_01 13:02

Yeah, I suppose what's concerned me about Galway the last two days, and maybe it's only my concern, and is that they're not as free scoring as they were. So, you know, against Cork, you know, very low scoring, and then obviously got that late goal to put a better kind of spin on it. And then against Waterford again, not free scoring, like 12 scores in a game in a Kamogie match. You know, I I like I'm I'm thinking it isn't it isn't enough. So I'm a little surprised that Galway are finding it hard to get scores on the board. You know, you be you should be averaging out kind of supposedly you're averaging out 18 scores a game at senior level to try to try and win games uh at a minimum. So I definitely think for Cotel Murray he will be looking at that. Why aren't we scoring more freely if we're you know doing well in possession, if our defences are if our defence is on top, is it the kind of ball we're delivering? Is our distribution an issue? Definitely lots to work on, I think, from Galway's point of view, with how low scoring they've been in the last two games.

SPEAKER_02 14:16

Something yeah, it'll help to improve on because as you said, it's not going to win you many games, only scoring like 113 and 1.8, like in that, you know, especially with DeFawn Cork are in, like, you know, 31 points at the weekend and 18 the first day out. Like, and just on that Cork Chipperri game, like Cork three points at the end. Like, I thought look, Cork, I think for the better team, like I don't think there's not a doubt about that. Look, Chipperi's a pro an approved performance from the Waterford game. I thought they were very poor against Waterford, like they scored 1-10, and the second half to just seem to die out of it altogether. Like, but just Cork as I was interviewed with Cleveland Matter after the game, just working at the game for a new local newspaper, and she was saying they were happy with look aspects of their game, but they said it's just to get a performance like that for the full 60 minutes. And like I was thinking, then like they like to say Tipperary Motor, but they probably do have to have a performance for 60 minutes, you know, against the Gowers and the Corks, if they are going to beat them again in all Ireland, you think. You know, it can't just be fits and starts, like you know, a game that has to be like for the whole 60 minutes, they have to bring their A game, like and if they are going to have a chance to beat any one of them, because it still does look like Gaul and Cork are the top teams still by a bit in the country at woman.

SPEAKER_01 15:23

Yeah, and look, this is what this group one is supposed to be about, or is my understanding of this group one piece, the top four teams which you know we've identified as Tip, Waterford, Cork, and Galway. How close can Waterford and Tip get to these teams? We've identified that both teams Tip got within three points of Cork, which is a one-score game. Waterford got within three points of Galway, a one-score game. There was real meat in it, in that there was a semi-final up for grabs. You know, these games do have jeopardy. There's a there's a semi-final up for grabs. I think that uh in previous years Tip and Waterford would avoid these Cork and Galway games as get out of here by doing the least amount of damage as possible, and they'd have been quite restricted in the way that they'd have approached the game. They wouldn't have wanted to conceded four or five, six goals because that would have been a massive confidence knocker this year, the shift and the I suppose the opportunity to go straight for a semi-final has allowed them to take the shackles off, and they've really gone for these games as championship games, and that will only bring them on as as individual teams. So I think when it comes to potentially you know winning a quarter final and getting through to a semi-final and meeting one or other of these teams again, that five percent or though that one score, they'll be able to go after that over the next five or six weeks in a much more measured way than they would have in previous years when they had so many other things to contend with and they had teams to get over that they knew they were better than, but they had to do it to ensure that they were going to be in a quarter final. So I think the distraction element will allow them to possibly find that five percent.

SPEAKER_02 17:10

And like I thought Tiberiary, like it was close in the first half, it was back and forth, like at a level half time. I thought Grace O'Brien started off the game very well for Tibbs.

SPEAKER_01 17:20

Flying, yeah, absolutely flying start, yeah.

SPEAKER_02 17:23

And then I thought though, like Leppy Coppinger though went on her advance and she kind of put shackles on her a bit, like and when that kind of because she seemed to be the main threat for Tiberi. Like, and just on Tiberi, like obviously, look, Karen Kennedy was a big loss to them. She went off a great injury against Waterford. Like, you know, she's a huge loss just for the work she gets to in the middle of the field, like off and out of the street.

SPEAKER_00 17:42

Is she is she worth the score? Is she is she the one score? Is she the difference? You know, the one score game potentially.

SPEAKER_02 17:47

She could have got a goal like she's yeah, she has to have it. She can make go run through the middle and bury the ball back there, like she's well able to do it. And look, Queen Vistakelum was obviously missing two. Like, you know, she she was doing her leaving cert the last couple of weeks, so she'd probably be back now for the I presume she'll be back for the goal again. So, like, you know, so there's like there is positives there like to be taken from for Tipperary, but like that's just a thing like Galway or Tiberium Alford, like they're not obviously they're not far behind like three points, but they're just when there is toast games that they do seem to come out the wrong end of the door. It's just I suppose they need to get that extra, as you said, maybe five percent just so that they can win these toss games because they just don't seem to be able to do that at the moment, like you know. And maybe Scorwin Cork had the experience of winning those games, like and winning big games like in Ireland finals and playing in the Ireland Finals, and that helps them as well, like you know. So just where do you think they can get that extra like five percent like at the moment, or just but I I I think the the format Joe, the format is set up for them to uh focus solely on Cork and Galway.

SPEAKER_01 18:45

You know, the the distraction element has gone out of it, they're not they're not having to play the teams that are not going to be in an all-irland quarter final. There, you know, the there's no there's no beatings, there's no there's no hammerings, uh, there's no players getting injured unnecessarily, you're completely focused on the top two teams. And and I think as a management team, regardless of for how long this format stays in place, I think this year this is very novel for Waterford, very novel for Tip to just have to focus on beating one of Cork and Galway. I think that's I think that's a very attractive thing. And uh sometimes when you take the distractions away, great things can happen.

SPEAKER_02 19:31

Like just the Tipperary Cork game was a I thought it was a very entertaining game, like you know, and there was some great scores from both teams, and like just shooting accuracy of the game, like Tipperary were 72%, and Cork 70%. So, like just goes to show you the quality that is in both teams, like you know, on the day when they're going at it and that. So it's great to see that in Kamoge, like in hope that people can, if anyone watching maybe for the first time, maybe do again or something, and to see that there is that quality in Kamoge as well. Like, you know, we talked about just before, especially when you can see that there, and I might come back to it more then as well, like you know, because I I generally thought it was a great game, like we as both teams really went for it, like there was some ferocious tackling, like as well, like you know, Chihuahua.

SPEAKER_01 20:10

Yeah, and and two very fit teams and getting exposure week on week, and that's and that's what we wanted from the Kamoge Championship was for players to be getting that exposure. So, you know. Do Tip think that you know they're they're any further away than they were prior to throw-in last week, last Sunday? No, I I think as you said, the absence of Karen Kennedy, the absence of Quivus Daylem, the these are positive additions for Tip going into the next round and going into you know a potential quarter final and potential semi-final, and that will change the dynamic of the group, and that'll be something that Cork slash Galway will have to deal with however the draw fair is out. So definitely positives for Tip to be only three points away with Carrand come back in and with Kweavit come back in.

SPEAKER_02 21:02

And like just looking ahead to the final group games, like Dr. Brery now, that's two defeats, and look if it's tough on again away at the go away the last round. Do you think they probably do need to get a win like in that game, even if it doesn't make get them into a semi-final? But like just because you don't you don't really want to be going into a quarter final off the back of three defeats, like do you really? You know, especially with team with Kilkenny, it looks like Kilkinny and Claire will come out of the other group, and uh they're flying it at the moment, the both of them.

SPEAKER_00 21:31

Joe, I think I think if they do lose to Galway, that's that's has to be parked.

SPEAKER_01 21:38

And if they do lose to Galway and they go in to play Claire slash Kilkenny, I think the tempo that they've been playing these games at the last couple of weeks will only stand to them. And you know, Claire obviously the absence of Lor Lorna McNamara now is is a huge is a huge absence because she really did light up the the league. But from Kilkenny's point of view, obviously there's momentum with them. But I do think that Tip will be much better for having played Cork, Galway, and Waterford over the course of three weekends. So I actually wouldn't be putting that as a weakness or I or I certainly I certainly avoid suggesting it's a weakness. You went up against the top three teams and you know you landed where you landed. So I I I think we have to be pragmatic here. They they may lose, they may lose to Galway, but they're in the exact same position as if they had had won a game.

SPEAKER_02 22:42

And looks very tight there, anyway, for the second place. Like you know, Waterford go with three points and tip on zero point, but like there's not an in the score difference at the moment. Like tip Waterford on zero plus a zero point difference. Galway minus four or tip minus six. So look, if Tip were to win and go with Court be Waterford, and if Tip were to win by a couple of points, like something, well they've got to win by yeah, but like they could win by three or four points, and you know, they could get second place then scoring difference. So it really is that tight leg and it's still go anywhere. Like Cork probably Baron America now more than likely into a semi-final anyway. So they'll be happy enough like going into that game. Maybe they'll take it, they could take it easy. But I thought I can't see that happening because they'll want to keep the momentum going, I suppose, you know, that they've built up now so far. And you know, they want to lose that anyway, going in before the semi-final because they'll have a couple of weeks, of course, break if they do earn semi-final.

SPEAKER_01 23:30

Yeah, look, there's there's aspects of their play that they're going to have to improve on. And you know, there'll be a reset whether whether they win against Waterford or not, there will be a reset at top wing the group. Doesn't guarantee you anything. And you know, as I said, the the way they lost the three in a row last year hurt really, really badly. So there's no there's there's no small need for motivation from from this court group. And what would I say is wherever they land, I think it'll be a much more interesting scenario for the likes of uh Tip, Waterford and Galway over, you know, we'll we'll be eyeing that table with uh with all of the permutations very closely because uh there could be a shock. You're right, there could be a shock on Sunday.

SPEAKER_02 24:23

And look, just look at the head as well today. So again, in the group two, just have a we'll have a look at that there like Catilia playing clear in Norland Park at 2.30, and that's on the Cogan YouTube channel. So anyone that wants to watch it, and look, that's teams with both teams on nine points with three wins out of three. Look, whoever wins that obviously guaranteed you know a quarter final place. The losers they'll still be in a strong position, but it could be touch, like as I said, even in that group, the point difference between the teams just brought them. It's not astronomical either, like you know, like you have Dublin, Limerick, and offly in three points, and like Dublin play offly as well. That's in bar on Saturday as well. That's on the YouTube channel as well. I think that's on a four o'clock, and you have Wexford taking on Limerick in Chadwick's Western Park. Look, Wexford already out of the championship, really. You can't get through, but they're still in a battle to avoid relegation. Like, so Duck they'll want to beat Limerick and give themselves a chance at that. But there's three big games there for all the teams involved. Like Kikini, Clear probably the pick of the game, like you know. But as you said, clear now Ashka McMara are missing now, so that's got our you know, big loss, like you know how to cope without her now because she'd been remaining scoregetter this year, like so and Kikini. Like, I've been very impressed with Kikini so far in the championship. Like they've popped like the last day out against Offly, they bet them by 12 points, like you know, and I was at that game. Like, I thought though Offly didn't help themselves at times with they left their full back line very isolated, like and left you know, and they didn't help themselves, you know, and they were kind of the full back, she was too, you know, uh you know, it was difficult for her, like but Kinney were very impressive, like in that game, like you know, and so there'd be three interesting games coming up anyway in that group.

SPEAKER_01 26:03

Yeah, I yeah, I suppose have have Claire and Kilkenny done enough already? Can can Dublin catch them?

SPEAKER_02 26:14

It depends. It does a bit like at the moment, Claire and I in Dublin on three Dublin would have to win their last two games, and Claire would have to lose their last two games against Klikini. And I think they're playing is it Wexford, I think. I know I think they might have Westwood in the last game. So it would take some, I think more or less, they'd only need a point for their last two games, really. Both Claire and Klikinney, like so. It would probably take some a bit of something special, I think, really, for it to happen. Like, all right.

SPEAKER_01 26:37

Yeah, but look, but on the but on the evidence of it, um if if if those two teams do do go through, they're probably the two best placed teams to to showcase what you know. You know, to show are they the two best teams to get to to come into a quarter final? Do you know the physical athleticism? I suppose do we want if we're being television about it the quarterfinals to be rip-roaring affairs where where Chiban, Kilkenny, Waterford declare, you know, that they go down to the wire. Do we want that? We probably do. Um are the other teams a little bit off? Yes, they are. So you know it it's the onus is on Claring Kilkenny now to finish the job. Dublin, you know, have shown that losing that Leinster final massive, massive letdown considering how poor Wexford were afterwards and the dropping that Dublin gave Cork in the championship afterwards. Massive, massive disappointment not to win a Leinster title after that. You know, the league final, Clare were the better team against Dublin. So, you know, if if their trajectory keeps going, yeah, they they they'd definitely be the best place to take on a kind of a tip a water for the Galway Cork in in a in a quarter final. So selfishly for the standard to be maintained, I'd be saying Kilkenny and Clare to go through.

SPEAKER_02 28:07

And uh yeah, you look at the other four teams, like there's not much between them now. I don't think you know any of them are capable of beating the other on any given day. And look for the relegation battle, like it's the bottom two teams play soft and relegation playoff. And that you know, it's hard to say at this stage. Like, obviously, if Limerick were to beat Wexford at the weekend, that's probably Wexford in one of the spots. And whoever wins between Dublin and Offley, they're they're safe, like then, you know, for this year, and they can just kind of look forward into next year. And I think it's key, like like Offlee came up from intermediate last year. You know, it'd be massive for them. Like I had um Ashley and Brennan on the podcast last week, you know, and she was talking about like you know, if they could stay up senior, like you said, look, it's there's a lot of new players who haven't played senior before, and just keep up there, you know, be huge for them, like you know, it'd be disappointing because it would be disappointing if they went straight back down, like you know, because they have played alright at times like in some games, but just as you said, you're just not at that level just yet. But you know, the more game to play at that level, you know, the better they get and the more improvement. So, you know, it'd be key for them. But for I suppose look, any team that goes down is going to be disappointing. Like it's a massive blow for them in for them.

SPEAKER_01 29:12

Like well, you have to look at the number of games that these teams are getting to play, you know, in in the course of the summer and how competitive the games are. So again, I think that key for Offaly is that they're getting competitive championship games with all of their players on the pitch, and that's what's going to keep them in the game next year. And you know, obviously Dublin had beaten Offaly in the Leeds Championship and beat them quite well. So you know, Dublin would be the fancy there. But like that, we'll we'll just have to see what comes out in the Washington Championship as a different beat. So I'd be confident that you know, this is new format will definitely have brought on every team that's played in the new format. I think that's I think that's the first you know, it's the first good and progressive thing that the Kamogis Kamoge Association has done in uh in a in a long time. And I'm hoping that the quality of the quarterfinals and the semi-finals will reflect that.

SPEAKER_02 30:13

Yeah, it should. I think it will. But just on like it's helping the teams all right, you know, because they're getting a lot more competitive games and even games. I suppose the next level is our next thing to try maybe get these teams up to the level of like your clear or circuit goes in your courts, your Tiberium offer for like, and because I think maybe Kilkinny and Claire at the moment are best placed. Like Kilkinney look, it's not that looking good winning all Ireland like on a regular basis. So, you know, they're obviously not going to be ever too far away for too long. But like it's just to get I suppose get more teams up into that top, you know, where you have eight, maybe eight or nine teams that are capable of a challenge, and you know, on a regular basis, like you know, because it's easy for a team maybe to come up for a year or two, but then maybe drop off, like you know, and suppose it's not gonna happen overnight, like obviously, it's like it's gonna take a while, but so it's just get these count if you can get counties to buy into it, like you know, and get them working on their under a structure, I suppose that's the key, you know, so that you can build it and get people involved. You players wanting to stay playing Komogi, I suppose. Like, and maybe this is one way of doing it the way the groups are this year, because as you say, competitive games, like young people are maybe seeing this, they said, Oh yeah, we have a chance maybe of winning a few championship games, so you know I'll stay around, you know, stay going, and hopefully I can be up there one day playing for my county. Like, so from that perspective, I think it's good as well.

SPEAKER_01 31:30

Yeah, look, I'm I'm not going to I'm not going to browbeat an association that's tried something different for the benefit of the players involved. You know, I worked on RT previously when I covered Tip and Antrim and it was a dropping in an in an empty stadium in Croke Park, and I don't think that benefited anybody and it didn't showcase the game in the right way. So I think when the games get to TV coverage or point of, you know, the point of TV coverage, the games have to be competitive to to draw people in. And in order to do that, the teams need to have had competitive games in the lead up to that to kind of build a bit of momentum, and that's what's happened. So to the four teams that you know finish where they'll finish, you know, you've had the both five competitive games. Is that what they'll have had?

SPEAKER_02 32:19

Yeah, five, yeah, I thought.

SPEAKER_01 32:20

Yeah, five competitive games in in a in a season. You'll have built momentum within the the clubs in in in your respective counties. There'll be PR generated from it, there'll be newspaper articles generated from it. It's all positive. And then the two teams that are best able to take on a Cork Galway, Tip and Waterford will be best prepared. So that's what we have to look at. And at the end of the season, it'll be very interesting to interview a couple of the managers in that sec in that group too, to see how they found the season and and what were the benefits and what were the negatives. And until I say it's it's more of a research case until that point, isn't it?

SPEAKER_02 33:03

Yeah, pretty much, yeah. And look, uh kind of dreading this now, but I just because we're not most of our predictions haven't been great so far this year. But we'll quickly go through a prediction for group two there at the weekend. Look, start with towards the best, probably the toughest game to call Kikini and Claire. Like Kakilli with home advantage, you might have them as slight favourites in a way, because you know, and they have been very impressive so far in the championship. And I think just like Steffi Fitzgerald like seems to be coming into a bit good bit of form. Like I thought she was excellent against Oswald last day. So, like for me, I just I'm just gonna go with Kilkini in that one. I think they just have too much for Claire, you know, on the day because especially a home advantage. So what you what you're thinking in that one?

SPEAKER_01 33:46

Yeah, I'd agree with you. I'm looking at the score difference here, and you know, Kilkenny are plus 33 and Claire plus 12. So so uh you know that that shows obviously that Kilkenny have definitely been, I suppose, more free scoring, and we've already talked about the absence of kind of key Claire forward. So if if that's not replaced, then yeah, I want I'm going with Kilkenny with Jeff.

SPEAKER_02 34:09

Yeah, I think so. And look, then Offly Dublin, and as much as I hate to do it, like I just I'm gonna go with Dublin. I just like to make them comfortable in the Leinster Championship. Like, and I was at that game too, and just Dublin were a lot better than Offley. Look, and I know Offley had a big win over Wexford, but then they lost to Limerick here next time out. And then look, they're beaten by 12 points, I think, by Kirkinny lastly out. So I just think Dublin, you know, after the big win over Wexford last time, the confidence will be a bit up more. And I think they just have too much for Offley in that one as well. But like I'm hoping I'm wrong in that one. But look, we but I just can't see it. So I'd go for Dublin for that one.

SPEAKER_01 34:45

Yeah, well, look, obviously, I think Dublin are probably the form team going into that game. They're making a late run, unfortunately, too late for them, you know, with with the fact that they've lost the league final and and Leinster final, and then obviously they lost the first two games out. Not an not an ideal start for for Dublin. But look, late rally. The key here is to try and get as many points on the board and show that you know, you you're you're in the top five, six teams anyway, or six, seven teams. So yeah, you know, if if they finish seventh of of of twelve teams, that's I suppose that's that's as good as it goes after, you know, if you're if you're not winning your big game. So I'm going, I'm going Dublin as well.

SPEAKER_02 35:31

And then final game, Chadwick's Westford Park, a half three on Saturday, is Wexford versus Limerick. And look, Wexford would be massively disappointed for how the championship has gone so far, you know, especially after the momentum they would have built up by winning Lancer, like you know, but like lost all three games, like you know, and they just haven't got going at all. Like I suppose losing the offly the first day out with the late goal would have been a massive setback, but they just haven't got together at all. Like and Limerick being hit and miss supposed look, they've won one and lost two, like they're offly, but it's it's a hard one to call though, I think. This one, like, because Wexford with home advantage, you know, and they're looking, they're gonna want to show something like you know, I think before the championship ends, like because and look, they're fighting for the lives basically now at this stage. Because if they lose that, I think they're going to finish in the bottom two and they're going to be in a relegation playoff. Look, so I really I'll let you go at this one first because I I generally don't know. I think this one's a very close one, to be honest with you.

SPEAKER_01 36:26

I'm gonna give this one to Wexford. I I think there's one that the the last sting of a dying wasp. There we go. I don't think uh I don't think they're going to make it comfortable for Limerick at at home on the app. So my my my shout is Wexford.

SPEAKER_02 36:43

Yeah, my good say I'm wexford, so I I think yeah, I'll just go for Wexford. I think as I said, they need to win, really, I think more than anything. So I think that might just be enough and have a home advantage. So I'll go for Wexford. So that's we're all going we're all in agreement anyway who we're going for. So we'll see anyway after the weekend if we're right or not again, or wrong. And look, also Saturday, like the final round of group games in group one at the intermediate. Kerry take on Derry in Hermitage Park, elixir at half three, and down take on Antrim in McKenna Park in half three as well. Like, look, Antrim already secured in the semi-final place, like they've won their two games so far. Kerry in second on three points, and down and Derry then are on like one point each down to Derry 4th. So, like if Derry were to be Kerry, you know, they'd go through, like all four teams are going through anyway. It's like I said, like senior the top two going to semi-final, the third or fourth going to a semi-final. So Antrim look obviously into semi-final, but like whoever wins between Kerry and Derry, well, yeah, because like Kerry are on minus nine and Derry are minus 16. So Derry would have to maybe this was four or five points probably putting two, but but then they don't need down as well to lose to Antrim. But I still I I still think Kerry though will have too much for Derry at home, and they'll because I think Kerry are probably second best team intermediate after Antrim. Like Antrim at the moment, I think a favourites to win it out, like you know, but I think Kerry would be I just think you'll have too much for them against Derry. Like it's like Derry looked at what won one lost two, so or lost one and Drew one. So I'm gonna give it to Kerry on that one.

SPEAKER_01 38:24

Yeah, I agree with you. I'm going with Kerry. And I and I'm going with going with Antrim.

SPEAKER_02 38:30

Yeah, Antrim. Look, I've been very impressed with Antrim this year, and I think there's a bright future there for Antrim if they can keep it going, like you know. I said they had it onto relegated at 1-A in the league, but that was a tough league, like you know, but they had a great win over court, like as was discussed previously, and you know, when the 100 comment to 3B. And I thought there's some really good players that have been impressed, so you know, the future's bright for which they can keep it going, like so. We see anyway. Look, we see that that's in the shop in the week and see within it playing leash or meat anyway, becomes the quarter final. But now, anyway, we go on to the latest power rankings. And for this week, I give my power rankings where I'm going from all 28 teams that are involved in the championship in all the championship four different championships this year. So previously it was just 12 and 15, but all 28 now, anyway. And look, I'll start anyway. You can I'll go from 28 to 23 first, maybe, and you can you can give your opinion on what you think or if I'm wrong or anything.

SPEAKER_00 39:26

I'll only interject if I disagree.

SPEAKER_02 39:28

I think reality in 28, like I've Donegal, they've looked bottom of the junior championship. So you know, they've won one, look, but lost two. Then 27th, Mayo, and 26th have Wicklow, like they're in the primary junior championship, but like they've lost all three games and they've taken a few heavy beatings. So I've just them down there. 25th, I have Lout, who've gone strong in the they're in the junior. Well, like they're going well and they're into the their second. And then I have 24th Moneton. 23rd, I have Kilair. Like they're struggling though this year now a bit. They look lost all three games in the frame of junior, so they're not it hasn't been going well for them. And then 22nd, I have Tyrone, 21st, Calvin. Like they won all three again, so they're doing well. Now, look, this one was a bit touched between 21st and 20, but I went and Armat 20, even though like Calvin did beat Armado. But I just gave Armagh credit in the bank for their the league campaign they had to win in the league. Like, and I think you know, so I just went with that one. And then look, I have Ross Common in the 19th. I think just they've been going well, like they lost the league final to Armado. Like they won all three games so far in the championship, and you know, they are they seem to be building something there and going all right, like and then 18th, I have Carlo. They're still in like they're like they're finished now, their championship, but like the fit they're finished bottom of group two, but like they won one game and but they weren't too bad. Then 17th, Westmeat. I thought they were unlucky as we discussed already, maybe not to get out of the group like the Vuny on Pipe difference by a couple of points. So then I have Derry in 16th, you know, they've lost two to the game, so and then top 15. Like I down in 15, and they're down actually three places from the last rankings. I had they were 12, but you know, they're just they've lost two to the championship again. So I thought just you know, they have to meet best of four since the championship started. And look, meet are they remain on change actually in 14th. You know, they're doing they're doing all right, like the 1-1, lost two, but like they're in which like they're into the quarter final at the intermediate, so like they're doing all right, like from the perspective. And then the 13th up from 15th placed the last rank in their leash. You know, I've been very impressed with them, like up from junior last year, and they won all their games in the group stage. Like, I know they're in the group two of the intermediate, but like they have been going and up, they're into the quarter final, so I really have been impressed by them. And then in 12th, I have Carey, they're up one actually from 13th. You know, they're still they're kind of as I said, all I said that they've they're pushing to try to make a breakthrough, but they're just supposed to look like a number maybe in the county that's kind of holding it back as well, like you know, but and then in 11th, they're down actually from seventh, I think last time Wexford, you know, just because it's gone totally wrong for them in the championship, like and not winning any games, like and then 10 offly. I think they're down as well, look down or no, they're unchanged. They're playing as well, like yeah, offly so 10, like you know, because they beat Westford. So they're I have just ahead of Westford. And then in 9th, I have Limerick who are up from 11, like you know, because they've been to win one win and like to be offly as well. So I have them up. Then in eighth, I have uh remains unchanged Dublin as well. Like so I think Dublin just there at the moment. And then seventh, I have Antrim, just because they've they're in better that's based on form because they're winning, they won all their games in the championships of Ireland too, and they've had a good year overall, I think. And sixth, it's unchanged as well. I have clear in there, like it's said, look, we've discussed Claire already. And look, there's just one change at fifth. I have looked they're down from second to last time. Look, Tipperary. Look, I know maybe that's a bit controversial, but I just think look, they've lost the two games in the championship, like, and they have been not look not say disappointed, but just they'll be disappointed, and they'd look fourth at half to Kimmy because they've been won all their games, and they have looked pretty impressive, like so far. Like, so I just that's just based on recent performances, really. Third is still Waterford. Waterford's still in third, like the bet temporary, but like they lost to Galway, so I just keep them in there. Second, then I've gone for Galway in second and Cork in first, based on how the championship has gone so far. Look, that was a tough choice. Now I I was I had Galway first for a while, but then look I said, Cork, look, they've won the two games and they're back always, so and I just said it. I don't think Galway's been at their best in the championship so far. And look, that could change now after the next round. Or you know, so you know, I'm just that's what I've gone for now, anyway. You know, Cork gone up to third from fourth last time, so for first though. So you might agree you might agree with that one, but I just the only one I yeah, that's the only one I disagree with.

SPEAKER_01 44:18

But that's based on the fact that Galway are all Ireland champions and they're national league champions. But that's that's just that's just looking through a very narrow viewpoint. Galway are not free scoring currently. They're not at full tilt, but if we're being honest, they weren't at full tilt last year until they got to the All-Ireland final, and you know, Col Murray suggesting that they were written off and that you know they that you know that was their motivation. I'd hate to give them an motivation this time around again. So to my mind, the two big games that Galway needed to perform in, they performed in and they delivered. So that would suggest that for me they're still number one.

SPEAKER_02 45:10

Look at that.

SPEAKER_01 45:10

That's it. That's we'll just disagree to agree to disagree on that.

SPEAKER_02 45:15

I'll just on it I say it was very close now, and I I was going to go with Galway, but I just went I was going on former the last couple of games with that one. I just said I'd have caught it. There's not much in it now, it's only like maybe half of mine just. I know it's a hair's breadth. I know, I know, I know. There's not much in it, like, but they're definitely the best two teams still in the country, anyway. I think that's I don't think there can be any doubt about that. I just wanted to it's not this is not just it's like comedy base, but like just to ask you about what's your opinion on it's happening across GA, like not just Komokey, but get latest field football, hurling and scale of football, like the amount of players that are picking up ACL injuries in the last two or three years, like you know, there seems to be an awful lot of them, like and is it over you know the massive workload and market rate they're going that the players are dealing with now lately, like you know, because there is a lot going on, like with between matches nearly every week now, like you know, and all the extra trainings and all that, and then younger players, you know, with college and then the clubs and all that, they don't really get a break and it's non-stop going all the time. Do you think that playing a big significant part in it? Like, just wanted to get your opinion on it.

SPEAKER_01 46:17

Uh look, I suppose, Joe, uh you know, I've I I've done my ACL years ago. Uh I think that the amount of games and the amount of training sessions can contribute to, I suppose, um increase likelihood of of you of you doing your ACL. But you know, equally, I think the amount of strength and additioning that's being done now also helps players to avoid those kinds of injuries. I find it very hard to to blame you know one thing or another for for these kind of for these injuries. What I would say is you're desperately unlucky if you do your ACL. Desperately unlucky. It's a it's a torsion injury to my mind, having experienced with myself the the way your body's moving when you're playing Gaelic football, when you're playing camoe, when you're playing hurling. If your body goes one way and your knee goes the other, it's very, you know, it's it's a very easy thing to do. I wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy because of the turnaround time involved in getting back to the pitch, but I don't see how it's avoidable. You know, they're talking about women's teams, you know, wearing different football boots and having football boots designed for their gait. That doesn't explain how Gaelic footballers are also doing their ACL or hurlers like Kieran Joyce doing their ACL. You know, I I don't think it's the equipment. I I just I I I think it's probably the way the body's moving um in-game and it's happening in soccer, ladies' football, Gaelic, basketball. The most interesting thing that I had heard was that an NFL player had his ki his ACL replaced using a cadaver ACL. I don't think that has come across here yet. I certainly would have signed up for a cadaver ACL if that was the if that was the case, if that would have got me back to the pitch faster. So, you know, maybe in the future we'll we'll see these changes and and maybe players will be able to get back to the pitch more quickly. Obviously, there's outliers like Nicky Quaid who's you know back to the pitch within four months, and I think Bernard Brogan was back to the pitch within five months, but ordinarily you know it's a year out without without reprieve. So unfortunately, I don't know what the answer is, but having gone through it myself, it's miserable. So hopefully we we avoid these for the remainder of the Kamoge Championship, and we've our best players on the pitch for the last uh five, six games.

SPEAKER_02 49:05

Yeah, it's something like that. Yeah, so anyway, look, I'll we'll wrap up to her now because I know you're have to be somewhere in a few minutes. So I'll won't hold it up any longer. But look, I suppose just before I go, just to remind everyone of our social media channels for Instagram, we're at talking comoge podcast. You can find us on X also at Talk and Komoge Pod, and you can email the show at talk and komogepodcast at gmail.com. If you want any if you want to talk mention anything that we discussed in this program, or you're not happy with any of my power rankings choices. Or if look, if you want us, if there's any topic you'd like us to discuss going forward in any episode, let us know and we we try our best to get it on. But look, anyway, listens here. Uh once again, just thank you for coming on. It's been an absolute pleasure having you on again. So thank you for the chat, Shen. Look, wish you all the best. I know you have a big county board meeting coming off the winter so to do with the club by getting regretted from so I wish you all the best for that anyway.

SPEAKER_01 49:58

So I'll have an update the next time I'm on, Joe. Will we be playing Lily Grant? That's the hope. Uh I'll all will be revealed after Thursday night. There you go.

SPEAKER_02 50:08

All right. Look, that's all for this weekend, anyway. Back again next week for another episode. So till then, goodbye.