Eight observations from the opening rounds of the hurling league

Despite the jettisoning of pre-season competitions, the Fitzgibbon Cup is still being squeezed, while signs of progress are already emerging in Galway.

NEW BOSS: The GAA's new National Head of Hurling Willie Maher has favoured the carrot over the stick during his short time in the role. Pic: Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile

Before the appointment came a promise. It was declared that whoever became the National Head of Hurling would have the ‘teeth’ to make their mark.

The quote came from Terry Reilly, the Hurling Development Committee Chairperson, who made that vow in response to a question that referenced a long-standing criticism. Terence “Sambo” McNaughton was one of many who called for the GAA to create a director of hurling role and empower them with significant muscle.

Since then, Willie Maher has been appointed and outlined his vision for the future. The job will differ from his predecessors Paudie Butler and Martin Fogarty. The Tipperary native, perhaps understanding that coercion can’t fix this problem, offered the carrot rather than the stick. Last weekend he sat down for an interview with RTÉ and promoted start-up grants available to new hurling clubs.

Rewards or punishment: what works better? Speaking after that interview, former Offaly chair Michael Duignan pointed to the small ball attitude in certain counties as a major obstacle.

“Sanctions in the GAA don’t really work. They have never worked. The big thing here is the reality has to hit home. There are a lot of counties in this country that don’t want hurling in their county.” 

He continued: “There are great hurling people in every county, but they are fighting an uphill battle. They will tell you. I don’t want to name a county, but I am helping one of these counties in the background, they can’t get their own county or province to support them in terms of what they are trying to do. There is a group of them and they are hugely passionate. They need money, they need investment, they need new clubs.” 

NEW BOSS: The GAA's new National Head of Hurling Willie Maher has favoured the carrot over the stick during his short time in the role. Pic: Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile

The scale of this challenge is best illustrated by the fact that the simple ambition of making hurling accessible to anyone who wants the opportunity feels aspirational. That is also scandalous. For this venture to be successful where others have failed, it needs long-term support and strategic planning. They also need to make a splash.

That doesn’t have to be about sanctions, but a statement. Several dual county chairpersons have made the case that funding should be connected to dual support. What is needed right now is a signal of intent that everyone has to work together.

“We are spending 50/50 on our teams,” said Galway chair Paul Bellew last year. “What are we getting back from Croke Park? Why are other counties, so-called dual counties in certain areas, with spending lopsided 70/30.

“So, I think it is time for us that we come with a proposal that dual counties are rewarded.” 

Here are eight observations from the opening rounds of the hurling league.

The puckout wars 

A long time ago, hurling drew inspiration from Gaelic football’s pragmatism. They adopted tackle techniques, support running strategies and more. Under the new rules, Gaelic football is already looking to hurling for similar creativity.

How a team is defensively set on their own kickout is vital given the rise in long restarts. Hurling has been dealing with this for a decade. It was what made Nickie Quaid the master. It is what makes him so hard to replace.

There was plenty of encouragement in last Saturday’s defeat for Tipperary. They matched Limerick’s awesome ability to pepper the posts, hitting an equal number of 38 shots. They scored 1-3 from Limerick’s puckout while Limerick claimed 0-4 from Barry Hogan’s.

🔥 GOAL 🔥

What a hit that is from Sean Kenneally 👌#GAANOW #AllianzLeagues @TipperaryGAA pic.twitter.com/VZxrL7asl1

— The GAA (@officialgaa) February 9, 2025

As starts go, Shane Dowling’s wasn’t ideal. His first puckout went straight to Jake Morris for Alan Tynan’s first point. His second went short, but Adam English couldn’t claim it. Five of his first six puckouts were lost. He recovered well and even had one highlight reel clearance. There are so many remarkable elements to the 2014 All-Star's story. Last year he was Limerick minor manager with Liam Cronin as coach. Now he is back as a senior player in a team that Cronin coaches.

Sean Kenneally’s exquisite goal came from a long puckout that was lost. Limerick were exposed with a two-on-two inside the 45 and Colin Coughlan couldn’t get back in time.

Hogan’s response to a three-point deficit in the second half was to go deep to his favoured left-wing pocket. Tipperary outnumbered Limerick and even though they lost the break, they were well set to get numbers behind the ball and force a turnover. Darragh McCarthy converted the resulting free.

Look at how Offaly’s Dan Ravenhill scored a goal against Antrim last Sunday. Their defence was left wide open and they were punished when possession was lost.

🚨 GOAL 🚨@Offaly_GAA win it back and Dan Ravenhill makes no mistake 💯#GAANOW #AllianzLeagues pic.twitter.com/8pJ7XIw0PK

— The GAA (@officialgaa) February 9, 2025

It wasn’t until the closing minutes that Limerick broke the Tipperary puckout, with two of Diarmuid Byrne’s late frees coming from that source. Tipperary still scored an impressive 0-10 from Hogan’s distribution. The trouble was that in general play they were savaged on turnovers.

Welcome the steps clampdown

The National League has become known for two things in recent years, too many tame contests and a clampdown. Thankfully, one has been addressed with a new competition structure. What about the other? Last weekend, there were numerous examples of referees closely policing steps. While frustration at frees is understandable, this should be welcomed. It rewards positive defensive play and promotes more contests, leading to some desirable chaos.

Galway’s rebuild 

When Micheál Donoghue returned for his second reign as Galway boss, over 50 players were invited into the initial panel. They have used 35 players in three games. The squad will be trimmed down this week before they play Wexford at the start of March.

That process has proved valuable. In his first senior start, Anthony Burns hit 2-3 against Clare last Saturday. The Loughrea clubman was named Man of the Match in their county final triumph last year. In 2022, he played in the decider and the replay but failed to score and was taken off in both games.

26 nóim #GALVCLA @Galway_GAA 2-11 @GaaClare 0-10

Cúl! Báite san eangach ag Burns arís!🤩

2 goals in 2 minutes from the corner forward!

BEO/LIVETG4 AR @TG4TV 📺 @AllianzIreland #AllianzLeagues #GAABEO pic.twitter.com/rtl03Nqwgh

— Spórt TG4 (@SportTG4) February 8, 2025

Injuries saw him moved closer to goal from the half-forward line. He hasn’t looked back since. Donoghue gave a senior inter-county debut to Cillian Trayers at wing-back. The 2022 All-Ireland minor football winner is still eligible to play U20. Gavin Lee continues to impress at six. The midfield partnership of Cianan Fahy and Tom Monaghan is promising. A four-year term was required for this project, but early signs of progress are emerging out west.

Wexford’s woes 

Keith Rossiter didn’t need to see the evidence. He could sense exactly how bad it was. They were 12 points down to rivals Kilkenny with 0% conversion from play.

“First half, I don’t know. I can’t put into words,” he said afterwards. “I wasn’t happy with it, I’ll put it that way. Lads talk to you about stats and different stats, but I didn’t need to see stats to tell me how bad the first half was. There was no fight. There was no drive. In fairness to the lads, they showed they can do it in the second half.” 

There has been so much talk of players missing and retirements with Matt O’Hanlon, Liam Óg McGovern and Diarmuid O’Keeffe all walking away. The last thing they need now is a series of unforced errors like they produced before the turnaround in Wexford Park.

McCarthy’s ascent 

When Tipperary won a minor All-Ireland in 2022, Darragh McCarthy didn’t start one game. He made the U20s in his first year but only started once. Last year, he inspired Nenagh CBS to a historic first Harty Cup title. He joined Liam Cahill’s senior panel and started their first three games of 2025, scoring 2-22.

RISING STAR: Darragh McCarthy of Tipperary has scored 2-22 in his first three games of 2025.  Pic: ©INPHO/James Lawlor

Fitzgibbon Cup still being squeezed 

Any hopes that the scrapping of pre-season competition might lead to more freedom for college players appear to have been dashed. The grapevine rattles with soft-talk about the same old difficulties.

Clare manager Brian Lohan declined to speak to the media after their Galway defeat although the inclusion of Adam Hogan, who missed Mary I’s Fitzgibbon Cup quarter-final loss to DCU midweek, had a reasonable explanation. The Young Hurler of the Year suffered knock to the head in training and his stand down days had not elapsed by last Wednesday.

John Kiely is renowned for being a strong supporter of the competition. Even he is finding it difficult. It is still increasingly clear that minimising any crossover between the college competitions and the league is the only viable solution.

“It is unfortunate that we had to play the boys that we did today, but you can see, you have no choice in the matter,” said Kiely.

“You really don’t. If you take them out the picture today, we don’t have a team essentially. It is a pity. It is a big conversation. I don’t want to get into it.

“I’d love if we had a little more freedom to give time to concentrate on it, but it is hard. We wish them well this week.” 

Testing day for Thomas Walsh 

30 seconds into the Dublin vs Westmeath clash in Mullingar, Thomas Walsh had a big call to make. Goalkeeper Jack Gillen went down with a roar after catching a short shot from the throw-in only for Dublin forward John Hetherton to swipe at his hand.

Walsh shrewdly settled for a yellow card. Shortly after, there was an off-the-ball clash that left Peter Clarke flat on the pitch. Walsh consulted his linesman and issued a yellow for Conor Donohoe.

CHALLENGING: Waterford referee Thomas Walsh had a busy day in testing conditions at Cusack Park in Mullingar for Dublin's AHL clash with Westmeath. Pic: Shauna Clinton/Sportsfile

He then had to deal with a Westmeath injury and substitute who came on before he was supposed to, resulting in yet another yellow card.

In the second half, Walsh called over Joseph Boyle to book him for a late hit. Meanwhile, Gary Greville grappled with Conal O’Riain. The Dublin centre forward ended up with Greville’s hurl and stamped on it. It was spotted by the linesman and he was rightly sent off. 

Shortly after, Walsh brought a Dublin free forward to make it a tap over after dissent from the sideline. It was an impressive display of calm officiating in challenging conditions.

Carlow Rising 

They have only five senior clubs but invest in schools programmes to make it work. Several Carlow players are involved in the Fitzgibbon Cup. Carlow Town’s Alex Delaney is the sole representative from the club on the 2025 senior panel. In 2022, he won a C1 Leinster Senior Hurling title with a combination team from Presentation College Carlow and Gaelcholaiste Carlow students.

Carlow Town host a Little Puckers session for children aged 5-12 who want to play the sport, with hurleys and helmets provided. Victory over Waterford recently, their first ever competitive win over the Déise, was just the latest in a long list of Carlow success stories.