1. Sarsfields star in Munster upset
There was no doubt about the most eye-catching result of the club hurling weekend. Sarsfields announced themselves to a wider audience with a dazzling showing that took down Munster champions Ballygunner. It was as unexpected as it was impressive, the East Cork side in terrific from from the start.
Question marks swirled around their camp given the 17-point thumping they suffered last year against Ballygunner and the fact they came into this provincial campaign off the back of a county final loss to Imokilly. They wiped away any concerns with a performance that was loaded with energy from the off. 16 turnovers in the first half set the tone, they finished with 33 overall, working ferociously hard to disrupt Ballygunner’s rhythm.
Jack O’Connor’s goal was an early boost, Shane O’Regan provided the winning touch in front of goal with his late scoring spree, while veterans Conor O’Sullivan and Daniel Kearney were outstanding. Sarsfields had played nine games at Munster senior club hurling level before yesterday, with only two wins to show for their efforts.
Their third victory was a special one, delivering the club’s first provincial title, and ending Cork’s 15-year barren spell in this competition. Johnny Crowley and Diarmuid O’Sullivan masterminded a famous win for the Riverstown-based club.
2. Na Fianna’s Leinster difference maker
It’s easy to imagine Na Fianna nursing regrets after Saturday 2 December 2023. They fell a point short in the Leinster final that evening to O’Loughlin Gaels, and then watched their Kilkenny conquerors lose out by a point in the All-Ireland final against St Thomas. A case of wondering about what might have been.
Or more specifically – what if Donal Burke had been fit? Injury wrecked the Dublin star’s involvement last year. In his absence Na Fianna scored 1-18 in Leinster final defeat, with his presence on Saturday night, Na Fianna scored 2-22 in Leinster final victory. Burke fired over seven points from play. After a slow-burning personal campaign, he exploded to life and caught fire when his club needed him most.
Burke pulled the strings on a memorable night for the Mobhi Road men as they reached the hurling summit in Leinster for the first time.
3. Slaughtneil ambitions after Ulster
For the fifth time, Slaughtneil have been crowned Ulster senior hurling champions. The route to their latest success was tricky as Portaferry bossed yesterday’s showdown for long stages. An eight-point deficit was daunting to face in the second half, but Slaughtneil’s interplay was superb to create goals for Sé McGuigan and Shea Cassidy, while Ruairí Ó Mianáin hit some fantastic late points.
Aftrer losing the previous two finals, this is a sweet success in Ulster for Slaughtneil, particularly given the manner in which they had to work so hard to see off Cushendall and Portaferry. Now their All-Ireland ambitions swing into view. Amidst a novel quartet they are the most experienced outfit left.
But the semi-final stage has proven too high a hurdle to surmount previously as they’ve lost out to Cuala (2017), Na Piarsaigh (2018), Ballyhale Shamrocks (2020), and Ballygunner (2022). Cork’s Sarsfields are their next opponents in a fortnight.
4. Ballygunner the big name to exit
The flipsde of provincial final joy is the pain of those defeated. Portaferry will have nightmares at not closing out the Ulster final, while Kilcormac-Killoughey were left dejected at not emulating the club’s Leinster winning class of 2012.
Ballygunner were the biggest name to fall over the weekend though. Dominant for the last three seasons in Munster and warm favourites for the All-Ireland given the major forces that have bowed out across the country this winter, they had impressed in seeing off Limerick’s Doon and Tipperary’s Loughmore-Castleiney.
But apart from Patrick Fitzgerald’s constant threat and glimpses of Dessie Hutchinson’s threat, they were largely subdued in Thurles yesterday. There was only four points in it at the finish, yet the Waterford champions were largely in chase mode against a Sarsfields team that hit full speed from the off.
Their ambition has been clear over the past decade when it comes to landing the All-Ireland, but having only managed once to secure that prize (2022) will hurt their group, given the brilliance they have consistently displayed.
5. Wide open All-Ireland race
The close to the provincial action leaves us with a fascinating look to the semi-final line-up as the All-Ireland club hurling race heats up. Sarsfields will play Slaughtneil in one semi-final, Na Fianna will take on Loughrea in the other.
None of the four have been crowned champions before. Only Loughrea have featured in a final previously, and that was back in 2007 in their solitary national campaign, with a completely new team in action now for the Galway winners. For Sarsfields and Na Fianna this is uncharted territory, as they have emerged from their respective provinces for the first time.
In the absence of club dynasties that can cast a large shadow at this stage of the championship, the sense of opportunity is huge for the four sides involved. Who will grasp the opening and push forward to land a national title?
Unbelievable money for a striker who doesn’t score goals , Remy was costing 8 mill
Long has a good all round game, but he can be a serious bottler in front of goal. Great business by Hull.
Remy has put on some belly though. Long doesn’t get enough credit for his work off the ball but his striking is very poor at times, but you never know he could improve as he’s hitting his peak soon
Great business by Hull City.. I hope Longs wife is ok with it tho as she was so upset with the last transfer..
Poor her. It must be hard being a footballers wife.
.. being a footballers wife.. In Hull tho
I can imagine she will be a lot happier with this transfer, as Southampton has a lot more going for it than Hull. It’s also on the South Coast, so it will be a lot warmer, and loads of beaches nearby, so happy days for Mrs Long.
Southampton is a bit of a hole to be honest.
Still, I’m sure the wag will be delighted now she’s only an hour away from London and harrods etc.
From what I recall she didn’t want him to leave WBA. So Hull must be crap.
Won’t be shredding too many tears for Mrs Long, but it must be a pain in the are for his daughter changing schools 3 times in a year.
I’m sure she’d prefer somewhere in Spain or Portugal
2 and a half hours actually
Good player but he ain’t worth a fraction of that. He must be laughing all the way to the bank. His scoring record is poor. But he always gives 100% to be fair to him.
I give 100% if somebody wants to buy me for 12 million. People used to say the same about Kevin Doyle until he was found out..
To be fair he’s got a rate of about 1 in 4 which is good considering the clubs he’s played with, Reading, Hull and West Brom. He could really flourish at Southampton
Good luck to him,starting on Saturday.
Hope he has a quiet day on Sunday against Liverpool though.
In fairness he was never comfortable playing in the Kilkenny colours !!!!!
Good business by Hull bagging 4 million from the player . Long needs to get his head in the right place now and get his scoring boots on , this is a real make or break move for him . He either starts delivering consistently now or it will be into the realms of Kevin Doyle . Best of luck to him
I think this just could be a perfect fit for Long, best of luck to him and the Saints.
The new Robbie Keane in every sense of the word….
Yes Robbie keane is only just the all time top international footballer still currently playing.
It’s always been a dream of Shane’s to play for Southampton.
For your 12 mill you’ll get 5 goals and 4 months of injury
He’s going be the new Robbie Keane , more clubs than Rory Mc Ilroy !
Robbie Keane was successful at Wolves, Coventry, Leeds, Tottenham Hotspur (both times), Celtic and LA Galaxy. His spells at Inter, Liverpool and Villa are less noteworthy but Keane is a proven, prolific goalscorer. Get him in the box with a half decent supply of ball and he’ll do the business. While he traveled around a bit, his successes far outweigh his failings. It’s a bit insulting to the man to compare him to Shane Long, who is a decent enough striker at best with a high work rate but a susceptibility to injury.
Robbie Keane was Aston Villas player of the year, how is that not noteworthy?
Agree with evertyhing you said about robbie till you mentioned his stay at villa… His goals against wolves kept us up. Short term loan massive effect
Sorry, gents, scratch Villa.
Shane “Notgonnabe” Long….
Great guy hope he finishes his career hurling for Tipp again.
Good luck to him,sound lad
If Keane scored that many goals for any other country be hero. Just don’t get what more he could of done for Irish fans that moan about him
Not a bad player but considering javier hernandez is available for the same kind of money it doesn’t seem like Southampton have done well with this transfer!
Hernandez turned down Saints as he wanted a club playing in Europe.
Touch of the Robbie Keane about this chap’s transfer history…
Love Long Time
I must be worth at least 100k so
Looking at that,Sanchez was a steal for the gunners
He’s only worth half that. Southampton are desperate and under pressure to make signings after their summer exodus. Or maybe Long will actually start converting chances…