The experts' view as Limerick Senior Hurling Championship resumes

Adrian O'Sullivan, Leo O'Connor, Paul Shaughnessy, Seoirse Bulfin and TJ Ryan give their thoughts ahead of round three in the Limerick SHC.

Adrian O'Sullivan (Kilruane MacDonagh coach)

Who has been the standout team in the Senior hurling championship?

I think this might sound a bit odd but I've been very impressed with how Mungret-St Paul's have performed and making that big step up from Group Two to Group One of the championship. They've been desperately unlucky not to come away with at least one win out of their two games. They've been very good.

Does the current system in the senior hurling championship work?

I think it makes it very competitive. Every game matters, some people will argue that it's a bit crazy that fifth and sixth ranked teams don't get to a quarter-final, while the seventh and eighth ranked team does. Everybody knows the format at the start of the year. I think it's great for Limerick hurling that all the top teams are playing eachother all the time.

Are there any players who have put their hand up for a call into the limerick senior hurling panel?

The guy that I have been impressed with has been Cian O'Donovan. The first night against Kilmallock in the Gaelic Grounds, I thought he was really good. He had a good season last year as well. He's physically very strong, he's got a bit of pace and he's not afraid to go forward.

Is the split season working?

I personally do. I do feel it's working, I've been involved in the club scene for a long time. Now, I'm involved with Kilruane MacDonaghs in Tipperary, we were able to give guys clear windows to go on holidays and clear deadlines to say we need everyone back on board by this stage. I think it's great for coaches as well, you can plan the year out.

Is the premier intermediate hurling championship the most competitive competition in Limerick?

It's a ferociously competitive competition. Last year in particular they were so many South Limerick teams in it and every weekend there was a South derby. Those local rivalries, that's what club Championship is about. It's a great competition the way the grouping has worked out. Any team that has came up from the Premier Intermediate Championship, it is really preparing teams well for stepping up to senior.

Leo O'Connor (Offaly U20 hurling manager)

Who has been the standout team in the Senior hurling championship?

I suppose the team that people are talking about is Doon. Doon have grabbed the attention in the early stages, Derek McGrath has them hurling really well. They've taken the pressure off themselves, but it's from here on in that the business side of the Championship kicks into gear. It look like Na Piarsaigh and Doon will top the group.

Does the current system in the senior hurling championship work?

 I think the County Board have got it right. Six teams in one group, six teams in another group. Each club are guaranteed five games. When you look at it, you're getting five shots at it to get to a quarter-final or a semi-final. I think it's a very fair system. In both tiers, the games are evenly-matched. Patrickswell and Kilmallock, some of their players have an awful lot of hurling, I think it's open for Ahane and Doon to step up this year.

Are there any players who have put their hand up for a call into the limerick senior hurling panel?

The majority of players John (Kiely) has have did really in the Club Championship. Mungret-St Paul's have one or two really good defenders and they're young enough to make an impact. It's another step up from the club level. I don't want to mention players. And there's players from Dromin/Athlacca. John (Kiely) will be looking all over the place.

Is the split season working?

No, I don't think the split season is working. If the GAA look at this from the point of view of the All-Ireland final being over in July. There's club players that haven't reached the end of August and there club season is over already. There's going to be players who are going to be out of the Championship at the end of August in Limerick.

Is the premier intermediate hurling championship the most competitive competition in Limerick?

Without a shadow of doubt, the team that wins the Premier Intermediate championship deserves to be senior because they've played the group games and the knockout stages. It's a great championship, but just maybe if you tweaked a little bit and got 16 teams into the championship, that would really make it spectacular. If you ask anyone who would win Premier Intermediate, it would be hard to pick one team. It just goes to show the strength of the Premier Intermediate Championship when you look at what Kildimo-Pallaskenry, Mungret-St Paul's and Dromin Athlacca have done at senior level.

Paul Shaughnessy (Leader Reporter)

Who has been the standout team in the Senior hurling championship?

For me, Doon have been the stand-out team in this year's Senior Hurling Championship. Derek McGrath has things organised and his side has recorded two impressive victories over Kilmallock and Patrickswell in Group 1. It will be interesting to see can make it three from three against Na Piarsaigh later this week.

Does the current system in the senior hurling championship work?

I think the current structure needs to be revisited. Mungret-St Paul's have competed well, but I think the gap is getting bigger by having the six strongest teams in one of the group and the next six best teams in the next group. I think it would make for a better structure if the groups were mixed.

Are there any players who have put their hand up for a call into the limerick senior hurling panel?

There are a lot of players who have put their hand up for a place on the Limerick senior hurling panel in 2025. Cian O'Donovan, Fintan Fitzgerald and Cian Scully are some of the players who have impressed in this year's Championship, while you would expect Shane'O'Brien, Adam English and Colin Coughlan all to push on in 2025.

Is the split season working?

I think the split season is working. There is more clarity around the season for both the club and inter-county player. Players know when their season begins and can plan around their seasons. Overall, for me it has been a success.

Is the premier intermediate hurling championship the most competitive competition in Limerick?

They're six teams who are still in the hunt to reach the knock-out stages of the Lyons of Limerick Premier Intermediate Championship. Newcastle West, Garryspillane, Effin, Bruff, Blackrock and Granagh Ballingarry all remain in the mix to reach the last four of the Championship. It is very hard at this stage to pick a winner of the Championship. Na Piarsaigh and Glenroe are yet to win a game in the Premeir Intermediate Hurling Championship.

Seoirse Bulfin (Westmeath hurling manager)

Who has been the standout team in the Senior hurling championship?

At the moment, it's very hard to look past Doon. They've been quite good and impressive. I saw them up and close in a challenge match with Charleville last May and they impressed me. They've started quite well this year. At the moment, the form team you would be looking at is Doon.

Does the current system in the senior hurling championship work?

I've been having this chat with a couple of people. I think it's actually a very good system, but looking at Mungret the last night, they're a very young team and you can't predict what's going to happen, but they'll probably need to get three points because Ahane have them on the head-to-head. They're up for the year and they could be straight back down to Senior B. It makes every game very competitive. If they go back down and how will that help their development?

Are there any players who have put their hand up for a call into the limerick senior hurling panel?

So far from what I've seen, there was couple lads from Mungret-St Paul's that impressed me. Young Duff has been in or around the fringes. It's obvious ones again, you're looking for Adam English and Shane O'Brien to cement their place on the starting XV.

Is the split season working?

The split season is brilliant, I think as it develops there will be a couple of tweaks needed. The Inter-county player is the player that is being burnt out at the moment. They get very little downtime. It's definitely better than it was. There's no real fix, the split season is a help.

Is the premier intermediate hurling championship the most competitive competition in Limerick?

I'd go a step further, I think it's the most competitive competition in the whole country. It's a phenomenal competition. A puck of the ball can send you in one direction or the other. Every year, in the Premier Intermediate, there's always results you don't expect to happen.

TJ Ryan (Ex Limerick manager)

Who has been the standout team in the Senior hurling championship?

Results wise you would have to say Doon, I was at their game against Patrickswell. You would have to be impressed with them. You would have to like what you see. Darragh O'Donovan is definitely getting back to his best, Richie English was very strong defensively and Adam English was electric every time he got on the ball. Doon have an awful lot going for them and you'd definitely say right now they're the form team.

Does the current system in the senior hurling championship work?

It depends what club you are coming from and what angle you're looking at it from. There's no doubt that the structure of the Limerick club championship all the way down is competitive. Overall, I think teams are evenly-balanced in each group, but it is difficult for teams to break into that top four.

Are there any players who have put their hand up for a call into the limerick senior hurling panel?

I think it's early days. The first thing we want to do from a Limerick perspective is get our management nailed down, maybe the sooner the better. There's a couple of youngsters out there who were part of last year's U20s and they'll be looking to see can they get into the panel. I think there's a couple of options out there that the guys would like to have a look at.

Is the split season working?

Difficult question, different people have different opinions about the All-Ireland being over too early. You can feel their point about the Munster championship being over too early. For me, I would be saying that it is working. There's certainty within the calendar, players know when they're playing. I think it works from all those points of view. I haven't heard anything better than what's in place right now.

Is the premier intermediate hurling championship the most competitive competition in Limerick?

There's very little between the eight teams. We were racking our brains there and we don't think any team has won seven games since the Premier Intermediate has started. That'll just tell you the competitiveness of it. It is tight, there isn't a lot between all the teams. There's nearly two competitions in it. I think the Premier Intermediate championship is really competitive.