Cathal Mullaney is joined by Shane McGrath and Mikey Stafford to discuss the weekend's Allianz League hurling action, which saw a historic loss for Kilkenny, Limerick’s return to their old set-up, and the benefits of 1B for developing teams.
McGrath details how he felt nothing went right for Kilkenny in Salthill on Saturday, where a lack of energy and an issue with their puck-out resulted in the county's worst loss since the 1950s, a result he joked even Google wouldn’t know.
The panel also consider how Galway have risen to their current status, with McGrath adding that the real measure of success for minor teams is how many make it to senior, suggesting Galway as an example.
Thoughts also turn to Kilkenny's next fixture, against McGrath's own county, where a heavy defeat could see relegation for the 36-time All-Ireland champions, something he feels could further motivate the Premier County for the fixture.
The lack of need for goalkeepers in Salthill was another point of discussion, with the ex-Inter-county player noting that of the 52 points scored, not one was a shot on goal, signifying changes in the game.
Limerick v Cork was next on the list of fixtures to discuss and, despite the two-point loss for the Rebels, Shane feels that experiencing Limerick's intensity will benefit them come Championship.
McGrath explained that he felt Limerick have returned to their old set-up, with diagonal ball once again at the forefront of their approach. He praises Kyle Hayes for his unpredictable play and shares his thoughts on the 27-year-old’s ideal position on the pitch.
The chat then turns to 1B, and McGrath expresses his belief that the division is the perfect platform for teams in transition to develop their panels - though still some way off the level needed to succeed in the Championship.
The group discuss the Lilywhites’ weekend performance, and McGrath explains that even without Jack Sheridan they were still able to turn heads, adding that he thinks a big win is coming in Leinster… Wexford? Kilkenny? A few teams are thrown around, but either way Shane predicts a big upset come the Leinster Championship.
Lastly, the Dubs are discussed, with McGrath expressing he feels a League title is on the cards for Niall Ó Ceallacháin's side, complimenting the competitive nature of 1B as perfect preparation for their Leinster Championship campaign.
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Watch Allianz League Sunday from 9.35pm on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player. Follow a live blog on all matches on the RTÉ News App and on rte.ie/sport. Listen to Sunday Sport on RTÉ Radio 1.
