National Hurling League Roundup

Wexford 2 - 12 Waterford 3 - 8

League Champions Waterford made a poor start to the defence of their title at home to Wexford on Sunday. Despite being short of few of their regulars Waterford should have been able to take the points from a very inexperienced new-look Wexford.

Poor shooting by the Waterford forwards was the main cause of their defeat. Twelve wides were distributed most of which were from easy scoring positions.

Eoin Kelly, their chief points scorer was totally out of form with his shooting, missing seven attempts in all, including five in succession in the second half.

Another factor in Waterfords defeat was that they allowed Wexford to score disproportionally to the quality and quantity of possession.

That Waterford went in at half-time leading by only two points (3-4 to 2-5) was an indidcation that it was not going to be one of their days, given their dominance up to that point.

Full credit to Wexford nonetheless. This was a game that the pundits felt that they had little or no chance of winning.

Sensing that Waterford were having an off day, Wexford defended well, fought hard all over the field and took almost every scoreable opportunity to register an important away win.

Limerick 3 - 23 Laois 2 - 11

A physically stronger Limerick had a comfortable win over a very youthful inexperienced Laois side at Limerick. Last year's run to the All-Ireland final seems to have made Limerick a much more balanced and confident team.

On Sunday Laois were leading by 1 - 4 to 0 - 4 after twenty minutes and were looking quite comfortable.

Between then and half-time Limerick unleashed a powerful display of hurling to overwhelm Laois and build up a half-time lead of 1 - 12 to 1 - 6.

The game was effectively over within three minutes of the re-start when O'Shaughnessy twice grabbed for Limerick. While there was no way back for Laois they did not capitulate.

Though they were never going to win, Laois matched Limerick score for score for the remainder of what was a very high quality hurling game.

O'Shaughnessy with 2 - 6 and Tobin with 1 - 7 were the main architects of Limerick's win.

The scoreline does not do justice to a game Laois, but Limericks All-Ireland battle hardness was just too much for them.

Tipperary 2 - 25 Offaly 2 - 8

With fifteen minutes remaining of this game at Thurles Tipperary were leading by just two points (0 - 16 to 2 -8) and were being pushed all the way by a new look Offaly side which played without their Birr contingent.

Suddenly as if on the press of a button Tipperary went into overdrive while Offaly went into freefall. That Tipperary scored 2 - 9 without reply more than describes the trend of play in the remaining twenty minutes of the game.

The opening half was evenly balanced with the visitors appearing quite comfortable in their surroundings.

They were well in the game at half-time (0-14 to 2 - 5) and actually outscored Tipperary by 3 points to 2 in the opening fifteen minutes of the second half.

Then with Eoin Kelly in devasting form (he accounted for 1 - 10) Tipperary could just not stop scoring as the league points were more than comfortably gathered.

Galway 2 - 24 Clare 3 - 17

Ger Loughnane and Mick McNamara, former colleagues in Clare's great oddessy of the 1990's came fact-to-face on Sunday at Galway.

In a strange game where there was three sending-offs, three penalties and an over-worked scoreboard keeper, Loughnane's Galway emerged winners.

However satisfied that Loughnane will be to start off 2008 with a win he will surely not be happy with a defence that conceded 3 - 17 to a very average looking Clare attack.

It is no wonder that after the game Loughnane called on former All-Star Ollie Canning to reconsider his decision to retire.

While the game was marked by non-stop scoring the quality of the play was average.

An over-zealous referee Seamus Roche did not help matters. In awarding over forty frees he never allowed the game to flow.

Anything that bordered on the physical side of the game was blown up to the frustration of the players and the annoyance of the supporters.

Galway welcomed back former minor start Ger Farragher scoring 1 - 11 (1 - 3 from play).

Clare also must be satisfied with the display of newcomer Mike Flaherty who accounted for 3 - 8 of his sides total.

Both teams will be relatively satisfied with the outcome of the game.

Galway look formidable and when the Portumna players return the team can only get stronger.

Clearly Clare are in a transitional stage, yet they matched Galway at various stages of the game. They are a mixture of some old hand a lot of new blood.

They will not win major honours yet, but they appear to be making the correct strides.