Ray Boyne

“There’s always that wee bit more you can give”

Analysis of defeat is hard. It forces you to look at where your standards dropped. But a poor performance is data rich. It shows you why and more importantly, what to fix.

A look at the numbers for Limerick v Clare compared to Cork. In summary: More clinical in front of goal Better use of possession Turnover battle shifted significantly Cleaner shot selection Higher return from similar volume

Great message. Thank you @Bunnygolf for sharing

You can do things right… and still get suffocated. This isn’t about a turnover it’s about: • Pressure arriving instantly • Numbers around the ball • Chaos created on purpose No clean ball. No easy out. That’s the standard.

Why Limerick are and have been the standard for years now. You can do everything right defensively… and they still find a way to score. That’s the standard. Not clean ball. Not space. Chaos. Because they train for it.

Waterford, wrong side of the result, but this is what it looks like when a team fights… dying with their boots on. Goal chance against → point scored. 4-point swing. Hunt. Close. Tackle. That’s the standard. 💪 results will come

watch this back and it’s easy to miss it first time. Ball breaks, Cork lose it… and straight away you’re thinking Limerick are gone here. Then you see Mark Coleman, out on the edge of it, not even central to the play. Next thing, his hurley is gone.
Most lads are out at that point. Hand goes up, look for the free… play moves on. Not him. He stays in it. Hayes comes through with the ball, proper momentum, Limerick building and Coleman, with no hurley, just commits. Full shoulder. Stops him dead or near enough that the ball has to go. That’s the first bit. Ball moves again Lynch into Nash and again, most players are gone. Phase has moved, you’ve done your bit. Not him. Back in. No panic. No diving in. Just gets goal side, stands Nash up and holds him there… and suddenly what looked like a Limerick attack turns into three Cork jerseys around him. It’s not about winning the ball.
It’s not even about the big moment. It’s the will to stay in the play when you’ve every reason to be out of it. Lost possession.
No hurley.
Ball gone past you. Doesn’t matter. He goes again… and again… and again until the game bends back his way. That’s the standard. Not the highlight.
Not the score. That. Staying in it when you’ve no right

This was a game where execution lived at its limit. No margin for error. Passing had to be sharp. Shooting had to be clinical. Every action under pressure receiving, delivering, finishing. Restarts were the only moment to lift the head... and what met you was relentless work and organised chaos.

Pure. Elite sport. No easy ball. Turnover… straight into pressure. Again. And again. Limerick work for the score. Cork work for theirs. Two top teams. Same standard. Relentless. That’s the level.

Dummy… no bite. Defender stays strong TJ keeps going. Finds the edge. Creates space. Finish. Championship’s all-time top scorer.

10th minute. Eoin Cody hunts three men. Doesn't stop. Doesn't give it up. Stays in the play and forces the shot ... short and off target. That's the tone lads, that's our standard. From there, Kilkenny went after everything. and that “effort” started to show on the scoreboard.

Just a glance at a few basic numbers from Week 1 Far from the full picture, but useful as a reference point heading into this weekend. Real intensity and quality right across the championship.

@niallheff10 😂😂

Ah come on now 🤣🤣🤣

@michaelmchugh86 @niallheff10 😂😂

@niallheff10 I've watched some of his stuff before and there are some good clips in there but this one was off the charts. Jaysis 🤣

@stevegetstrong @niallheff10 😂😂

@niallheff10 Seen another chatgpt esque post from him recently too, it reads terribly 🥴

@b_mc11 @niallheff10 Thanks 😂

@niallheff10 Comments turned off! What kind of utter waffle is that 😂

@TheRacingMan4 😂

This man has completely lost it

The teams bringing the most pressure also generated the most volume but not always the most efficiency. Highest intensity → Clare & Cork (100+ tackles) Highest volume → Clare & Cork again (mid-40s shots) Most efficient shooting → Dublin (78%) Best puckout control → Cork (85%) Pressure creates opportunities efficiency decides outcomes