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Nicky English: Main players deliver as Limerick rise to the occasion, leaving Kilkenny trailing in their wake

Nicky English: Main players deliver as Limerick rise to the occasion, leaving Kilkenny trailing in their wake

The champions have mastered the ability of giving their best displays in All-Ireland finals

Mon Jul 24 2023 - 05:00
Nicky English: Power to beat precision as Limerick strike out for history

Nicky English: Power to beat precision as Limerick strike out for history

Kilkenny’s greater shooting efficiency may struggle for a platform against the champions’ middle third

Sun Jul 23 2023 - 06:00
Nicky English on the Kilkenny team: Profiles of the 15 men who stand in Limerick’s way

Nicky English on the Kilkenny team: Profiles of the 15 men who stand in Limerick’s way

All-Ireland hurling final preview: Derek Lyng’s team is a compelling mix of pure talent and battle-hardened experience

Fri Jul 21 2023 - 10:57
Nicky English: Traditional Kilkenny virtues see them home as mistakes undermine Clare

Nicky English: Traditional Kilkenny virtues see them home as mistakes undermine Clare

Neat and tidy in their hurling, Kilkenny were worthy winners, with improving Limerick waiting in the final

Mon Jul 10 2023 - 05:00
Nicky English: Disappointing Galway makes things too easy for Limerick

Nicky English: Disappointing Galway makes things too easy for Limerick

Galway started off energetic and effective but doubts we had about them were vindicated

Sat Jul 08 2023 - 21:04
Nicky English: Galway lack Limerick’s self-belief when match is there to be won

Nicky English: Galway lack Limerick’s self-belief when match is there to be won

Kilkenny may just be too economical for injury-haunted Clare in Sunday’s semi-final

Sat Jul 08 2023 - 05:00
Nicky English: When the revs went up outside the province Tipperary’s engine couldn’t take it

Nicky English: When the revs went up outside the province Tipperary’s engine couldn’t take it

Galway go into another All-Ireland semi-final meeting with Limerick in much better shape than last year

Mon Jun 26 2023 - 06:00
Nicky English: Tipp tend to score plenty and concede plenty but I think they’ll come out on top

Nicky English: Tipp tend to score plenty and concede plenty but I think they’ll come out on top

Galway have looked good but can they be relied upon? Clare should win but shouldn’t take Dublin for granted

Fri Jun 23 2023 - 19:24
Nicky English: It looks like open season for this year’s hurling All-Ireland

Nicky English: It looks like open season for this year’s hurling All-Ireland

Limerick again showed how hard they are to beat whereas Galway are not as damaged by Leinster final defeat as last year

Mon Jun 12 2023 - 05:00
Nicky English: Limerick find form in time for latest heavyweight bout with Clare

Nicky English: Limerick find form in time for latest heavyweight bout with Clare

‘There’s so little between the top counties in Munster that the odds on this going to extra time again would be short enough’

Sat Jun 10 2023 - 05:00
Nicky English: Limerick vs Cork was as good a hurling match as I’ve ever seen

Nicky English: Limerick vs Cork was as good a hurling match as I’ve ever seen

Cork can feel hard done by but there’s no doubt Limerick are in the ascendant

Mon May 29 2023 - 05:00
Nicky English: Form of key players a big concern but Limerick can grind it out

Nicky English: Form of key players a big concern but Limerick can grind it out

Although still misfiring last week there was a lot to admire in the champions’ stubborn refusal to let go

Sat May 27 2023 - 05:00
Nicky English: Exceptional contest leaves Tipp still standing and Limerick facing fight for survival

Nicky English: Exceptional contest leaves Tipp still standing and Limerick facing fight for survival

Another flawed performance from the champions means questions remain unresolved

Mon May 22 2023 - 05:00
Nicky English: Re-energised Tipperary the litmus test for Limerick’s wayward championship run

Nicky English: Re-energised Tipperary the litmus test for Limerick’s wayward championship run

Champions under pressure in Thurles whereas earlier in Ennis, Clare look that bit better than Cork

Sat May 20 2023 - 05:00
Nicky English: Positives emerge for Clare but work needed on defence

Nicky English: Positives emerge for Clare but work needed on defence

Fragile Waterford undermined by first-half wides and dismissal of Calum Lyons

Mon May 15 2023 - 05:00
Nicky English: Improved Clare make this too steep a hill for struggling Waterford

Nicky English: Improved Clare make this too steep a hill for struggling Waterford

Brian Lohan’s team laid down a marker against the champions and with the bit between their teeth, won’t ease up

Fri May 12 2023 - 19:00
Nicky English: Fireworks light the way forward for both Cork and Tipperary

Nicky English: Fireworks light the way forward for both Cork and Tipperary

Slight advantage to Tipp, who move home to Thurles for last two matches, whereas Cork hit the road for Ennis and Limerick

Mon May 08 2023 - 05:00
Nicky English: Home venue and pace can tip the scales towards Cork

Nicky English: Home venue and pace can tip the scales towards Cork

Croke Park clash likely to decide who qualifies for the All-Ireland stages. On the big pitch, it could just about be Dublin

Sat May 06 2023 - 06:00
Nicky English: Clare raise the stakes as questions about the champions intensify

Nicky English: Clare raise the stakes as questions about the champions intensify

High-octane match in Limerick overshadows more pedestrian fixtures in Munster and Leinster

Mon May 01 2023 - 05:00
Nicky English: Hints of vulnerability from Limerick, and encouragement for Tipp and others

Nicky English: Hints of vulnerability from Limerick, and encouragement for Tipp and others

Champions looked fatigued and leggy. Clare next weekend will be the definitive test

Mon Apr 24 2023 - 05:00
Nicky English: Strengthened Limerick look different class to rest of the field

Nicky English: Strengthened Limerick look different class to rest of the field

For the sake of our championship as a competition, you would hope that league form proves unreliable — but I doubt it

Sat Apr 22 2023 - 06:00
Nicky English: Limerick show exceptional desire to take a first three-in-a-row

Nicky English: Limerick show exceptional desire to take a first three-in-a-row

Any drop-off in the champions’ performance levels or self-belief would have been punished by Kilkenny

Mon Jul 18 2022 - 06:00
Nicky English: Limerick deserved favourites and can stay ahead of improving Kilkenny challenge

Nicky English: Limerick deserved favourites and can stay ahead of improving Kilkenny challenge

I’d be surprised if Kilkenny win – but not as surprised as I would have been a few weeks ago

Sat Jul 16 2022 - 06:00
All-Ireland hurling final 2022: Limerick player-by-player guide

All-Ireland hurling final 2022: Limerick player-by-player guide

Hurling analyst Nicky English runs the rule over John Kiely's men

Fri Jul 15 2022 - 21:15
Nicky English: Liberated Clare can take off but it may be a bumpy flight

Nicky English: Liberated Clare can take off but it may be a bumpy flight

Champions Limerick, strengthened by return of Casey and Lynch, look formidable in Sunday’s semi-final

Sat Jul 02 2022 - 06:00
Nicky English: Hurling quarter-finals should have been on Sunday

Nicky English: Hurling quarter-finals should have been on Sunday

Clare’s win over Wexford copper-fastens their status as Limerick’s closest challenger

Mon Jun 20 2022 - 05:00
Nicky English: Unwelcome distraction for Clare brings Wexford within reach

Nicky English: Unwelcome distraction for Clare brings Wexford within reach

Galway may not be as bad as in Leinster final but Cork have momentum to win

Sat Jun 18 2022 - 06:00
Nicky English: Magnificent battle of Limerick and Clare provides unbelievable day of hurling

Nicky English: Magnificent battle of Limerick and Clare provides unbelievable day of hurling

I would struggle to remember a more intense contest played at the level of skill this final was played

Mon Jun 06 2022 - 05:00
Nicky English: Clare now one of the top two contenders for the All-Ireland

Nicky English: Clare now one of the top two contenders for the All-Ireland

Limerick remain number one though Munster final will be close while Leinster should confirm Galway’s status as province’s top team

Sat Jun 04 2022 - 06:00
Nicky English: Waterford’s free-fall complete as Clare stake strongest of claims

Nicky English: Waterford’s free-fall complete as Clare stake strongest of claims

In Leinster, Wexford’s revival against Kilkenny makes things very interesting

Mon May 23 2022 - 06:00
Nicky English: Still all to play for down Munster way

Nicky English: Still all to play for down Munster way

I was surprised Limerick didn’t rest more players against Clare given they were already through

Sat May 21 2022 - 09:30
Nicky English: Waterford need to iron out their problems – and fast

Nicky English: Waterford need to iron out their problems – and fast

Defeat to Cork at Walsh Park leaves Déise with some hard questions to ask themselves

Mon May 16 2022 - 06:00
Nicky English: Is it possible for any team to peak four times in a round-robin?

Nicky English: Is it possible for any team to peak four times in a round-robin?

Clare look to have surpassed Waterford as the main contender to Limerick

Sat May 14 2022 - 06:00
Nicky English: Impressive Clare are a team with potential and momentum

Nicky English: Impressive Clare are a team with potential and momentum

Banner were capable of playing ‘heads-up’ hurling and picking out the right ball

Mon May 02 2022 - 06:00
Nicky English: Galway need to be beating Kilkenny at home

Nicky English: Galway need to be beating Kilkenny at home

Galway and Kilkenny are still the leading teams but Dublin can challenge either

Sat Apr 30 2022 - 06:00
Nicky English: Limerick still out in front in a league of their own

Nicky English: Limerick still out in front in a league of their own

Leinster contenders Dublin could cause Galway trouble as well as Kilkenny

Mon Apr 25 2022 - 05:00
Nicky English: Time for Waterford to go 15 on 15 against Limerick

Nicky English: Time for Waterford to go 15 on 15 against Limerick

Champions superb against Cork and Déise will have their work cut out regardless of line-up

Sat Apr 23 2022 - 06:00
Nicky English: Impressive Limerick silence the doubters

Nicky English: Impressive Limerick silence the doubters

Champions outclass Cork again to show they remain very much the team to beat

Mon Apr 18 2022 - 06:00
Nicky English: Questions remain about Limerick but Lynch still holds the key

Nicky English: Questions remain about Limerick but Lynch still holds the key

Waterford look to have built valuable depth while Tipperary are a side in transition

Sat Apr 16 2022 - 06:00
Nicky English: Cian Lynch on course to become one of the greatest hurlers ever

Nicky English: Cian Lynch on course to become one of the greatest hurlers ever

Staying afloat in the face of Limerick’s sheer physicality was just too much to ask for

Mon Aug 23 2021 - 06:00
Nicky English: Power and poise on the big occasion points to Limerick triumph

Nicky English: Power and poise on the big occasion points to Limerick triumph

Cork’s hopes lie in using pace to go around Limerick and open up vital goal chances

Sun Aug 22 2021 - 07:00
All-Ireland hurling final: Nicky English’s Cork pen pics

All-Ireland hurling final: Nicky English’s Cork pen pics

Rebels come into their first final in eight years hoping to cause an upset

Fri Aug 20 2021 - 21:13
Nicky English: Limerick, Cork and Waterford the leading proponents of new orthodoxy

Nicky English: Limerick, Cork and Waterford the leading proponents of new orthodoxy

More traditional style of hurling perfected by Kilkenny’s great teams has been eclipsed

Sun Aug 15 2021 - 08:00
Nicky English: Improving Cork show real resilience to set up a fitting final

Nicky English: Improving Cork show real resilience to set up a fitting final

Rebels dig deep to see off defiant Cats but champions Limerick looking formidable

Mon Aug 09 2021 - 07:36
Nicky English: Limerick have found top gear and have eyes on Liam MacCarthy

Nicky English: Limerick have found top gear and have eyes on Liam MacCarthy

Defending All-Ireland champions simply had too much for Waterford in semi-final

Sun Aug 08 2021 - 11:30
Nicky English: Waterford and Cork ready to pounce on any sign of weakness

Nicky English: Waterford and Cork ready to pounce on any sign of weakness

Champions Limerick will need to repeat second-half performance from Munster final

Sat Aug 07 2021 - 07:00
Nicky English: Tipperary can’t pin penalty as main cause of defeat

Nicky English: Tipperary can’t pin penalty as main cause of defeat

Waterford and Cork wins mean we have the best four teams in this year’s semi-finals

Mon Aug 02 2021 - 07:23
Nicky English: if Tipperary lose, what happens next?

Nicky English: if Tipperary lose, what happens next?

It’s not all bad but when teams run with the ball that’s where Tipp have issues

Sat Jul 31 2021 - 07:00
Nicky English: If Cork reach Croke Park it could open up for them

Nicky English: If Cork reach Croke Park it could open up for them

Waterford’s pace, drive and running game was just too hot to handle for Galway

Mon Jul 26 2021 - 08:50
Nicky English: Clare always seem close to self-destruct, but they should see off Cork

Nicky English: Clare always seem close to self-destruct, but they should see off Cork

Can Waterford be trusted against Galway in Thurles after two poor outings?

Sat Jul 24 2021 - 06:00
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