Hurling mini-review: Now is the Kingdom

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The Elo model has been able to tell for some time that the Kerry hurlers, and the way they went about their victories, were some distance better than the teams they hoped to kick out of Division 1.

With no offence intended towards Antrim, Saturday’s playoff showed exactly that. It was only a one-point game and Antrim will know that on other days they would have had their victory. But Kerry – the minnows of Munster hurling – have been plugging away for a long time. For those of us from lesser hurling counties, there is reason to dream. An Ríocht Abú.

The win cements Kerry’s spot in 12th in the Elo ratings (fittingly enough) while the victory sends Antrim down one spot, slipping behind Kildare.

Donegal and Tyrone played out an incredible draw at 4-13 apiece (lending further weight to this author’s opinion that the Ulster Hurling Championship, when played properly, is the most competitive senior GAA competition) and will have to meet again to decide who gets to play in Division 2B.

Hurling rankings
(w/e April 12, 2015)
1 Kilkenny 2174
2 Tipperary 2133
3 Cork 2015
4 Dublin 1931
5 Waterford 1868
6 Limerick 1860
7 Galway 1858
8 Clare 1845
9 Wexford 1699
10 Offaly 1591
11 Laois 1474
12 Kerry 1443
13 (+1) Kildare 1346
14 (-1) Antrim 1344
15 Carlow 1322
16 Westmeath 1315
17 Down 1251
18 Meath 1221
19 Derry 1161
20 Wicklow 1075
21 London 1071
22 Tyrone 967
23 Armagh 958
24 Mayo 941
25 Roscommon 925
26 Donegal 860
27 FIngal 794
28 Monaghan 775
29 Louth 702
30 Longford 635
31 Fermanagh 577
32 Warwicks 572
33 Sligo 320
34 Leitrim 281
35 Lancashire 250

We’ll be back on Thursday with our preview of the NHL quarter-finals.

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