......Or indeed a relationship. At the end of his film Annie Hall Woody Allen claimed that a relationship was like a shark: If it doesn't keep going forward it dies. Woody's ghost came whispering to mind this week when considering the put -upon Premier forces in the aftermath of their defeat to Cork. In fact the comparison was summoned a few weeks ago. Then a Tipperary minor team that had been defeated in a high scoring jamboree with Cork ( am I being mischievous to think that de paper down south gets overly excited about such jousts ) gave a pallid display in a qualifier against Clare in Ennis. On the night it occurred that the Tipp hurling psyche rails against having to navigate the Championship other than through the front door. The quite hysterical media reaction amongst old Tipperary sweats to the reverse in the Munster quarter final only seems to confirm this impression. One of the interesting features of logging on to hurling chat rooms in recent years is to notice how Tipperary fans see themselves: A clue; it isn't that they rank the county as being equivalent in the hurling firmament to say, Offaly, a county that have won an equal number of senior All-Ireland's in the last 45 years. The counties that might be seen to be in the mid-rank of hurling powers ( Clare, Wexford, Limerick etc ) are somewhat haughtily viewed from a height. Conversely the windmills of Cork and Kilkenny are tilted at with a righteous determination, even though those two counties have disappeared into the distance on the honours board in recent years.
If you've missed it, all hell broke loose in Tipperary this week. Michael Cleary wondered whether the modern player are enjoying their lot. He also advocated a return to the sudden death format, obviously wanting this years squad put out of their misery. County board President Tommy Barrett almost invoked every Tipperary hero from the ages bar Charles Kickham as he preached a back to basics philosophy. And as for Babs Keating: Well our hero is always one to stand out from the 'flock' when criticising his inferiors, especially Liam Sheedy. He suggested that things would have been better for Sheedy if he had sat down with Babs to talk through a few things. So it appears that what Tipperary hurling requires is less 'development squads' and more 'Council of States'. Of course the rich irony in all this is that Tipp were smited not by a team direct from 'hells kitchen' but by one that has railed against all antediluvian hurling practices and want only modern training methods and preparation.
The record book tells us that this Tipp team was neck and neck with a side going for four in a row less than nine months ago. It's a long summer and even last Sunday's display would likely see them getting to a quarter-final at least. But it will need very strong and blinkered ( in a good way ) management for Tipperary to fulfill their potential in 2010: Now that the Pandora's box of a hurling culture with delusions of grandeur has been opened.
Wednesday, June 2, 2010
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
Cork v Tipperary
Very strange goings on in Cork. Loads of excited patrons milling around jubilant players and management under the covered stand in Pairc Ui Chaoimh. In April, nay very early April. Okay it's no harm to smite the old enemy, ( wrong term perhaps as their relationship has often struck outsiders as rather chummy ) even well before the hay is saved. Perhaps Cork's enthusiasm was inevitable considering recent militancy may leave the squad feeling they have something to prove. Plus although a 'league hero' mightn't be high on the list of something to be, Cork haven't grasped the trophy since 1998. The ancien regimes have in most cases not wanted to downplay the importance of the league in any event. The exception was Tipp, in the era, around the turn of the century, when the Munster draw provided them with annual cage matches against Clare. This led to one captain ( was it Tommy Dunne in Ennis ) taking a tentative hold on the cup like it was something toxic. In fairness to the Premier, Nicky English's management team set the modern precedent in 2001 for what a good habit winning in the spring can be. However the current Tipperary incarnation lost this league tussle ultimately in the first 15 minutes, as, with the sleep still in their eyes, Cork set about their task at a championship pace.
The presence of an out and out ball-winning half forward mightn't, on the evidence of last September, be as crucial to Tipp's cause as it appeared heretofore. But the rangy athleticism of Pat Kerwick and John O' Brien for the full 70 was, at least, subtly missed. It was instructive though, if its ever deemed necessary, that Lar Corbett did a much better impression of a stand up centre forward than Seamus Callinan ever does. Taking hints from the spring is always fraught with danger, but up against Cork's hall of fame half back line in full tilt, Noel McGrath, flanking Corbett, looked a little callow for the task yet, and might still be advantaged, in the main, by tilting at the ramparts of defences from corner forward come the summer. Still though he took his scores with insouciant ease and combined sublimely with Corbett on a couple of occasions, one brilliant exchange resulting in a terrific save by Cork's valiant stand-in goalie Martin Coleman. At right corner forward on this occasion Paul Kelly, in some respects, presented a career in microcosm, by ghosting in for a stylish 1-2 when Tipp were lording it early in the second half, before returning to anonymity; a state of affairs he will sadly now remain in for the summer because of subsequent injury. Overall though Liam Sheedy will scarcely lose sleep by being on the wrong end of the hop of a ball. For instance, corner back has been a quiet sore point for Tipperary at times in recent years, but Paddy Stapleton showed much of the skills required for the unheralded art, not least the ability to effect last ditch interceptions.
Cork will always get more press clippings for beating Tipp than they will for besting Dublin: But many of the same attributes were on show here. Brian Murphy, on return to his recognised patch at corner back, evinced, along with his namesakes Shane O' Neill and Shane Murphy, that Cork have three reliable and occasionally ( in O'Neill's case) flamboyant full-back line players. Whether one can be moulded into a full-back is a pertinent question now in light of Eoin Cadogan's untimely injury. With Tom Kenny's almost princely excellence again to the fore Cork's 1-9 seems to be in almost as good a shape as it was a half decade ago, although the faster ground and increased tempo may tell us more. Overall though there is still the nagging impression that the defence and midfield may need to be dominant to cope with the fact that forward options have to be carefully husbanded. Pat Horgan again thrust himself forward as a player aching for summer responsibility. His terrific goal aside he also ploughed plenty of the hard yards. Aisake too brings at the very least nuisance value, but one suspects he may end up having an onerous responsibility to win possession at half forward in the summer, which may not be the most optimum use of his talents. It was also disappointing how meek Paidi O' Sullivan's goal efforts were, as one suspects it would be a penchant for poaching that would make him indispensable for Denis Walsh. Still though there is more than enough on show, thus far, to indicate that Cork could benefit from any slight slippage from Tipp, or a further tarnishing of Kilkenny's gold standard. Given the labour disputes of recent years and the lack of bountiful under-age crops, it is, for the more realistic supporters Leeside, enough to be going along with.
The presence of an out and out ball-winning half forward mightn't, on the evidence of last September, be as crucial to Tipp's cause as it appeared heretofore. But the rangy athleticism of Pat Kerwick and John O' Brien for the full 70 was, at least, subtly missed. It was instructive though, if its ever deemed necessary, that Lar Corbett did a much better impression of a stand up centre forward than Seamus Callinan ever does. Taking hints from the spring is always fraught with danger, but up against Cork's hall of fame half back line in full tilt, Noel McGrath, flanking Corbett, looked a little callow for the task yet, and might still be advantaged, in the main, by tilting at the ramparts of defences from corner forward come the summer. Still though he took his scores with insouciant ease and combined sublimely with Corbett on a couple of occasions, one brilliant exchange resulting in a terrific save by Cork's valiant stand-in goalie Martin Coleman. At right corner forward on this occasion Paul Kelly, in some respects, presented a career in microcosm, by ghosting in for a stylish 1-2 when Tipp were lording it early in the second half, before returning to anonymity; a state of affairs he will sadly now remain in for the summer because of subsequent injury. Overall though Liam Sheedy will scarcely lose sleep by being on the wrong end of the hop of a ball. For instance, corner back has been a quiet sore point for Tipperary at times in recent years, but Paddy Stapleton showed much of the skills required for the unheralded art, not least the ability to effect last ditch interceptions.
Cork will always get more press clippings for beating Tipp than they will for besting Dublin: But many of the same attributes were on show here. Brian Murphy, on return to his recognised patch at corner back, evinced, along with his namesakes Shane O' Neill and Shane Murphy, that Cork have three reliable and occasionally ( in O'Neill's case) flamboyant full-back line players. Whether one can be moulded into a full-back is a pertinent question now in light of Eoin Cadogan's untimely injury. With Tom Kenny's almost princely excellence again to the fore Cork's 1-9 seems to be in almost as good a shape as it was a half decade ago, although the faster ground and increased tempo may tell us more. Overall though there is still the nagging impression that the defence and midfield may need to be dominant to cope with the fact that forward options have to be carefully husbanded. Pat Horgan again thrust himself forward as a player aching for summer responsibility. His terrific goal aside he also ploughed plenty of the hard yards. Aisake too brings at the very least nuisance value, but one suspects he may end up having an onerous responsibility to win possession at half forward in the summer, which may not be the most optimum use of his talents. It was also disappointing how meek Paidi O' Sullivan's goal efforts were, as one suspects it would be a penchant for poaching that would make him indispensable for Denis Walsh. Still though there is more than enough on show, thus far, to indicate that Cork could benefit from any slight slippage from Tipp, or a further tarnishing of Kilkenny's gold standard. Given the labour disputes of recent years and the lack of bountiful under-age crops, it is, for the more realistic supporters Leeside, enough to be going along with.
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
Two smaller cities
In dispatches, after Galway's victory over the All-Ireland champions last Sunday, mention was made to the 2005 semi-final between the counties. It was an apt reference in some ways. ( in as much as league and championship fare can ever be compared ) On both days Kilkenny had a thrown together nature to them, usually anathema to a Brian Cody stewarded side, and narrowly lost a high scoring thriller. The papers have spent the first half of the week reading the tea leaves over Kilkenny's muted league performances. It has been rightly noted that it's not all doom and gloom. John Mulhall has brought the swashbuckling ( everyone with long hair has a fair shot at that epithet ) brio he exhibited at u-21 to the National League. The usually acute judge, Sean Moran in the Irish Times, also name checked John Dalton. However to this observer's eyes Dalton, previously a hero of the 2008 Fitzgibbon final in shackling Joe Canning, spent the whole of Sunday on the back foot. When decent ball went into Galway's right corner Aidan Harte and 2009 minor Richie Cummins were well out in front and made hay. Unless injury is an issue, one wonders why the excellent u-21 of the last two summers, Paul Murphy hasn't been given a chance to ply his wares. If Kilkenny haters are looking for further signs post- 2009 final that the gold might be rusting a little, it may be that if the miles on Michael Kavanagh's clock become an issue the full-back line will look increasingly vulnerable, given that Noel Hickey's last appearance in black and amber is becoming a distant memory. Kilkenny fans will perhaps seek succour ( they are a serious and fretful lot you see, when it comes to hurling ) that none of last Sunday's defensive corp may line out in the same positions in the summer and that JJ and the aforementioned Kavanagh and Hickey can return. In the prime of his competitive life having Tommy Walsh at corner back is not so much robbing Peter to pay Paul, as robbing St Peter, rock of the church to pay Paul. Still to score 1-23, without Shefflin, Larkin and Brennan, against one of their leading rivals; what crisis indeed!
Amidst the good vibes apres the vanquishing of the All-Ireland champions, Galway will do well to remember that too many of their noteworthy victories come in shoot-outs. True their defence has Adrian Cullinane and Ollie Canning to return, ( as an aside it's only fair to point out that this quarter doubted whether Canning could revert to former glories on his return, and was completely wrong ) but do they have the look of an All-Ireland winning defence though, especially if John Lee teases and taunts as to whether he can make the step to excellence on a permanent basis.
There were bountiful positives though and not just the forward depth that was signposted by the 2-3 from play by substitutes. Ger Farragher's almost nonchalant excellence from dead balls, is amazing not least since he may be second choice for the task in the summer. Sean Ban Breathnach's observation that last years u-21 team was the worst in yonks ( conceivable considering how brilliant Canning was in the semi-final? ) may be leavened if David Burke and the aforementioned Harte continue to make a good impression. Plus Cyril Donnellan, on this and last summer's evidence in Tullamore, if nothing else, has the rather positive attribute of playing well against the sports standard bearers. It's possible that like 1988 Galway may win an All-Ireland with an Eanna Ryan on the team. If they can find a Peter Finnerty or Gerry McInerney in the next few months they will really be quids in.
Amidst the good vibes apres the vanquishing of the All-Ireland champions, Galway will do well to remember that too many of their noteworthy victories come in shoot-outs. True their defence has Adrian Cullinane and Ollie Canning to return, ( as an aside it's only fair to point out that this quarter doubted whether Canning could revert to former glories on his return, and was completely wrong ) but do they have the look of an All-Ireland winning defence though, especially if John Lee teases and taunts as to whether he can make the step to excellence on a permanent basis.
There were bountiful positives though and not just the forward depth that was signposted by the 2-3 from play by substitutes. Ger Farragher's almost nonchalant excellence from dead balls, is amazing not least since he may be second choice for the task in the summer. Sean Ban Breathnach's observation that last years u-21 team was the worst in yonks ( conceivable considering how brilliant Canning was in the semi-final? ) may be leavened if David Burke and the aforementioned Harte continue to make a good impression. Plus Cyril Donnellan, on this and last summer's evidence in Tullamore, if nothing else, has the rather positive attribute of playing well against the sports standard bearers. It's possible that like 1988 Galway may win an All-Ireland with an Eanna Ryan on the team. If they can find a Peter Finnerty or Gerry McInerney in the next few months they will really be quids in.
A tale of two cities
The return of winter came a couple of days too late. Metaphorically the Dublin hurling community huddled in Donnycarney on Sunday, shivering in the apparent malaise. The chat rooms since have wallowed in the depression, turning their lonely eyes to the injury- afflicted Ronan Fallon, or writing the playing epitaph of former hero Dotsie O' Callaghan. So perhaps time for a little perspective. If six or seven years ago Dublin stood toe to competitive toe with all the traditional powers, week-in week-out, the majority of supporters would have hailed hosanna on Easter week. Putting a positive spin on it, they now have a team with a paltry amount of passengers, if any. John McCaffrey has had a progressive spring. Joey Boland continues to fill out physically. One pity is that their contemporary, Ross O' Carroll has been lost to the big ball game. The return to hurling of Shane Ryan, and the Hamlet like indecisiveness of Conal Keaney might have garnered more pre-season headlines; but this was due more to the headlines capital footballers can attain, rather than what they could bring to the hurling table in comparison to O'Carroll. ( and his younger brother Ross, a fine U-21 centre back could have been a handy squad member ) The Kilmacud Crokes man may have rounded out a tasty starting forward sextet, along with Liam Rushe, Peter Kelly, David Tracey, Alan McCrabbe and O' Callaghan. He may also, if he had played against Cork, have managed to avoid the long walk to the bench, which all bar McCrabbe were subjected to. McCrabbe may have validated his manager's judgement with his spectacular late goal. But he was, if anything, even more out of sorts than his substituted team-mates. But five changes was more than enough, as Anthony Daly showed off his penchant, also signposted in last years All-Ireland quarter- final, for a somewhat skittish helming of a forward line. Of the replacements only Paul Ryan ( who was unavailable last season ) looked of a calibre to be an improvement to the off-colour regulars. But, as previously stated, it is enough of an achievement that Dublin now have nearly a XV of proven championship standard. The next step, in order to be competitive in an All-Ireland semi final say, would be for the likes of Tomas Brady, Rushe or Tracey to become amongst the leading players in the country in their positions.
On the final whistle a somewhat rueful looking Anthony Daly greeted his seemingly unruffled opposite number Denis Walsh. The Cork managers insouciance was to some degree apt considering things came slightly easier to his team on the day. This was mostly due to Pat Horgan's unflappable eye for a score, with Dublin shooting 18 wides. Walsh will hope now that the Glen Rovers man can carry this form into the summer, as he showed a frailty in terms of winning his own ball in '09. The evidence in Parnell Park wasn't supportive of Cork's incipient 'twin towers' strategy, albeit that, Aisake O'Halpin's sidekick, Michael Cussen looks like a skillful fledgling in a beanpole'sbody. The league success heretofore may lead Cork fans to believe that the gap to the other traditional powers can be bridged. 1-9 looks very solid if the half-back line and midfield are returning once more to the well. ( Tom Kenny's bucket did, in fairness, runneth over against Dublin ) And one presumes the manager won't forget Cathal Naughton's attributes for the second summer in a row. But there are still four words that would instill terror in any Cork supporter: Injury to Ben O' Connor.
On the final whistle a somewhat rueful looking Anthony Daly greeted his seemingly unruffled opposite number Denis Walsh. The Cork managers insouciance was to some degree apt considering things came slightly easier to his team on the day. This was mostly due to Pat Horgan's unflappable eye for a score, with Dublin shooting 18 wides. Walsh will hope now that the Glen Rovers man can carry this form into the summer, as he showed a frailty in terms of winning his own ball in '09. The evidence in Parnell Park wasn't supportive of Cork's incipient 'twin towers' strategy, albeit that, Aisake O'Halpin's sidekick, Michael Cussen looks like a skillful fledgling in a beanpole'sbody. The league success heretofore may lead Cork fans to believe that the gap to the other traditional powers can be bridged. 1-9 looks very solid if the half-back line and midfield are returning once more to the well. ( Tom Kenny's bucket did, in fairness, runneth over against Dublin ) And one presumes the manager won't forget Cathal Naughton's attributes for the second summer in a row. But there are still four words that would instill terror in any Cork supporter: Injury to Ben O' Connor.
Saturday, June 20, 2009
weekend previews
Waterford v Limerick:
Hard enough to know what's going on here. When one manager releases a team-sheet that's brazen nonsense and the other thinks he's more put upon than Brian Cowen, it's difficult to parse what to expect from their teams. A general prediction though. The standard won't be as significantly in advance of last weeks shambles as some hope for. There is still an element of rearranging the deckchairs on the Titanic about Limerick's forward options. In fairness James Ryan rewarded his manager's faith and dispelled this quarters doubts with his second-half industry. Dave Breen showed enough to start in the real world, as opposed to Justin's fantasy team sheet. Yet they still seem one corner forward short, not to mind that Andrew O' Shaughnessy was as relatively anonymous as was feared last Sunday. At wing-back Denis Molony, not for the first time in an injury riddled career, showed flashes of brilliance. Limerick may also hope for Seamus Hickey to have a more consistent influence on the game.
But if Limerick are inching forward, Waterford are running to stand still. Ken McGrath's absence has made the headlines but younger brother Eoin's dropping from the team leaves a large chasm based on his excellent 2008. Last week the selection seemed to have merits, with a decent bench to fall back on. Now it looks wing and a prayer stuff. The failure to re-instate Aidan Kearney could be regretted. It's been many the year since Tony Browne played mid-field. The balance of the team looks unwieldy, especially if, as one suspects Stephen Molumphy has to come firefighting back to lar na pairce. How does extra-time grab anyone?
Galway v Kilkenny:
An esteemed Sunday newspaper hurling correspondent constantly seeks to play down Kilkenny's supposed strength in depth. In general he doth protest too much and admirably does Brian Cody's bidding for him. But it really ought to be sorely tested this evening. The importance of Noel Hickey to the side is understated, not least because JJ Delaney tends to carefully mind only his own patch in his sojourns at no.3. Thus Michael Kavanagh, recently returned from injury and Jackie Tyrell will be more on an island than of yore, also missing the wing-back version of JJ and Brian Hogan to protect them from outside the castle walls. Hogan suffered from the reticence of All-Star selectors to give the cats a clean sweep of the defensive positions last autumn, But he was unfussy, physicality personified and John Tennyson's injury problems have disrupted his career at this level. Finally as for the person in a GAA chat room this week who said Cha Fitzpatrick isn't in Shane McGrath's league. Well........ agree to disagree might be the best way to put it. Upfront the selection of Martin Comerford is slightly surprising given that T.J Reid and Richie Hogan, who would comfortably make every other team in Ireland, are at his heels. Perhaps it is felt that Comerford is a horse for the course of Galway's soft physical centre.
And yet........ this blogger has bored whole nations with his annoyance on the "Galway have the talent" canard. Lets have a look at 1-12 then shall we. The player with very comfortably the best record at this level, Ollie Canning, last excelled at inter-county in 2005. Fergal Moore would likely be more comfortable at corner-back. John Lee is decidedly undercooked in a week that the term was reserved for South-African rugby players. Those not in the know might be interested to garner that we have just referred to their three most likely prospects. But with the full-forward line and the primed to explode Aengus Callnan the Tribesmen have some serious ammunition. Niall Healy has form against this opposition and Damien Hayes may be reborn with the long shadow of the Feakle man a distant memory. Word has it the u-21 full-forward shows promise.
If Galway can force a lot of one-to-one match ups they will likely put up a big score. But the big bad wolf like cat will blow enough of a gale at the other end to get over the line by four or five points.
Wexford v Dublin:
Wexford's display against Offaly was almost too good to be true albeit that the Faithful sagged disappointingly. So some sectors of their team will come under greater scrutiny tomorrow. Much of what Wexford do goes under the radar but to this blogger they had the best full-back line in the country in 2007. But Malachy Travers seems to have slipped a tad and Keith Rossiter has essentially been less than 100% fit since. The lovely louche combination of striking and athleticism that Eoin Quigley brings to the party can hardly fail to be missed for the second day in a row. Upfront the shortage of specialised corner-forwards may well bring to mind another denizen of the treatment table Barry Lambert.
But will any two of those three be missed anymore by the Slaneysiders than Dublin will bemoan the absence of Roan Fallon and Ross O' Carroll. The latter especially would have been a boon to a half-forward line that seems to have been picked to achieve a no-score draw. Wexford still seem the more convincing selection but could it just be the day where destiny and a dollop of luck goes Dublin's way. As James O' Conner said during the week, the prospect of a tanning from Kilkenny might be more appealing for them than it is for Wexford.
Tipperary v Clare:
Move along, nothing to see here. Well that's what the bookies and many of the pundits say. The nervous propensity of Tipp's corner backs to foul in the quarter-final; of trifling concern. Their absence of natural wing-backs; merely a detail. In fairness the premiers lack of consistency at half-forward is more of an exasperation than an extreme annoyance, given that it has very rarely put them on the wrong side of a scoreline in the last 18 months. Also the two current most important players Conor O' Mahony and Eoin Kelly should have regained much of their match fitness.
If Clare strike against the head, the league might as well be shelved immediately as it will be declared (pun just noticed) utterly worthless. Any new Clare revival, to aptly take the title of a Stockton's Wing song, will require Phillip Brennan to put behind him any thoughts that the nickname 'calamity' might soon be bestowed. Also James McInerney must grasp his responsibilities with both hands and not be overawed by the fact that Clare full-backs have fallen away with the rapidity of Spinal Tap drummers since Frank Lohan's retirement only months ago. The banner's experienced quintet of Markham, Griffin, Carmody, McMahon and Gilligan are likely drinking with their manager in his saloon of the last chance variety in Scariff, although in Gilligans case it is likely of his choosing. Teams usually overstate the extent to which they have been written off but since the actual talent deficit between the teams is far smaller than is generally perceived, you would despair for the Clare hurling if they don't at the very least die a ferociously contested death.
Hard enough to know what's going on here. When one manager releases a team-sheet that's brazen nonsense and the other thinks he's more put upon than Brian Cowen, it's difficult to parse what to expect from their teams. A general prediction though. The standard won't be as significantly in advance of last weeks shambles as some hope for. There is still an element of rearranging the deckchairs on the Titanic about Limerick's forward options. In fairness James Ryan rewarded his manager's faith and dispelled this quarters doubts with his second-half industry. Dave Breen showed enough to start in the real world, as opposed to Justin's fantasy team sheet. Yet they still seem one corner forward short, not to mind that Andrew O' Shaughnessy was as relatively anonymous as was feared last Sunday. At wing-back Denis Molony, not for the first time in an injury riddled career, showed flashes of brilliance. Limerick may also hope for Seamus Hickey to have a more consistent influence on the game.
But if Limerick are inching forward, Waterford are running to stand still. Ken McGrath's absence has made the headlines but younger brother Eoin's dropping from the team leaves a large chasm based on his excellent 2008. Last week the selection seemed to have merits, with a decent bench to fall back on. Now it looks wing and a prayer stuff. The failure to re-instate Aidan Kearney could be regretted. It's been many the year since Tony Browne played mid-field. The balance of the team looks unwieldy, especially if, as one suspects Stephen Molumphy has to come firefighting back to lar na pairce. How does extra-time grab anyone?
Galway v Kilkenny:
An esteemed Sunday newspaper hurling correspondent constantly seeks to play down Kilkenny's supposed strength in depth. In general he doth protest too much and admirably does Brian Cody's bidding for him. But it really ought to be sorely tested this evening. The importance of Noel Hickey to the side is understated, not least because JJ Delaney tends to carefully mind only his own patch in his sojourns at no.3. Thus Michael Kavanagh, recently returned from injury and Jackie Tyrell will be more on an island than of yore, also missing the wing-back version of JJ and Brian Hogan to protect them from outside the castle walls. Hogan suffered from the reticence of All-Star selectors to give the cats a clean sweep of the defensive positions last autumn, But he was unfussy, physicality personified and John Tennyson's injury problems have disrupted his career at this level. Finally as for the person in a GAA chat room this week who said Cha Fitzpatrick isn't in Shane McGrath's league. Well........ agree to disagree might be the best way to put it. Upfront the selection of Martin Comerford is slightly surprising given that T.J Reid and Richie Hogan, who would comfortably make every other team in Ireland, are at his heels. Perhaps it is felt that Comerford is a horse for the course of Galway's soft physical centre.
And yet........ this blogger has bored whole nations with his annoyance on the "Galway have the talent" canard. Lets have a look at 1-12 then shall we. The player with very comfortably the best record at this level, Ollie Canning, last excelled at inter-county in 2005. Fergal Moore would likely be more comfortable at corner-back. John Lee is decidedly undercooked in a week that the term was reserved for South-African rugby players. Those not in the know might be interested to garner that we have just referred to their three most likely prospects. But with the full-forward line and the primed to explode Aengus Callnan the Tribesmen have some serious ammunition. Niall Healy has form against this opposition and Damien Hayes may be reborn with the long shadow of the Feakle man a distant memory. Word has it the u-21 full-forward shows promise.
If Galway can force a lot of one-to-one match ups they will likely put up a big score. But the big bad wolf like cat will blow enough of a gale at the other end to get over the line by four or five points.
Wexford v Dublin:
Wexford's display against Offaly was almost too good to be true albeit that the Faithful sagged disappointingly. So some sectors of their team will come under greater scrutiny tomorrow. Much of what Wexford do goes under the radar but to this blogger they had the best full-back line in the country in 2007. But Malachy Travers seems to have slipped a tad and Keith Rossiter has essentially been less than 100% fit since. The lovely louche combination of striking and athleticism that Eoin Quigley brings to the party can hardly fail to be missed for the second day in a row. Upfront the shortage of specialised corner-forwards may well bring to mind another denizen of the treatment table Barry Lambert.
But will any two of those three be missed anymore by the Slaneysiders than Dublin will bemoan the absence of Roan Fallon and Ross O' Carroll. The latter especially would have been a boon to a half-forward line that seems to have been picked to achieve a no-score draw. Wexford still seem the more convincing selection but could it just be the day where destiny and a dollop of luck goes Dublin's way. As James O' Conner said during the week, the prospect of a tanning from Kilkenny might be more appealing for them than it is for Wexford.
Tipperary v Clare:
Move along, nothing to see here. Well that's what the bookies and many of the pundits say. The nervous propensity of Tipp's corner backs to foul in the quarter-final; of trifling concern. Their absence of natural wing-backs; merely a detail. In fairness the premiers lack of consistency at half-forward is more of an exasperation than an extreme annoyance, given that it has very rarely put them on the wrong side of a scoreline in the last 18 months. Also the two current most important players Conor O' Mahony and Eoin Kelly should have regained much of their match fitness.
If Clare strike against the head, the league might as well be shelved immediately as it will be declared (pun just noticed) utterly worthless. Any new Clare revival, to aptly take the title of a Stockton's Wing song, will require Phillip Brennan to put behind him any thoughts that the nickname 'calamity' might soon be bestowed. Also James McInerney must grasp his responsibilities with both hands and not be overawed by the fact that Clare full-backs have fallen away with the rapidity of Spinal Tap drummers since Frank Lohan's retirement only months ago. The banner's experienced quintet of Markham, Griffin, Carmody, McMahon and Gilligan are likely drinking with their manager in his saloon of the last chance variety in Scariff, although in Gilligans case it is likely of his choosing. Teams usually overstate the extent to which they have been written off but since the actual talent deficit between the teams is far smaller than is generally perceived, you would despair for the Clare hurling if they don't at the very least die a ferociously contested death.
Saturday, June 13, 2009
Limerick v Waterford preview
Well it's all about the Deise seeking to atone for the All-Ireland calamity isn't it? Or about Justin McCarthy looking to put one over the players that shafted him surely? One wonders though whether there is something of an over-simplification going on here from a media that is attuned to analyse soccer and rugby more rigorously. Although it would not be the minority opinion, this column thinks the Waterford underachievement in last years final has been overstated. If they did underperform, in any case it was in contrast to what they had achieved in previous seasons, rather than their output on the road to the final. Perhaps there is still an unwillingness, as your blogger has previously stated, to fully appreciate the true wonder of the Kilkenny '08 model. Also is Justin, truly the type to be banging sliotars off the dressing room wall to rouse his new charges into a more heightened sense of dudgeon. It was easy, when the draw was made, to look at the game from afar and see that a case of 'what goes around comes around would await the Waterford players. Over seven months on and Stephen Molumphy is not off defending President and Country in foreign climes. Tony Browne is also still available if needed, so a simple scrutiny of both sides firepower might be the best way to unlock the key to the match.
The common and mostly correct perception about Waterford down the years was that they were always struggling to have a bulletproof starting xv and had little depth beyond the first 18 or so. This has certainly changed but conversely one would have serious doubts whether any starting combination this summer can hit the heights of the 2004-2007 period. One can imagine in an AvB training game that the second string of say, Browne, James Murray and newcomer Richie Foley could outshine what has been selected for Sunday. Aidan Kearney's switch to wing-back is slightly curious since he didn't look in obvious need of a change in scenery. On the other flank Kevin Moran, albeit solid last year, still looks like he may require a central position to achieve his optimum. Brick Walsh's move to centre-back hasn't received much appraisal, but at some point tomorrow Waterford fans might hark back wistfully to Ken McGrath's superior stickwork in the position. In fairness to Walsh his aerial prowess not being utilised at mid-field.
For Limerick the selected team doesn't appear to have the settled air one would have hoped for this far into Justin's tutelage. If Stephen Lucey's torpor last season is to put down as an aberration the worry is that he is now serving the football master also. Overall the defence as a whole doesn't seem strong enough to banish doubts that Seamus Hickey won't be missed. Albeit that, with Hickey's switch to midfield, he is being assigned a position where he excelled in the 2005 All-Ireland minor final. Injury and depreciation mean that three of the forward line that played in the senior final two years ago wont even tog out tomorrow. Nothing that James O'Brien and Championship newcomer James Ryan have heretofore shown has indicated that they are likely to hit the ground running. Niall Moran had a upwardly mobile league but his last summer performance against Offaly in the qualifiers elicted howls of derision from the demanding Limerick supporters. His older brother Ollie could be undercooked after injury whilst Andrew O' Shaugnessy didnt convince in the spring after the opening game.
Since this corner of the interweb doesn't think that Waterford's brains will be too frazzled solely by what happened last September they logically, given that John Mullane is fit, they have enough firepower and options from the bench to find the answers for any adhesive questions Limerick might doggedly provide.
The common and mostly correct perception about Waterford down the years was that they were always struggling to have a bulletproof starting xv and had little depth beyond the first 18 or so. This has certainly changed but conversely one would have serious doubts whether any starting combination this summer can hit the heights of the 2004-2007 period. One can imagine in an AvB training game that the second string of say, Browne, James Murray and newcomer Richie Foley could outshine what has been selected for Sunday. Aidan Kearney's switch to wing-back is slightly curious since he didn't look in obvious need of a change in scenery. On the other flank Kevin Moran, albeit solid last year, still looks like he may require a central position to achieve his optimum. Brick Walsh's move to centre-back hasn't received much appraisal, but at some point tomorrow Waterford fans might hark back wistfully to Ken McGrath's superior stickwork in the position. In fairness to Walsh his aerial prowess not being utilised at mid-field.
For Limerick the selected team doesn't appear to have the settled air one would have hoped for this far into Justin's tutelage. If Stephen Lucey's torpor last season is to put down as an aberration the worry is that he is now serving the football master also. Overall the defence as a whole doesn't seem strong enough to banish doubts that Seamus Hickey won't be missed. Albeit that, with Hickey's switch to midfield, he is being assigned a position where he excelled in the 2005 All-Ireland minor final. Injury and depreciation mean that three of the forward line that played in the senior final two years ago wont even tog out tomorrow. Nothing that James O'Brien and Championship newcomer James Ryan have heretofore shown has indicated that they are likely to hit the ground running. Niall Moran had a upwardly mobile league but his last summer performance against Offaly in the qualifiers elicted howls of derision from the demanding Limerick supporters. His older brother Ollie could be undercooked after injury whilst Andrew O' Shaugnessy didnt convince in the spring after the opening game.
Since this corner of the interweb doesn't think that Waterford's brains will be too frazzled solely by what happened last September they logically, given that John Mullane is fit, they have enough firepower and options from the bench to find the answers for any adhesive questions Limerick might doggedly provide.
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
The season so far
Well the new championship season has roared into life. The oddity about that comment is what one perceives to be acuity would be another man's dry sarcasm. The entry of Galway into the Leinster Championship, with a sleepy turkey shoot in Portlaoise, was with the whimper that can only be expected from the contrary organisation that is the G.A.A: That clarion calls it's secondary competition with a full house at headquarters in balmy February and then lets its championship unwind unhurriedly over a few weeks. At least the soccer juggernaut will slow down for a few weeks bar the process of all the best players in the world conglomerating at a few clubs and R.T.E happily trumpeting that the delectable spectacle of European Champions Spain taking on, er New Zealand on our t.v screens.
The long anticipated meeting of Kilkenny and Galway, the pairing that, to listen to some of the talk last autumn, would save hurling, will be upon us on Saturday week in the apposite citadel of O' Connor Park in Tullamore. What was curious in the last few weeks was that conspiracy theories existed both that the sides would be foisted together in the semi and that they would be kept apart. The latter premise seemed more likely especially when we have been told that a Croke Park showdown between the teams would be a seriously sellable commodity. That it is not being hosted in Croke Park indicates that the game will not attract the rapturous sizeable attendance some of the hyperbole had indicated.
But that game is for another day. The initial clash of the titans in Thurles Sunday week last was an odd affair. The combination of the closeness of the exchanges, some of the scores taken and the ushering in of the championship proper on the dry summer sod in Thurles led to the game receiving much favourable coverage. What was strange though was that, in a repetition of recent patterns, Cork's forward line flopped with four of the selection being subbed. Yet in no sense could any of their Tipperary opposite numbers be said to have dominated their patch. Tipp will be comforted by the fact that the match fitness of their two best players Conor O'Mahoney and Eoin Kelly will come on for the outing. But the continuing fitfulness of their half-forward line ball winning has been well signposted in the last two weeks. Tipp will, overall, be glad that the overplaying of a league final display against the Kilkenny gold-standard hasn't been starkly shown to be as false a currency as it was in 2003.
Bar minor quibbles about their fitness in the last ten minutes of the game, Cork once again showed that a disastrous spring preparation isn't as discommoding as continuing to rely on the McCarthys to lead the attack. Niall McCarthy in particular is beginning to resemble a middle aged dog, formerly of war, who finds that the surfeit of youthful energy he used possess had a vital kryptonite element. The other thing that occurred to these possibly jaded eyes was that Ben O' Connor may, curiously for a Cork Hurler, end up not being as lauded at the end of his career as he should be. Will the player who has been unquestionably the best, all out half-forward of his generation ( the Kilkenny giants move around too much to be allocated a pigeonhole) get the credit he deserves when he calls it a day, or will some not be able to differentiate his achievements from those of his twin brother Gerry. To remind, Ben and Wayne Sherlock were the little boys with their fingers in the dyke in Cork's shambolic 2002 season, before Jerry had yet to make an impact on championship hurling.
As Nicky English graciously admitted ( and he not adverse at times to doffing the hat at the traditional powers ) the standard in Wexford Park the previous night was not far removed from Thurles. Kudos to Colm Bonner for raising his charges above the get-out clause of the emergency ward 9 scenario that has bedeviled his panel. Bonner could have been forgiven for wryly sympathising with his predecessor John Myler when Rossiter, Stamp, Lambert and Stephen Nolan, all of whom were only fit to come as subs on in last years All-Ireland quarter final weren't good to go again at the start of '09. Yet Wexford almost made a hindrance out of a virtue. If truth be told only the subsequently afflicted Eoin Quigley and Barry Lambert, on his 2007 form, were acute losses to the starting xv. Indeed Wexford, with the continued development of Stephen Banville and the hints of potential in Tomas Waters and Andrew Shore appear to have added a physicality they sorely lacked in the last 5/6 years. Plus Richie Keogh, another absentee last season, indicated that he could emerge as one of the country's best centre-backs. Your blogger is also tempted to know if Gizzy Lyng worked on the turnstile on the evening in question. Given that he scored sidelines, saved penalties, stroked frees and pilfered points from long distance on the night, there would appear to have been no limit to his possibly productivity.
For Offaly it was a dispiriting defeat. Your correspondent who lamented the state of Offaly hurling 12 months ago, before David Kenny, Derek Molloy and Shane Dooley subsequently strutted their stuff, will be careful not to leap in with studs showing again. But the anonymity of Molloy and Brian Carroll was fatal to a burgeoning side who still have square pegs at corner-back and centre-forward and require most of their big guns firing on any given day. Their next clash against a top ten side will be crucial to the Joe Dooley project. They will at least expect David Kenny at full-back to be over his injury concerns.
Whether Colm Bonner sees the decidedly sketchy form of his semi-final opponents Dublin as a boon or something to be roundly ignored is questionable. Even allowing for having to face the stiff wind in the first half against Antrim, Dublin were well short of the mark that they have been talked up to after their spring exploits. Tomas Brady evinced an unsteadiness at full-back that could be fatal against the buccaneering Banville. The lack of production from their half-forward line was such that there have been whispers that Ross O' Carroll could be rushed back to action, despite the fact that he has barely swung a hurl in anger in the calender year. And the consequences if Dotsie O' Callaghan is held in check don't contemplate thinking about. Yet history teaches us that an Anthony Daly stewarded side are unlikely to withholds their bristles two days running. As their runaway u-21 victory against Wexford on Wednesday last shows, the Dublin hurling graph is unlikely to flat line anytime soon.
The long anticipated meeting of Kilkenny and Galway, the pairing that, to listen to some of the talk last autumn, would save hurling, will be upon us on Saturday week in the apposite citadel of O' Connor Park in Tullamore. What was curious in the last few weeks was that conspiracy theories existed both that the sides would be foisted together in the semi and that they would be kept apart. The latter premise seemed more likely especially when we have been told that a Croke Park showdown between the teams would be a seriously sellable commodity. That it is not being hosted in Croke Park indicates that the game will not attract the rapturous sizeable attendance some of the hyperbole had indicated.
But that game is for another day. The initial clash of the titans in Thurles Sunday week last was an odd affair. The combination of the closeness of the exchanges, some of the scores taken and the ushering in of the championship proper on the dry summer sod in Thurles led to the game receiving much favourable coverage. What was strange though was that, in a repetition of recent patterns, Cork's forward line flopped with four of the selection being subbed. Yet in no sense could any of their Tipperary opposite numbers be said to have dominated their patch. Tipp will be comforted by the fact that the match fitness of their two best players Conor O'Mahoney and Eoin Kelly will come on for the outing. But the continuing fitfulness of their half-forward line ball winning has been well signposted in the last two weeks. Tipp will, overall, be glad that the overplaying of a league final display against the Kilkenny gold-standard hasn't been starkly shown to be as false a currency as it was in 2003.
Bar minor quibbles about their fitness in the last ten minutes of the game, Cork once again showed that a disastrous spring preparation isn't as discommoding as continuing to rely on the McCarthys to lead the attack. Niall McCarthy in particular is beginning to resemble a middle aged dog, formerly of war, who finds that the surfeit of youthful energy he used possess had a vital kryptonite element. The other thing that occurred to these possibly jaded eyes was that Ben O' Connor may, curiously for a Cork Hurler, end up not being as lauded at the end of his career as he should be. Will the player who has been unquestionably the best, all out half-forward of his generation ( the Kilkenny giants move around too much to be allocated a pigeonhole) get the credit he deserves when he calls it a day, or will some not be able to differentiate his achievements from those of his twin brother Gerry. To remind, Ben and Wayne Sherlock were the little boys with their fingers in the dyke in Cork's shambolic 2002 season, before Jerry had yet to make an impact on championship hurling.
As Nicky English graciously admitted ( and he not adverse at times to doffing the hat at the traditional powers ) the standard in Wexford Park the previous night was not far removed from Thurles. Kudos to Colm Bonner for raising his charges above the get-out clause of the emergency ward 9 scenario that has bedeviled his panel. Bonner could have been forgiven for wryly sympathising with his predecessor John Myler when Rossiter, Stamp, Lambert and Stephen Nolan, all of whom were only fit to come as subs on in last years All-Ireland quarter final weren't good to go again at the start of '09. Yet Wexford almost made a hindrance out of a virtue. If truth be told only the subsequently afflicted Eoin Quigley and Barry Lambert, on his 2007 form, were acute losses to the starting xv. Indeed Wexford, with the continued development of Stephen Banville and the hints of potential in Tomas Waters and Andrew Shore appear to have added a physicality they sorely lacked in the last 5/6 years. Plus Richie Keogh, another absentee last season, indicated that he could emerge as one of the country's best centre-backs. Your blogger is also tempted to know if Gizzy Lyng worked on the turnstile on the evening in question. Given that he scored sidelines, saved penalties, stroked frees and pilfered points from long distance on the night, there would appear to have been no limit to his possibly productivity.
For Offaly it was a dispiriting defeat. Your correspondent who lamented the state of Offaly hurling 12 months ago, before David Kenny, Derek Molloy and Shane Dooley subsequently strutted their stuff, will be careful not to leap in with studs showing again. But the anonymity of Molloy and Brian Carroll was fatal to a burgeoning side who still have square pegs at corner-back and centre-forward and require most of their big guns firing on any given day. Their next clash against a top ten side will be crucial to the Joe Dooley project. They will at least expect David Kenny at full-back to be over his injury concerns.
Whether Colm Bonner sees the decidedly sketchy form of his semi-final opponents Dublin as a boon or something to be roundly ignored is questionable. Even allowing for having to face the stiff wind in the first half against Antrim, Dublin were well short of the mark that they have been talked up to after their spring exploits. Tomas Brady evinced an unsteadiness at full-back that could be fatal against the buccaneering Banville. The lack of production from their half-forward line was such that there have been whispers that Ross O' Carroll could be rushed back to action, despite the fact that he has barely swung a hurl in anger in the calender year. And the consequences if Dotsie O' Callaghan is held in check don't contemplate thinking about. Yet history teaches us that an Anthony Daly stewarded side are unlikely to withholds their bristles two days running. As their runaway u-21 victory against Wexford on Wednesday last shows, the Dublin hurling graph is unlikely to flat line anytime soon.
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