Kilkenny's winning margin against Wexford in the last two finals was an average of 17 points. A landslide victory I think is what you could call them. So with just two goals between the teams last Sunday it could be considered something of a close shave, but in truth despite the game effort from the Dubs the Cats were never going to lose this one.
Dublin simply didn't come to Croke Park to win, Anthony Daly the Dublin manager set out his stall for a damage limitation exercise. In my opinion he got his tactics right and wrong in the same 70 minutes. I probably have you scratching your heads at this stage; let me try to explain myself a little more clearly. His tactics of using an extra defender was spot on, it stopped Kilkenny from getting a good start and as we all know a good start is half the battle. However the minute Dublin reduced the arrears to three points early in the second half Daly should, in my opinion, have thrown caution to the wind and gone back to the conventional formation. He had nothing to lose - he was already guaranteed a quarterfinal spot and with Kilkenny not performing at their optimum maybe he could have pulled off the shock of the decade.
Let’s be frank about it, Dublin were up for the battle - Kilkenny were not. Only a handful of Kilkenny players will be happy with their performances - JJ Delaney, Tommy Walsh, John Dalton, Michael Rice, and Martin Comerford were the ones I thought performed on the day. No I'm not forgetting Michael Kavanagh and PJ Ryan, it's just PJ hadn't a ball to stop all day (not his fault ) and Kav who had the freedom of playing a loose role must have been the happiest Freshford man in Croke Park last Sunday when McCrabbe wondered out to midfield. The Kilkenny forwards were well marshalled last Sunday, it’s a long time since the inside line only registered two points between them, and Henry was held scoreless from play for a full 70 minutes! The Cats can count their lucky stars that Gorta recaptured his form because without his 2-4 from play the Bob O'Keeffe Cup could have been staying in Dublin. The reason I say could have been is because I reckon if Gorta had not scored those goals the likelihood is that someone else would have stepped up to the mark, it was that kind of day. Were Kilkenny complacent? I hope so, because if that's as good as we are, we could be in trouble. I would hope that there are at least two more gears left in their reserve.
Johnny Ryan, the Tipperary ref, had a good game but it must be added that a 12-year-old could have done the job. You only had to look at the card count (which was zero ) to know that this game lacked intensity. There has been much made about Kilkenny’s physicality of late, but last Sunday proved that Kilkenny are not a dirty side just physical when they have to be.
The Kilkenny management team will be quietly rubbing their hands together, they got the job done last Sunday and the word complacency won't be mentioned in the four week build-up to the semi-final. It is almost like Brian Cody has a stick to beat them with after that lethargic display. He probably won't have to drive them too hard because the players are experienced enough to do it themselves.
There should be some great tussles in Nowlan Park in the coming weeks with Noel Hickey, Brian Hogan, Cha Fitzpatrick, TJ Reid, Richie Hogan, Michael Fennelly (Captain ) James Ryall, and one or two more who will push last Sunday’s starting 15 to the limit in an effort to get into the starting team for the next day. That competition in training is the making of this current bunch of players. The Dubs in fairness to them were competitive to the final whistle and this was acknowledged by both sets of fans at the final whistle, they have some very talented players. Guys like Tomas Brady, Alan McCrabbe and David Treacy have really impressed me this season. The fullback line in general has been very good, but Brady has been a standout. He has only conceded one point from two championship outings this year, that's great defending considering he was marking Richie Power and Stephen Banville, two players who have won Vodafone Player of the Month Awards this season. McCrabbe is a beautiful striker of the ball and is deadly accurate from frees.
The Dubs must now build on their promise; if the draw falls favourably for them they stand a right chance of making it into the semis. I do hope they revert back to their conventional formation because to win titles you have got to stand toe to toe with your opposition. I have said it before and I will say it again, they are work in progress. They should not fear anyone and who knows they just might lift the McCarthy before their football counterparts win Sam, now wouldn't that be a turn-up for the books.
Minors cruise to semi final
The Kilkenny minor team cruised into the semi-final after a facile victory over a poor Wexford side; the first half was competitive enough. Glenmore's Ger Aylward gave Kilkenny the perfect start with a well taken goal, but Wexford stayed with them thanks mainly to the free taking ability of Brendan Barron. Kilkenny upped their performance in the second half, my own club mate Sean Kehoe shot over some excellent balls from play and placed balls during the hour. He wasn't the only one to catch the eye, Joe Lyng at cornerback really impressed me, in fact the fullback line in general were good while upfront big Walter Walsh also looked dangerous.
This team seems to be improving with every game, they might not look the flashiest minor team of all time but they are getting the job done and that is what counts. I have no doubt Richie Mulrooney will be working hard on team play in the next four weeks. They need to try to link up better in the forwards to create goal opportunities, but this will come with a bit of time and good coaching.
