Having made my way early to Croke Park last Sunday I headed to a local shebeen to pick up a spare ticket and a quick bevvy of course.
Inside the secret door stood two proud Galway hurling men We exchanged greetings and as usual the conversation quickly turned to the main event. Well lads how do ye see it going today? I asked. Both men paused and smiled before one gathered the courage and said, ‘we come more in hope than confidence.’ They said they have seen their teams hyped up too many times in the last 20 years only to fail to head down the confidence route. Playing it cute I said, ‘ain't ye the form team at present?’ I quickly rattled off the League and Walsh cup wins, but they were not having any of it. Before I left I did come straight with my thoughts, I said no Kilkenny player would want to be associated with a team that let the Bob O'Keeffe cup across the Shannon for the first time. This was always going to be a huge motivating factor.
It is easy to be wise after but strictly speaking, Galway’s form in this year’s championship games against Wexford and Offaly gave them a mountain to climb last Saturday. They had so many questions to answer after their recent scare against the Faithful county. One can never be sure what Galway team is going to show up. This inconsistency is part of the reason why they have not lifted the McCarthy cup since 1998, and judging by their performance last Sunday it is hard to see this year being any different. On the law of averages someone will surely catch them again this summer.
Kilkenny's performance was once again out of the top drawer. I hate building them up but sometimes it is hard not to. If anything, barely getting over Tipperary in last year’s final has refocused the minds. The players look fresher and stronger than they did 12 months ago. It is obvious that not going all out for the League is standing to them now. Henry playing in his 50th championship match is as sharp as he was in his first eleven years ago. The big match-up between himself and Joe Canning never materialised, against my recent beliefs Henry is still the master. His goal that set Kilkenny on their way to their sixth Leinster title in a row was exquisitely dispatched.
Last year’s encounter in Tullamore was a cracker but sadly this year’s repeat did not live up to the hype. This was the acid test for Galway and they failed miserably. Their tactics were very strange. The positioning of Big Joe Canning at centreforward backfired. I do not think he felt the weight of the ball since the 18th minute. Surely his best position is on the edge of the square, mind you judging by the way he went about his duties it would not have mattered where he started. He is still a great hurler but something seems amiss at present. Jackie Tyrrell put him in his pocket last Sunday. The James Stephen’s defender seems to be making a good habit of putting top class forwards in their place in recent years.
If I were John McIntyre I would certainly be letting him take the frees, if nothing else it might just get him into the game. McIntyre's decision to withdraw the two half forwards made life very easy for the country's two best halfbacks. Tommy and JJ must have had a pain in their arms hitting balls. When you are playing against defenders of that calibre, to have any chance you have got to get the ball in behind them, landing it down on them is certainly not an option. Having watched the game again in its entirety on Monday night the importance of Michael Fennelly cannot be overstated. He is a powerhouse in the middle of the park — he and Michael Rice gave a masterful display of midfield play.
Eoin Larkin too seems to be coming back into form. His shooting might have been a bit wayward last Sunday but I would not worry about that, that will come in time. TJ Reid also looked more composed, in contrast to the Dublin game he was passing the ball around when his own score was not on. He and Henry have a great understanding. Kilkenny were better value than their three points half-time lead. The Galway goal should have never been conceded. PJ Ryan will not have to be told that he made a boo-boo for that one — trust me he will know.
Henry Shefflin and Ger Farrahager exchanged points in the early stages of the new half before Kilkenny raised their game to a level that no team would live with. Seven unanswered points in a 14 minute spell of Kilkenny magic saw title ‘No 67’ safely in the bag. Some of the interchange of passing that led to these scores was simply breathtaking. When Kilkenny hit top form Galway had no answer. This is another of the Tribesmens’ downfalls. They always capitulate when the pressure comes on. The final scoreline certainly flattered the Galway men. Once or twice near the end Kilkenny picked off easy points, and if goals were needed you can bet your bottom dollar that they would be putting down the head and having a go. There are a lot of positives so far in this column, so not to have everyone getting carried away I am touching one or two slight worries. Apart from the 17 wides, PJ will know he will have to be sharper between the posts. Noel Hickey too must continue to raise his game — also Eddie and Gorta fit this category. For the life of me though I could not understand why the latter pair were not swooped at some stage, surely it was the obvious thing to do when both were performing below par....a slight dig will not upset any of these marquee names. I would be more than confident that they will all bounce back to form the next day.
The players head back to the clubs this weekend but when training resumes next week that is when the fun and games will begin. Guys like Fitzpatrick, Tennyson, Kavanagh, Fogarty, Lyng, Hogan, Ryall, and co, will be pushing hard looking for a starting spot in the semis. Now that the Bob O'Keeffe Cup is safely back by the Nore attention turns to August 8, for the next step for the five-in-a-row bid.
This week has been a good one for Kilkenny hurling. The ladies set the trend beating Tipperary last Saturday evening. Our minors without being impressive upfront easily saw off Dublin, and on Wednesday night the Kilkenny intermediates trained by Pat Hoban kept the good run going, by landing Kilkenny's third Leinster title in a week. It looks like Kilkenny's grip on Leinster hurling is as strong as ever.
