O'Loughlin Gaels and Carrickshock will be the envy of every Kilkenny senior club hurler next Sunday when they step out at Nowlan Park to do battle for the Tom Walsh Cup. All 12 teams set out at the start of the championship campaign hoping to reach this very special day in the Kilkenny hurling calendar. Round by round teams have fallen by the wayside.
All the hard training and sacrifices count for very little if your ambitions fall short. The fact that we will have new champions this year has given this final an extra boost. The Shamrocks have been great champs over the last four years. In fairness even without Henry Shef they made the bold bid to extend their run but in this life fans also like change, not being disrespectful to the Ballyhale men but that is just the way it is. We know going to the Park this Sunday that the cup will find a new home, where it will end up will be down to the players who want it the most. I know that is a cliché that is often used but it is still the long and short of it. Both these two would be worthy champs, however as we all know there can be only one winner. Carrickshock, the team I recently referred to as Kilkenny's biggest underachievers in recent years have finally got their act together. At times in their semi-final victory over Erin’s Own they looked brilliant but they will be aware that a repeat of their second-half performance will not suffice to gain victory. In one way that second-half performance might be a help, as a big victory over Comer could have left them vulnerable going into this Sunday’s game. I am sure manager Brendan Fennelly had a few harsh words to say after that game, still they got the job done and that is all that counts. They will once again look to their marquee players Richie Power, John Dalton, John Tennyson, Michael Rice, and David Franks to lead the way if they are to bridge that 59 year gap. O'Loughlin’s are a different proposition, they have landed two titles in the last decade and have always been there or thereabouts at the business end of things during that period. Their victory over Ballyhale was not out of the blue. They might not have as many marquee names as their opposition but they are certainly a more balanced outfit. Their work ethic was top class against the champions, the question which remains to be seen is can they repeat it. The other big question is how they will combat Richie Power’s scoring threat, will they drop Brian Hogan deep or elect to play a third midfielder? I know Carrickshock have seven titles to their name but I get the feeling that this one if won would be celebrated as if it was their first. They will have most of the neutral support this Sunday, that 59 year gap since their last final appearance will see to that. Can they win? It will be a tight affair, the bookies make the Shocks favourites but I think O'Loughlin’s are a more balanced outfit and just might make them wait one more year.
Minor final
This Sunday’s minor final is certainly not a strange setting for Dicksboro, however for their opposition Kilmacow it will be a very special day, a first Rionn A minor final appearance is a great testament to both the players and the underage committee. There is no doubt but it will be a big ask of them to lower the colours of this Boro side. They will get inspiration from Erin’s Own victory over the city side a couple of years ago. On paper you would have to side with the Boro, star men like Cillian Buckley, Ollie Walsh, and Garry Gaule should lead the way. Win, lose, or draw next Sunday could be the start of a renaissance in Kilmacow hurling.
Dicksboro return to senior ranks
There was no shortage of thrills and spills last weekend. I think anyone who travelled to Nowlan Park last Saturday and Sunday got plenty of value for money. Dicksboro returned to the senior ranks after edging out Mullinavat in a thriller. Talk about a game of two halves, Dicksboro held the upper hand in the first half but what a turnaround in the second, the Vat men came around after the break and if it had not been for some wayward shooting they could be champions. Many fans reckon Mullinavat did not turn up in the first half but I think that is being disrespectful to this very exciting Boro side. The Boro are champions and deservedly so in my eyes. They were the ones who took their chances; their two goals scored by livewire Adrian Stapleton were out of the top drawer, not just the execution but also the lead up play. They have some excellent hurlers coming through, players like Enda Malone, Michael Fagan, Adrian Stapleton, caught the eye but special praise must go the young Cillian Buckley, this year intermediate player of the year by a country mile. It will not be long before he will be getting a call from a certain intercounty manager.
Junior final
The junior players of Barrow Rangers and John Lockes must do battle again after finishing all square in last Sunday’s Junior final. The early stages of this tie were all about the Callan men, two quickfire goals from Ger Shelly gave the impression that it was going to be a one sided affair. The Barrow Rangers men battled back in tremendous style and totally outplayed the Callan men for most of the game. Callan went something like 27 minutes without scoring, one or two of their younger players seemed to let the occasion get to them. A couple of shrewd changes by the Lockes’ management team finally got them back on track to rescue the day. There is no doubt but the Barrow Rangers men will feel they left it behind them — a bit of inexperience cost them at the death. The replay is on this Monday, it is still anybody’s game.
Relegation playoffs
Last Saturday is a day both St Lachtain’s and Black & Whites will want to forget after respectively losing their senior and intermediate status. The Skeough men can have little complaint after been soundly put in their place by fellow parishioners Graiguenamanagh. The Graig men had far more scoring power in their ranks. St Lachtain’s also return to a lower division after a great second half display from Fenians. The Freshford players will be wondering how they lost after playing so well, it was simply pride and another vintage performance from JJ Delaney that won the day for the Johnstown lads.
All-Stars
Well done to Kilkenny’s five All-stars — Jackie Tyrrell, Tommy Walsh, JJ Delaney, Michael Fennelly, and Richie Power, every one of them was richly deserved.
Danesfort Field of Dreams
Everyone is encouraged to vote for Danesfort this week. To vote text the word KELLOGGS, followed by the word LEINSTER to 53799.
