Since my last column two weeks ago, Tipp have reclaimed the Munster title after a solid performance against Clare in the final. They, like Kilkenny, can sit back and watch the remaining contenders battle it out for the remaining two semi-final spots.
This year’s Munster final turned out to be an average contest with Clare shooting themselves in the foot with too many first half wides. In fairness to the Banner men, they didn't drop their heads and battled away, but in the end, Tipp had too much craft and scoring power on the day. They say absence makes the heart grow fonder and this was definitely evident by the reaction of both the players and fans after the final whistle. For Tipperary to go seven years without winning a Munster title is both a barren spell and a rarity. The Premier county have now won the Waterford Crystal Tournament, the National League and the Munster Championship and for this Liam Sheehy and his management team must take great credit. Some people felt that Sheehy might be filling the void until last year’s minor winning trainers Declan Ryan and Tommy Dunne were ready to take the reins it now looks like it could be some time before they get the call. The hunger and pride is definitely back in the blue and yellow jersey. It would make for a great final if Tipp and Kilkenny were to reach September's showpiece but after watching last weekend’s action no-one will be counting their chickens just yet.
This year’s hurling championship had been overshadowed by football in terms of entertainment but that changed last Saturday evening. For first time this year we saw true championship action when the rebels used all their experience to send Ger Loughnane’s tribesmen crashing out of this year’s championship. Once again it took a knockout game to reveal the true rigours of champion action. Thurles was definitely no place for the fainthearted as both teams went to war.
The rebels set their stall out early racing into a four point lead before boywonder Joe Canning commenced his scoring spree with a brilliantly taken goal. The youngster showed huge strength and character to beat Diarmuid O'Sullivan in the air before brushing him aside to slot coolly beyond Donal Og Cusack. Cusack's reaction was later to have an immense effect on the end result, little did we think that when referee Barry Kelly awarded him a yellow card for some verbal abuse, that a second would follow so soon. Everyone will have their own opinion on whether or not he should of been sent off, personally I think Barry Kelly who had a very average first half himself, was hasty in his reactions. Fortunately for Cork it turned out to be the winning of the game.
If they needed an added incentive they got it there and then. Cusack is one of the on-field leaders of the rebel outfit and it is well known that he delivered a few words or maybe a few home truths at the interval. Galway were still in a great position at this stage with the opposition down to 14 men and a lead of 2 points, there was definitely a pattern emerging as the first half evolved, Cork were playing the more fluent hurling but Galway had a match-winner in young Canning.
Cork regrouped during that interval period and came out with a game plan that was to win the day. There was no way that they could afford to hit a high ball into two small men in the full forward line, it had to be the game they knew best. The infamous running game that we have seen in recent years was brought back into action and with such men as Cathal Naughton, Ronan Curran, Joe Deane, the O'Connor brothers were only too happy to perform. The management too showed little sentiment by taking off Diarmuid O'Sullivan who wasn't hurling well on the night, this was probably Cork's finest display for some time and they thoroughly deserved to send both Ger O'Loughnane and his underachiever’s out of this year’s campaign. Joe Canning was the one exception to score 2-12 and be on the losing side has to be a hard pill to swallow, he was a pure joy to watch and the championship will be poorer without his involvement. It will be little consolation to young Canning but I'm sure he has his first All-star wrapped up. It's once again a very disappointing end to the year for Galway. Ger Loughnane's reign to date has been a failure and that's even by his own admission. You'd probably guessed by now that I'm not Ger Loughnane's greatest admirer but the players will also have to carry the can, this panel with so many so-called stars, have come up short under several different managers. We'll have to watch this space to see if Ger rides off into the sunset.
Cork have only a week to prepare for a tough quarter-final clash with Clare for some of the younger members it will be three games in eight days, this has the same feeling as Waterford and Limerick last year. Cork may be the better team but Clare have all the freshness so it’s a potential banana skin for Cork. After last year’s 'semple gate' affair I expect skin and hair to be flying come next Sunday. It’s hard to call but Cork's cuteness and scoring ability might well see them through.
The Waterford vs Wexford game also has the potential to be a good encounter maybe just because I think they are both ordinary teams. I'm still not convinced about Waterford for one I don't think Ken McGrath is a fullback - I think he wants to hurl too much for that position and he is sorely missed from centreback. The question is will Eoin Kelly be able to come up trumps again, a lot will depend on Eoin as some of the other scoring stars have misfired to date this year. Wexford have nothing to lose and it must be remembered that they put Tipperary to the sword at this stage last year, I expect an upset on Saturday evening but in which game I'm not sure.
