October is traditionally the month for county finals around the country. Generally counties that have been knocked out at quarter final stages will have their championships run off early in the month, while counties like our own who have progressed that bit further in the championship tend to have their big day in late October.
Looking at the results from around the country last Monday morning, it seems there are going to be quite a few new champions in the hurling strongholds. The Cork county final saw Carrigtohill, 100/1 outsiders at the start of the championship, win their first final for 93 years when they scored a one point win over CIT. After 93 years of trying no one will begrudge them their success. Thurles-Sarsfields were red hot favourites to retain the Tipp crown but they came up short last Sunday at semi-final stage against Clonulty-Rossmore. It was another bad day at the office for Lar Corbett, not only was he held scoreless again but he also made the long walk after picking up a second yellow card. It is certainly a month to forget for last year’s 'hurler of the year”. The old saying 'a pat on the back and a kick in the ass' comes to mind. Sport can be very cruel sometimes. I got a reminder of that last weekend when Lisdowney — the team I have been training — got knocked out of the championship. I know life goes on but you would be gutted for the players after putting in such an effort all year. The Desie will also have new champs after Ballygunnar knocked out title holders De la Salle.
Their saving grace was that they never panicked but big improvement will be needed against the title favourites Ballyhale-Shamrocks this weekend.
The Kilkenny champions O'Loughlin Gaels put their credentials on the line last Saturday, they came through their quarter final battle with city rivals Dicksboro but they got one hell of a fright before doing so. Fair play to the Boro men they took the game to the champions and for long periods they looked like causing an upset. The Boro men let the champs off the hook by conceding two very soft goals. I do not know whether it was the long layoff between games or the fact that they had beaten the opposition by a large margin in their league encounter but the O'Loughlins team looked very flat on the day. Their saving grace was that they never panicked but big improvement will be needed against the title favourites Ballyhale-Shamrocks this weekend. Dicksboro will be disappointed because the game was there for the taking; mind you I am sure when the dust has settled they will be very happy with their effort in the championship. They had a poor league run but they really rolled up their sleeves and got stuck in over the last few weekends.
Carrickshock too will be kicking themselves for giving the Shamrocks a second chance. They will know that they should have won the first day. They hurled well again last Sunday but the Ballyhale men just had the little edge upfront. There were some great individual displays; TJ Reid was a class apart during the first half while Richie Power gave an exhibition in the second. The battle between Michael Fennelly and Michael Rice was well worth the admission fee, at the final whistle it was honours even on that front. We have done a lot of talking about the Shamrocks intercounty players over the last few years but they have unearthed another couple of very promising hurlers. Young Joey Holden and Conor Walsh look like they have long careers ahead of them. Walsh had a hand in both goals, scoring one and it was from his shot that Henry finished the rebound for Ballyhale's first. Carrickshock did work their way back into the game. John Power's well taken goal set up a grandstand finish but it was the Ballyhale men who ultimately finished the strongest to claim victory that sets up a semi-final rematch against O'Loughlins. Some pundits are saying the Ballyhale men ain't going quite as well as a couple of years ago but I think Carrickshock have definitely risen to a new level. The tail that used to be on the Carrickshock team is not as long as it used to be and that is certainly a step in the right direction.
John Mulhall did a lot of damage for his side against the Fenians but he did get the freedom of Nowlan Park. He is a hard man to keep track of...
I expect two great battles this Sunday in the semi-finals. St Martins and James Stephens set the ball rolling at 2pm. Both of these two sides had easy victories in their quarterfinal games, some might say that they had it too handy. John Mulhall did a lot of damage for his side against the Fenians but he did get the freedom of Nowlan Park. He is a hard man to keep track of but I expect that the Village mentors will give one of their players a man marking job on the Kilkenny panellist. The same could be said about Eoin Larkin, he too will have to be watched by St Martins as he can inflict a lot of damage. If Jackie Tyrrell can dominate at centre back like he usually does at club level it will make St Martins’ task very hard. I do not see much between these two sides but the Village men might just shade it. There is no doubt but the Shamrocks are still the team to beat, when they turn it on there are not many teams that can live with them. The problem for them is that expectation levels are always high. O'Loughlins will definitely improve after last week’s outing but I do not see them improving enough to stop the Shamrocks. The Ballyhale men will be mad looking for revenge after last year’s defeat.
The Rower Inistioge will contest their first Intermediate final after they withstood a late rally from St Lachtains. The Freshford men are another side that will be kicking themselves for not taking their chances. They missed three glorious goal chances in the first half, which cost them victory. The Rower Inistioge men were just that bit more consistent over the hour. Their leading tally man Michael Grace came up trumps once again with five well taken points. If they are to land their first Intermediate title they will need to create a few more goal chances. I am sure my club colleague Pat O'Neill will work on that before the final. They can sit back and watch Danesfort and Glenmore do battle this Saturday. Glenmore had a comprehensive victory over Conahy Shamrocks last Saturday. It is hard to know whether three games in three weeks will take its toll on the Glenmore men. They have class forwards in Eoin Murphy and Ger Aylward, if Danesfort give these two any room they will be punished. Danesfort will be looking to their three intercounty stars to lead them from the front. Their back-up cast is not bad but they will still need Paul Murphy and the Hogan brothers to do the business. It is a hesitant vote to Danesfort and I mean a hesitant one as I have been impressed with Glenmore any time I have seen them this year.
The two most nerve-racking games this weekend are surely going to be the relegation deciders. It is hard to believe that either Tullaroan or Clara could be heading back to the Intermediate grade. Clara have seriously talented hurlers but they just do not seem to be gelling as a unit. Tullaroan have been flirting with relegation for a couple of years, the question is will they knock on the door once too often. They battled right to the wire against Graigue- Ballycallan and were somewhat unfortunate not to get at least a draw. This is obviously a game that could go either way. Clara will have to match Tullaroan's physicality, if not they could be taking the drop. Tullogher-Rosbercon and Graiguenamanagh fight it out in the Intermediate grade. I have not seen the Tullogher men this year but the reports were not good after their last game, however they just might have enough class to avoid the drop.
