Standing in Paric Lactain in Freshford last January watching a young, fit Antrim side lower Kilkenny's colours in the Walsh Cup didn't leave anyone too upset, most people acknowledged that our warriors had just returned from what is now their annual team holiday and that it would take a few training sessions to shake off the cobwebs. Being honest, Kilkenny fans knew that this bunch of Kilkenny players would bust a gut later in the year to land the 3-in-a-row but I don't think anyone could have envisaged exactly what lay ahead for Kilkenny hurling.
Yeah, we like to think that whatever hurling competition we enter we stand a chance, but to sweep the boards at every level makes '08 a very special year and one that will be hard to surpass in the future. There were so many magic moments along the way, there were highs, lows and the usual thrills, spills and controversy that make a hurling year. Kilkenny's early league form was encouraging, a walk-over from the striking Cork boys was followed by good victories over Dublin, Wexford, Waterford and Antrim. This saw Kilkenny reach the semi-final stage - for an outing with the old enemy Tipperary. A home draw meant a good crowd showed up at Nowlan Park. Tipperary had been rejuvenated under the guidance of new manager Liam Sheedy. On the day they were far superior fitness-wise and ran out 5 point winners. In hindsight it was the reality check that Kilkenny needed, and it also helped to keep the media in check. Brian Cody's motto down the years was always win...win...win but judging by his demeanour on the sideline on that April day, he didn't seem too bothered. It looked like his sights were firmly set on retaining the Liam McCarthy, he wanted his troops as fresh as he could have them when the real hurling started in August. The month of May saw Henry Shefflin return to the intercounty scene after one or two handy games with his club. It was a great boost to have himself and Noel Hickey back in the fray. These are two warriors you want beside you in the trenches when you go to war. Injuries are part and parcel of a team game, Hickey and Shefflin’s return was offset by a long term injury to Derek Lyng but Michael Fennelly was a nice replacement for the Urlingford man and he slipped in without any problems.
Waterford and Limerick had the honour of getting proceedings underway in Munster. The first upset of the year looked on the cards from an early stage. Clare had come with fire in their bellies under the guidance of new manager Mike McNamara, and they easily brushed off a dismal Deise challenge. It was to be a red letter day for Waterford and, as we found out later, all was not well in the sunny Southeast and after a vote of ‘no-confidence’ Justin McCarthy walked the plank. Tipperary, the newly-crowned league winners made a big statement when they took the scalp off Cork to set up a Munster final date with Clare, a game that they eventually won snugly. This was their first Munster title since '01 and they were looking quite a force.
Kilkenny’s championship campaign started in O'Moore Park, Portlaoise, a nervous opening 25 minutes by Kilkenny had given the Offaly supporters something to cheer about before King Henry said enough is enough. He ghosted through the heart of the Offaly rearguard, before offloading the perfect pass to Martin Comerford. Comerford turned and the net bulged and that spelt the end of Offaly's Leinster challenge. Wexford, who have shipped some heavy defeats at the hands of Kilkenny in recent years, looked like cannon fodder for Kilkenny in the Leinster final after struggling against Dublin in the semi-final, in fact the Blues more or less threw it away. The Wexford boys didn't read the script and gave Kilkenny a good run for about 40 minutes before a brace from ‘Fast Eddie’ had normal services restored. ‘Cha got his hands on his first silverware and it wasn’t to be the last.
Kilkenny and Tipperary had made it straight to the semi-finals courtesy of being provincial winners, the rest had to head for the qualifiers and boy were they going to be competitive. Cork, Galway, Waterford, Wexford, Offaly, Limerick, Clare, Dublin, Laois and Antrim all competed for two spots. We have become accustomed in recent years to the idea that the championship only starts at this stage, it’s a pity really but you need that knock-out situation to bring out the best as we've seen yet again this year. Dublin and Limerick fell at the first hurdle, Cork saw off the challenge of Ger Loughnane’s outfit in a heated contest in Thurles. Donal Óg Cusack saw red late in the first half, a situation that was to inspire his colleagues to victory despite the best efforts of wonderboy Joe Canning. Canning may have been on the losing side but he had most certainly announced himself on the intercounty stage (the year’s best individual performance ). Cork have blown hot and cold all year, Clare had them on the ropes in the quarter-final but paid heavily for a few elementary mistakes. Cute Cork know how to finish out games and that's what got them to a semi-final spot. Waterford's year was back on track, thanks mainly to the charismatic new manager Davy Fitzgerald. They had talked the talk and were slowly walking the walk, victories over Antrim, Offaly and Wexford saw them back in another semi-final spot, this time against Munster champions Tipperary.
Kilkenny and Cork had the first bite of the cherry to make it to the all-important day. The first 25 minutes of action was as good a game as you are ever likely to witness. The all important score came from eventual 'hurler of the year' Eoin Larkin, once Larkin's goal was scored Kilkenny never looked back and another date with destiny beckoned. Tipperary were slight favourites against Waterford but the Deise’s desire to get to the all-important game proved to be greater. Davy Fitzgerald and his players had earned what Gerald and Justin McCarthy had failed to ...an All-Ireland spot, vindication for the players who had made a hard call earlier in the year.
The build-up to the big event couldn't have been more of a contrast. Kilkenny fans were nice and quiet, years of experience had taught them to leave the team alone...well within reason anyway. Waterford on the other hand went totally bananas, every pole was draped in the white and blue, who could blame them they had waited so long but ultimately that hype was to have a profound effect on the team. Kilkenny's performance on September 7, 2008 was as near to perfection as we'll ever witness, all fifteen men performed to their maximum potential, in the end it was a privilege to have been present - the famous 3-in-a-row had been landed.
I would like to wish all a very happy Christmas and prosperous '09.
