Kilkenny senior hurlers got the year off to the best possible start last Sunday when they had way too much fire power for a poor Dublin outfit in a bitterly cold Parnell Park. The combination of experienced backs and enthusiastic forwards gave new Dublin manager Anthony Daly a bad start to his stint in charge of the metropolitan side.
Kilkenny started with six players from last Septembers victorious side, Brian Hogan, Jackie Tyrrell, JJ Delaney, Tommy Walsh, Richie Power, and Taggy Fogarty were called upon for duty along with a host of hungry panel members. There were also call-ups for Tullogher-Rosbercon's Pat Hartley and the Rower Inistioge's Michael Grace. One look at the final score more or less tells the story of the game 6-12 to 12 points. Kilkenny's ability to open up a naive Dublin rear-guard made life very easy on the day. Dublin started with a strong breeze but it made very little difference as they were on the back foot from the first minute. Any ball that was sent in the direction of the Blues attack was leisurely dealt with by an experienced Kilkenny rearguard. Players like John Tennyson, John Dalton, and Canice Hickey made good use of the game time they received. Tennyson and Dalton in particular would certainly be on any other intercounty side but due to Kilkenny's settled back line over the last couple of seasons they find opportunities hard to come by. Dunnamaggin keeper David Hearity also did himself no harm; he was particularly sharp in the first half when he pulled off a fine double save. Tommy Walsh and ‘Comer's Damien Fogarty had a fine battle at midfield with Dublin's best players Alan McCrabbe and Shane Durkin. Up front all Kilkenny players did well with Richie Hogan and newcomer Michael Grace looking very sharp. Hogan who started at wing forward gave fullback Kevin Ryan a torrid time when he was moved to the edge of the square. The game was all-square as the interval approached when Taggy Fogarty made one of his customary runs at the Dublin defence, he seemed to run into a dead end and lost possession in a flash. However, the Rowers Michael Grace gathered the ball and took off goal bound, in similar fashion to Eddie Brennan he left a host of defenders in his wake before slotting past Dublin keeper Alan Nolan. Even against the elements it was no more than the Cats deserved, the game was over as a contest after the first five minutes of the new half. Goals from Taggy Fogarty and Richie Hogan saw to that. With Kilkenny well in the driving seat the Kilkenny management elected to give youth its fling, they offloaded the bench- Paddy Hogan, John Mulhall and Paul Murphy three of last years winning U21 panel were given their first taste of senior competitive action. Murphy didn't see much action due to Kilkenny's dominance but both Hogan and Mulhall left their mark with well taken scores. Being honest I was well gone from the Donneycarney venue when Michael Rice added goal number six. I had seen enough to suggest that Kilkenny are as hungry as ever and that Anthony Daly has one hell of a tough job in front of him. In fairness to the new manager he was missing a few regulars; the supporters will have to be patient as it could take the Clare man a couple of seasons to mould a team capable of competing at the top. Brian Cody will be delighted at how his side performed. Despite being abroad of late they looked very sharp fitness wise, this victory gives them another outing next Sunday. They have given up home advantage and have elected to travel to Casement Park to take on Antrim. It’s a nice gesture and a chance for the northern kids to see the Kilkenny stars up close and personal. The Saffrons will have to be at their best because the Cats will want revenge for last year’s defeat. As far as the new rules are concerned it’s hard to judge from this encounter as there was no real cut and thrust to it. I'll reserve my judgement until late spring maybe after the Kilkenny v Tipperary match, that game will be a sure indicator of what’s in store.
This Sunday is another big day for the parish of Tullogher-Rosbercon as they head to McDonagh Park, Nenagh to take on Galway champions Skehana in the All-Ireland junior semi-final. It's hard to weigh up this game as I know little or nothing about the opposition but if Tullogher-Rosbercon can turn up with the same enthusiasm and vigour that has got them this far it will take a good side to beat them. They have got to show total respect to the Galway side, they are 60 minutes away from that glorious chance of playing in Croke Park and that has to be some incentive.
