Hurling classic has fans in thrall
Also, if you were looking for a game in which every player starred, a game in which any player could get the man-of-the-match award and no-one could quibble with the choice, then this was the game.
In a lifetime of going to games it’s the first time I can remember where there was practically no contact. This was like watching Barcelona playing soccer; it was keep-ball at the highest level, both sides content to sit back, to lay off each other.
The first-half was a really great contest, score-for-score up to the break, Cork marginally ahead as they went into the dressing-rooms. I was looking forward to the same on the resumption but I’m wondering — did word filter through about what was happening in Nowlan Park, did they know they were both through regardless of the result?
The second-half was good again but wasn’t at the same breakneck pace as the first. Then again, were they going to be able to maintain that level of intensity for a full 70 minutes at this early stage of the season?
I posed a question a few weeks ago, asked why the scoring has been so high so far in this league; I wondered if it was the fine weather, the fast pitches — no, it’s not that. It’s just that no-one is man-marking any more, no-one is hitting hard. I was talking to a few ould lads afterwards and they reckoned it was fox-trot hurling, no bumper-to-bumper stuff, no-one getting in tight. But that’s the way hurling is going now, every team trying to use the ball, keep possession.
It’s a great spectacle, that much has to be admitted, and everyone in Semple Stadium really enjoyed this. I have to give credit especially to the Cork supporters. Hard times or not they still travelled in huge numbers and they made themselves heard, gave great support to their young team.
It’s my second Sunday in a row seeing Cork playing and again I was impressed, by their first touch especially, their fantastic levels of skill and control. This game suited them, so open, and players like Cathal Naughton thrived. I wonder, is there a faster man in Irish sport at the moment? And he’s using that pace really well now, is maturing all the time.
I think too that Jimmy Barry Murphy is getting the spine of his team settled. Stephen McDonnell was brilliant again yesterday, and Eoin Cadogan again impressed at centre-back. The two young midfielders did the business for the second week in a row, McLouglin especially, Sweetnam with three points.
And what about Conor Lehane? He was struggling against Paraic Maher (who hasn’t!) but never gave up, and took his goal really well. And the skill, the vision, shown by Paudie O’Sullivan to set it up — very impressive.
Patrick Horgan was absolutely outstanding; his equalising point was so good, and he got it from centre-forward — I’d continue to play him there, and move Pa Cronin to the wing.
As for Tipperary, you’d have to say they’re hurling well again. Their two corner-backs, though up against two really good players, were superb — I’d say Donagh Maher and Mickey Cahill are there for the championship.
The new man, Thomas Stapleton, also did very well, as did Conor O’Mahony at centre-back. It’s the Tipp forwards though — lethal, especially guys like Pa Bourke, Noel McGrath and Shane Bourke, but hats off most of all to John O’Brien.
This was one of John’s best games for Tipperary, he showed great leadership to a young attack, and I thought Eoin Kelly also looked very sharp when he came on. A worry though — they’re scoring a lot of points but where have all the goals gone?
They meet again in a few weeks — I doubt very much it will be as open again.
A s for news elsewhere — fairplay to Waterford for avoiding the relegation battle, a real turnaround in their fortunes in the last eight days. And of course Kilkenny gave their usual warm welcome to Nowlan Park to Galway yesterday — what a walloping, and remember, Kilkenny put up that massive score without Henry Shefflin and Richie Power.
Well done too to Clare and Limerick, meeting now in the division 1B final for a place at the top table next year and a place in this year’s league semi-final proper. It was always on the cards that they’d meet, but Dublin and Galway in the relegation battle? Still a few more days of interesting league action to go.
