Saturday night games must come under the spotlight
The more I see of it the less I like it. Saturday night in Semple Stadium was a perfect example. I know conditions weren’t great as the match went on, but time and again players had to put their hurleys up to shade their eyes as they tried to follow the flight of the ball. Lads are struggling with the glare and I would say that the skill levels suffered as a result.
On a clear night it’s bad enough, but when the rain is falling, it can be dangerous. People tell me that the lights create a great atmosphere – well, I have yet to see it. Hurling, as far as I’m concerned, is a game for daylight.
At the start of this game Tipperary were going very well, and none more so than centre-forward Pa Bourke. The two midfielders, Brendan Maher and Shane McGrath, were also flying, and the defence was well on top. They weren’t able to sustain that effort, however, as it became obvious – as would have been said at the old fairs long ago — that this Tipperary team ‘wintered’ very well.
It wasn’t just the hosts lack of fitness however that was notable. After about 20 minutes Brian Cody and his men made the move of the match, switching Michael Fennelly back from centre-forward to his best position, in midfield with John Mulhall going in the other direction. And from there the match changed. Fennelly was outstanding, by a distance my man-of-the-match and went on to dominate midfield while Mulhall came up with a couple of points from his new berth. And of course once Kilkenny had established themselves in midfield Jackie Tyrell and Tommy Walsh thundered into the tie in the half-back line and went on to have outstanding games.
Neither side was at full strength, with several newcomers on show. Whatever about Tipperary, I’d say Brian Cody will be pleased at there turn from the new boys. Paul Murphy did well at corner-back, PJ Delaney was strong on the wing while Colin Fennelly caught the eye. He took his goal superbly – his little dummy of the Tipperary keeper just before he took his shot showed real coolness in that situation. Kilkenny obviously came to win the game, and did what they came to do.
And what of Tipperary? You could see the effects of the past few months of celebrations on them, and in the second-half especially. Tipperary made three changes at the break, two more as the second-half went on (a few of those enforced), and it was good to see the likes of John O’Neill get a game. I don’t think Declan Ryan would have discovered too much about those new guys, but there were two lessons he should have learned — Patrick Maher is not a full-forward, he is better out in the half line, while Padraig Maher should be used in the half-back line, preferably in the centre. Neither of the Mahers were good in their selected roles on Saturday night, and Patrick especially was given a hurling lesson by JJ Delaney.
Overall, a poor game, sleep-inducing as the game wore on and won’t live long in the memory.
Before the ball was thrown in I thought it was a poor crowd, but by the time Brian Gavin blew the final whistle I had changed my mind – those who stayed away knew what they were doing!
