Tribesmen must match Kilkenny’s work ethic
I disagree with that criticism. If it wasn’t for Kilkenny for the last few years, hurling would have been very poor. Kilkenny play the game the way I like to see it played; there’s no bull attached to them, they’re hard, physical, on the edge, but they’re fair, and I don’t remember a single player in the last ten years who was injured from a foul blow from any Kilkenny player.
They stand up, they hurl, and they hurl with every skill there is; they’re a fantastic team, with fantastic players, and it’s no fluke that they are now going for four All-Ireland titles in-a-row.
I don’t think there’s a manager in the country who doesn’t envy Brian Cody his panel of players, the attitude they have every time they take the field. They treat every opponent with respect, they honour the jersey every time they play. Cork are the only team to come near them in the last few years but even they are trailing.
Even when Kilkenny are winning games by huge margins there’s still plenty to admire. Huge credit must go to the players for that, and huge praise especially to their manager, Brian Cody, and to the various people he’s had with him over the years.
SO, enough of that. To this Leinster semi-final, and the challenge against Galway.
Kilkenny have a few injury worries, not least Noel Hickey, who is named on the bench. Someone said to me facing Joe Canning will be a big test; my answer: what a test for Joe!
Mind you, there is also a doubt over the Galway youngster, but hopefully both will be fit, and we might even get to see a contest here at some stage.
One definite loss for Kilkenny is Brian Hogan, still out with his collarbone, and he’s a huge loss. Whether at full-back, where he played for much of the league, or at centre-back, where he won an All Star last year, Hogan has been outstanding for Kilkenny, really ruled the roost in his position – it won’t be easy to find a replacement. Then again, we’re talking about Kilkenny here, and they do have guys of the calibre of John Tennyson, John Dalton, both of whom step in to fill the slots normally occupied by Hogan and JJ Delaney.
People are saying that this is a championship game with a difference, Kilkenny meeting Galway in Leinster, but how different is it, really?
Five times Kilkenny and Galway have met in the All-Ireland championship since 2001 (and by the way, Galway won two of those encounters), so the fact is they are familiar with each other. The main difference, apart from the fact that Galway have a chance to win the Leinster title, is the venue – normally they meet in Croke Park or Thurles. So, there will be very little that’s new here.
To the game itself: regardless of who lines out, we know that Kilkenny will have a top-notch defence. We’re not sure of the midfield either but we do know they’ll be solid here also. What we know beyond question, however, they’ll have a fantastic forward line.
You look at the names, the likes of Henry, Eddie Brennan, Richie Power, Eoin Larkin, Aiden Fogarty, Martin Comerford, Richie Hogan, and any one of them can burn you, but their real secret is the fact that they play as a team, and every score is a team score.
That’s why they manage to destroy teams once they get them on the run – no-one is looking for his own glory, wasting golden opportunities, everyone is looking for the team score.
The big question: how will Galway close down that attack?
Galway are going to have to take a leaf from the book of Kilkenny’s forwards, but not just in the way they attack as a team – they’re going to have to match the effort of the Kilkenny forwards in the way they defend. And that’s critical. In this, the Galway midfielders will also have to play their part, because this is usually an area where Kilkenny come out on top.
Galway are going to have to match Kilkenny’s work-rate in every area of the pitch, even go one better – that’s their only chance. Their focus has to be 100%, and not even a notch less; total concentration for the full 70 minutes, nothing less.
A winner? Every year Galway are one of the favourites for the All-Ireland title – I can’t understand why. What have they done in recent years to deserve that tag? Not a lot, as far as I can see.
They always had the excuse of not having had a tough provincial championship to test them before they got to the knockout stages of the All-Ireland itself – that one is gone this year. But, I know a few Galway people who were opposed to going into Leinster – I hope that after this experience there won’t be a rush to get out.
I can see only one winner, Kilkenny.
On the second Leinster semi-final, Dublin and Wexford – I think this could be the best match of the weekend. There’s nothing between these two, hasn’t been for a few years, but the greater pressure is on Dublin.
They’ve been coming for a few years, have been winning some impressive league matches – time for them now to do the same in the championship.
Unfortunately for them, I think they’re coming up against a Wexford team that’s on the rise, especially after the win over Offaly. I’m going for Wexford, after another tight battle.
