Croker clash will tell a lot about Cats
That’s a pity, and I’m not just being parochial here.
The Munster senior hurling championship has always been a huge draw in the GAA calendar, yet we’re looking at the very real possibility that the combined attendance for the two Munster semi-finals mightn’t even break 20,000.
At Waterford/Clare a couple of weeks ago we had just over 11,000. Tomorrow I wouldn’t be surprised if the attendance in Páirc Uí Chaoimh was even less – why would anyone bother forking out good money to see a game that was decided months ago?
A real pity.
So is Leinster taking over? It seems to be heading that way, and I would expect a much bigger crowd in Croke Park than in Páirc Uí Chaoimh – I know even of a few Cork people who are heading for Dublin rather than taking the stroll down to the Park. And you have to accept that the more attractive pairings are in the capital.
Most people reckon that events in Páirc Uí Chaoimh are a foregone conclusion. Regardless of what side you were on in the recent player/management dispute, no-one can be taking any pleasure in this; it’s not good for hurling, it’s definitely not good for Limerick hurling, and I’d say the Munster Council aren’t too pleased with it either.
Over the years Limerick were one of the best-supported teams in the championship, regardless of their standing, who they were playing, or where. That’s gone out the window this year. That’s enough on that – I don’t think there’s any need for me to make a prediction.
To the real action this weekend. The first game in Croke Park is Kilkenny/Dublin, and most of the talk has been about the Cats – what’s their real form this year?
They won the league last year, went on to win the All-Ireland, another double for Brian Cody and his band of extraordinary hurlers; this year, not so impressive in the league, which isn’t at all like them, and we’re all wondering – how well have they wintered? How’s Henry Shefflin? How is Tommy Walsh going? JJ Delaney? Will Eoin Larkin be fit? Will Eddie Brennan be back? Will Noel Hickey be at full-back?
At the time of writing I don’t know the team but even if I did, most of those questions are still relevant. And one of the big things for me this year – how loyal will Brian Cody be to those who have been there for most of the glory years? How he manages that thorny question will determine what happens with Kilkenny this year. Tomorrow will tell us a lot.
To Dublin, and a question – how big a crowd will they bring to Croke Park? They have a good team now, a high-profile and able manager, up against the four-time All-Ireland champions – will the Dublin public finally cotton on to what they have and start to offer some support?
I don’t want to start on about all the promising young Dublin players, the likes of Liam Rushe, Alan McCrabbe, David Treacy – now is their time. Give it a go, see what happens. There’s only one winner I can call here, but I want to see Dublin make a game of this, and I think they will.
To Galway and Offaly: if people are talking about Kilkenny, following hard behind them are Galway. By the time that ball is thrown in they’ll know who has made it through from the other side, and they’ll have incentive.
The danger for Galway, however is they can’t afford to look past this game. It’s their first meeting in Leinster but Offaly have the better of Galway in the All-Ireland championship, lead 4-3, including two All-Ireland final wins. However, I like the Galway attitude this year. They have been keeping their heads down, not getting carried away with what they’ve won so far and looking to improve. Offaly have a lot of very good players, but I fancy Galway here, especially with the firepower in that forward line. Above all, however, I want to see two good games in Croke Park, because I doubt very much we’ll see one in Cork.
