Clashes of the ash short on innovation

THERE are five top-flight senior intercounty hurling games left in the season — next weekend’s two quarter-finals, the two semi-finals and the final — and now is as good a time as any to take a quick look at what 2011 has brought so far.

Has there been great tactical innovation? Those left dumbstruck by Tipperary’s goal rush last weekend, or Kilkenny’s dissection of Dublin a couple of weeks beforehand, won’t have noticed any grand designs.

Both teams withdraw downfield and break back onto the ball in space near the opposition goal to raise the green flags. You say it like that and it sounds simple to defend against, which of course it isn’t, but you don’t have to re-invent the wheel.