Championship sniff in the air at Semple
It’s great to see the league semi-finals restored. It gives us a sniff of championship.
I like this new set-up. Every game was meaningful. Every day the players went out they were playing for something solid. It’s been a high-scoring league, the highest I can remember. A huge points tally in every game which is great for the spectators. Maybe the marking hasn’t been as tight as it might be but it’s been good to watch, a lot of very spectacular scores.
But the scoring won’t be as high this week. We’re going to see more lowering of the blade. We got a taste of it last weekend with Dublin/Galway in the relegation game, two red cards.
If Barry Kelly looks at that again he’ll see he made a few mistakes. It wasn’t by any means a dirty game, but Dublin are left without two players this afternoon in Portlaoise.
It’s going to be a battle again today. Dublin will have more supporters with the Cork/Dublin U21 football acting as a curtain-raiser. But which Galway will turn up? On their day they can be a match for anyone. On another day they can be beaten by anyone. They still haven’t sorted out that old inconsistency problem.
If the real Galway turn up, especially with Joe Canning back and in form, they can win this. If not, Dublin will take it. It all hinges on Galway and what kind of form they bring.
We know Dublin. Hugely consistent and probably the unluckiest team in the league. A few pucks of a ball and they could actually have been playing in the semi-final, instead they could be one of the first teams to win the league one year and be relegated the next.
Has this ever happened before? I can’t remember it, but it’s not something anyone wants on their CV.
Next, Kilkenny and Clare, the first game tomorrow. It’s being said that Clare have nothing to lose – rubbish. They have a league semi-final to lose and I’m certain the players and management will be thinking like that. They’re not going to Semple Stadium as sacrificial lambs to be devoured by Kilkenny, they’re going there to win.
And they can win. Clare always put it up to Kilkenny in the league, they should have no fear here. They must learn from their last game, the 1B final against Limerick. Win ball outfield early, don’t concede the midfield area to Kilkenny, be a lot tighter in defence and stay aggressive.
People are also saying Clare won’t match Kilkenny for strength – nonsense. If you’re fit you can match anyone and Clare are fit. You can give a hit but more important, you can take the hit, then just get up and get on with it. Conor Lehane showed that when Cork beat Kilkenny. He got a huge hit early on from Michael Fennelly, was put down, bounced up. Patrick Horgan pointed the free and Cork were on their way.
It will be a physical battle. That’s what hurling always was, still is, and hopefully always will be. Kilkenny will be hitting hard as usual, I expect Clare will stand up to that. I’m going for a Kilkenny win, on their experience, but I’m expecting a close game.
Cork and Tipperary is the one most people are talking about, the game everyone wants to see. Where are Cork at? That’s the big question.
They’ve produced new players who have done well and drew with Tipp two weeks ago in the final round in a great game. But that was excuse-me hurling with space everywhere. This one will have bite, a league semi-final. Tipp and Cork in Thurles. This was always a huge game, everyone giving their all and there’s many a man walking around today carrying the scars of those battles.
They have huge respect for each other but also a huge dislike, both seeing themselves as kings of Munster hurling. Two great hurling counties, Sunday is a continuation of a great rivalry. Who’s best equipped?
Both have injury problems. Both have good replacements but Tipp at home, that extra bit of experience — home win.
