TONY CONSIDINE: Rubbing Salthill in my wounds
Sun shining, dry sod, All-Ireland finalists meeting in the opening round of the league, I was really looking forward to it. All we got though — and not enough of it — was the good Salthill air.
What a disappointment, what a poor game from two of the supposed top sides in hurling. No point from play from a forward until the 36th minute, Kilkenny’s Aidan Fogarty with the score. No real excitement even as the second half came to a close and still just a single score between them. No venom, no body-shaking challenges, poor striking. Look at the frees missed by Kilkenny, both Richie Hogan and then Richie Power guilty of missing from what should have been routine positions for top-class free-takers. And both of them are outstanding dead-ball specialists.
At the other end, it didn’t get much better for the reigning league and All-Ireland champions, three goals conceded — well finished by Galway, admittedly — that under other circumstances would simply not have been allowed. No, this was not good, certainly not from Kilkenny but I hope none of the Galway supporters get carried away with the win either.
Despite all those misses by Kilkenny, despite the goals conceded, despite the fact Galway had a big wind at their backs in the second half, every opportunity to build on their three-point half-time lead, they were left clinging on for dear life at the end, Kilkenny trying to manufacture the equalising goal.
One positive from a Galway perspective, new centre-back Joseph Cooney looked the part, and might solve that problem for them though it’s still early days. Davy Glennon also looked lively, finished with 1-1 and was very busy, looked like a younger Damien Hayes. Not that the same Damien is finished, he too scored 1-1 and got through his usual huge quota of work.
And of course there’s Joe Canning, laid on the three goals with some brilliant vision and passes, scored some huge long-range points from placed balls.
Several old-stagers looked good for Galway, Fergal Moore and David Collins in defence, Hayes and Canning up front, but none of these were my man-of-the-match. I’d give it — not for the first time — to that brilliant defender JJ Delaney. He still has it, some superb catches.
In fairness to the Kilkenny defence — those three goals apart — and to their midfield, where Richie Power (second half especially) and Lester Ryan dominated, this loss wasn’t their fault. It was the attack, none of whom impressed. Come championship, how many of the six who started yesterday will still be there? Come to that, against Tipperary in two weeks in Thurles in the league, how many of them will we see?
Though Galway won, I’d say Brian Cody has as many reasons to be happy after this as Anthony Cunningham, or should I say, fewer reasons to be unhappy. This wasn’t impressive by either side but Kilkenny have more big players to return.
On another note, in the last four games that Galway and Kilkenny have played, Kilkenny have conceded 10 goals. Even with the championship still on the distant horizon that has to be a worry for Cody and his management team, something to work on as the league progresses. Remember, for all those who were missing yesterday, Kilkenny did have five of their six All-Ireland final starting defence. Long-term that’s probably what was most significant yesterday, that Galway scored three goals on that defence and could have had six. Better days ahead — we fervently hope!
