Selectors quick to make calls for Clare
Compliments also to referee Brian Gavin and his officials who made just the proper allowance for the conditions, allowing the game flow as best he could.
Greatest compliments of all to the two sets of players, to the manner in which they approached the game and played it out — a little bit of rough-house now and again but that only let us know how seriously they were taking it.
To the game itself and to me, allowing for the heavy pitch, it was as good a league game as I’ve seen for a while. Great value, good reward for the huge crowd who turned out, a good travelling contingent from Kilkenny in the 10,000+ crowd.
I’ll start with Clare and what I liked about them on the sideline, there was no standing on ceremony when it came to making hard decisions. Two of the most influential players in last year’s All-Ireland triumph, defender Brendan Bugler and centre-forward — and Hurler of the Year — Tony Kelly, were both taken off, not going well. That’s a very positive thing for the rest of the guys on the panel to see as it gives everyone hope they can yet break onto this team.
I also think a lot of people had a bit of an eye-opener yesterday. Anyone who thought this was a top-of-the-ground team saw otherwise, but then they’re top hurlers and I’ve always maintained that the best players adapt to all conditions.
Two Clare backs really stood out for me. Seadhna Morey wants to win a starting spot this year and did his chances no harm yesterday back in his best position of corner-back. Patrick O’Connor was another, adding to his growing reputation at wing-back.
Another two players who excelled were forwards Conor McGrath and Colin Ryan. Not alone can Ryan goal them though, he can keep them out as well and it was he — not Donal Touhy, as everyone seemed to think — who made the save from Henry Shefflin’s second-half penalty.
Mention of Donal, he was very solid in goal, made a good block in the second half, and his puck-outs were spot on.
A man I mentioned on Saturday, Tots O’Connell, also impressed when he was brought on. All in all a very positive day for Clare, who recorded a first competitive win over Kilkenny since 2005 — you can see what winning the All-Ireland has done for their confidence.
To Kilkenny, and I think Brian Cody will take a lot of positives from this game. Brian Kennedy and Michael Walsh in the full-back were solid, Pádraig Walsh was outstanding in midfield — another man I earmarked on Saturday — and chipped in with two fine points.
Several established Kilkenny stars also looked good, not least Shefflin — the fire is still in the belly, make no mistake about that, that competitive edge that has made him what he is, the best player in the game for over a decade now.
Colin Fennelly also looked fired up, stronger. I wonder though, how many of the new guys will still be there when the likes of Michael Fennelly, Brian Hogan, Richie Hogan, JJ Delaney, Richie Power and so on are back fully fit?
All in all it was a good start for both teams.
On Saturday evening in Thurles I felt Waterford were very unlucky against Tipperary, deserved something from it — a point at least.
As for what happened in Galway — I’d say even in Galway they didn’t see that coming. What happened to Dublin, did they perhaps overestimate themselves, underestimate Galway? A great win for Anthony Cunningham’s men, a terrible beating for Dublin.
As for Cork and Limerick, that was a great result for Limerick, showed real fighting spirit when down to 14 men for over half the game.
Cork, though, lost Conor Lehane to injury at a time when he was looking good. And what an exhibition of ball-striking from both Horgan and Lehane!
In other results, bad day for Offaly but what a win for Laois, and congratulations to that great hurling man Seamus ‘Cheddar’ Plunkett. Good day for Wexford also, holding on against Antrim in Ballycastle, but the signs are there already — this is going to be some competitive league again, in both Division 1A and 1B.
