Exhausted up in the stands after riveting game
I don’t think anywhere in the world yesterday, in any sport amateur or professional, individual or team, would you have got anything to match what the thousands in Semple Stadium saw. I’m absolutely exhausted after it, and I was up in the stands!
But you know what, I’d love to see it again next week, and the week after. And I would be watching it if Darren Gleeson’s attempt at a short pass from that last free hadn’t gone over the sideline. What a mistake to make at such a critical time.
Darren can drive a ball over 100 yards so what was he thinking? The game was tied, only seconds left. Why didn’t he drive that free as long and as hard as he could, in around the Kilkenny square, and see what happened? Anyway, that’s nit-picking.
I asked on Saturday for a bumper-to-bumper game and by God did we get that! I also asked that referee James Owens should just stand back and let them at it and to a large extent he did that.
But, such was the sporting intent of both teams, this game could have been played without a referee because James made some very bad calls. And it’s surprising too that he did, when you consider the experienced men he had running the sideline. And what were his umpires doing? Surely they should have seen the first penalty decision was a wrong call, that far from fouling Mark Kelly, Padraic Maher was the man fouled, Kelly clearly charging into him.
Is a full-back now not allowed stand his ground? Is he supposed to stand aside for a full-forward charging through? Speaking about the penalty, I hope all those who were shouting so loud in the last few months about how dangerous it was to advance the ball to the 13m line will be shouting again this week, because that’s what TJ Reid did.
I that was developed by Anthony Nash but now being taken up by others. It brings massive excitement to a game and wrong calls or not, it means a penalty is now truly a penalty in hurling.
Kilkenny won this game not just because they know how to win close games, but they know how to survive when things are going against them and hang on. The sideline also made a big difference. One telling substitution particularly was the moving of Padraic Walsh to wing-back and bringing in Lester Ryan to midfield. Walsh was outstanding again, absolutely magnificent, his point another bonus.
Eoin Murphy too was outstanding and made a great save at a vital time from Seamus Callanan that was crucial to Kilkenny’s survival but that’s what I’m talking about, they all contribute.
JJ Delaney at full-back, another, adding to a reputation that must now rank him among the all-time greats. Alongside him Paul Murphy is another who added to his growing reputation, but for me, Kilkenny won this game because of the contribution of Richie Hogan. Six points, every one of them a gem, Richie has really stepped up to the mark this year.
It wasn’t a great day for another of the greats, maybe the greatest, and Henry Shefflin could have been taken off earlier, but TJ Reid, another son of Ballyhale, is assuming his mantle up front.
It takes two to tango though and Tipperary were excellent yesterday, as good as I’ve seen them for a few years for which Eamon O’Shea and his team can take a bow. They’re going to be a match for anyone now and Munster is going to be interesting.
Where I’ve mentioned JJ and Paul Murphy for Kilkenny, Padraic Maher and Michael Cahill were outstanding for Tipperary, and Cathal Barrett did a great job on Shefflin, was blown for a crucial foul that was absolutely a wrong call. Kieran Bergin also caught the eye, John O’Dwyer likewise, and Bonner Maher. Seamus Callanan did well on frees but JJ won their battle hands down, winning the dirty ball time and again. Noel McGrath also chipped in.
Tipp’s man of the match, though, was their centre-back and captain, Brendan Maher. Brendan is enjoying a golden spell, one of the best hurlers in the country at the moment, if not the best. Tipperary have been trying for a while now to find a class number six — Brendan is looking to me like being the best since Mick Roche, that prince of hurlers, and that’s some compliment.
It was Kilkenny’s day but mark my words, Tipperary will have a say in the destination of this year’s championship title. They need to find a goal-scorer though.
