Galway have players but not the team to force Cats through back door
The reason? He has become completely frustrated with the whole set-up. You’re going to a game and you don’t know who’s starting, where they’re going to be playing, how they’re going to be playing, whether they’re going to bother turning up at all. He admitted he will find it hard to sit at home but that’s what he’s going to do.
I can understand his stance. I’ve said time and again, the talent is in Galway but they just don’t play as a team, they all seem to want to show their own individual talent but are they ready to sacrifice themselves? I don’t see it, at least I don’t see enough of it, which is why Galway so rarely click.
That’s a major problem for any team, that’s why this team is so inconsistent. They can come together for one game, or even for half a game as in the Leinster final against Kilkenny a few years ago, and they can blow a team away. But then they can revert to the way they play most of the time, as individuals, and they’re the ones blown away.
Is it because of the club scene there? It’s strong, very strong, but it’s also very clannish and I wonder, do they bring that rivalry onto the county scene?
I wonder too, is it because the players don’t seem to know where they’ll be playing from game to game.
A perfect example is Johnny Coen. A few years ago he was young player of the year, at corner-back. But how many times has he played there since then? Look at Shane Kavanagh, nominated for an All Star at full-back a few years ago then switched out the field, and lost his way.
They have a few young lads in now, Cathal Mannion, the Burkes, Daithí and Ronan, but will they get time to establish themselves or will we see more youngsters discarded after a few poor performances?
And what of Joe Canning? Why was the free-taking taken off him, has it affected his confidence? I heard during the week they had a massive challenge game against Tipperary in Pearse Stadium behind closed doors, a very physical challenge. Is this what they’re expecting tomorrow, is that how they’re gearing themselves? Because if so, they could be making a major mistake.
The first thing you must do to beat Kilkenny is outhurl them, not out-muscle them.
Which brings me to the Cats — is there a crisisdeveloping? No Leinster title for the last two years where they had won 13 of the previous 14, would have been 14 but for a last-second goal by Wexford in 2004 — you can be sure, they’re not happy with that.
They’ve already played Offaly but I suppose ‘played with’ Offaly would be more accurate.
This then is Kilkenny’s first real championship game of 2014 and they have a big problem — who should play at centre-back? Jackie Tyrrell was there against Offaly, featured there a few times in the league as it seems Brian Hogan looks to have fallen out of favour with Brian Cody. He hasn’t fallen out of favour with me — I’d hand Hogan that No 6 shirt again and I’d give Jackie No 4. If they’re good enough, they stay there; if not, then they’re gone.
I’d also play Michael Fennelly in midfield, his best position — that’s if he’s fit enough to play there, and if he’s fit enough for centre-forward, he should be fit for midfield.
And Henry — will he start? Has he recovered from his latest injury? That’s a lot of questions but biggest question of all for Kilkenny is: how hungry are they? On the evidence of the league, you’d say yes, they’re back, but the championship is a different kettle of fish.
This is Cody’s 16th season, nine All-Ireland titles and eight National Leagues. He’s been brilliant for Kilkenny but that’s no guarantee he’s going to be successful again this year.
It’s also Henry Shefflin’s 16th season, together every year, if not every step of the way.
Sometimes though even the best can stay on for too long. Was last year an aberration, or was it the beginning of the end?
I think not — Kilkenny will win tomorrow.
