Struggling DJ gives advantage to Gaels

IT’S one of the few remaining games left on the local club hurling scene but tomorrow’s Kilkenny SHC final replay between champions Young Irelands and O’Loughlin Gaels, is a perfect example of reserving the best wine ‘til last.

Last week's drawn game was a high-scoring cracker (2-12 to 3-9) which, thanks to an injury time goal by Gaels' Noel Skehan, brings us to Nowlan Park once more.

Weather permitting, the replay between two very evenly-matched sides promises to be just as exciting for Noreside's discerning hurling fans.

Each club has its full quota of inter-county stars. O'Loughlin Gaels are better served at the moment with the giant Comerford brothers, Martin and Andy, and the Dowlings, Sean and Brian.

But Young Irelands have the illustrious DJ Carey, along with his brothers, Jack and Martin, while former Allstar Charlie Carter would still be an automatic choice on any other county side in the country.

All the above have played major roles in getting their respective sides this far but these games are not just about the stars.

In the drawn game, for Young Irelands, guys such as Darragh Phelan who performed a very effective shackling job on Martin Comerford Eoin Farrell at full-back, Stephen Byrne and the mighty Tom Drennan in the half-back line, dentist James McDermott operating around midfield, James Fitzgerald and Jack Carey up front, all really caught the eye.

For O'Loughlin Gaels, the three Brians Kelly, Hogan and Murphy in the full-back line were very effective, while outside them Alan Geoghegan was terrific in midfield, with young Maurice Nolan and Nigel Skehan doing the business in the forward lines.

16-yr-old Nolan, a prodigious talent who started at corner-forward in this year's All-Ireland-winning Kilkenny minor team, had two points to his name in the drawn game before being carried off after a heavy and dubious tackle. He should be fit for the replay.

The major doubt however is a far more experienced operator, senior All-Ireland-winning captain DJ Carey. Carey was obviously not at one hundred percent in the drawn game and the longer the game went on the more obvious it became that his hamstring injury was seriously curtailing his movement.

For a player whose blinding pace is one of his particular strengths, a hamstring injury is a serious hindrance.

DJ still managed to get in for his usual goal, a typical poacher's rebound tap-in after a Charlie Carter shot had been well saved, and though he will probably again take the field, his injury is a serious blow to Young Irelands hopes of retaining their title.

On the plus side for Gowran however is the form of the other Carey in the forward division.

Centre-forward Jack certainly got the better of the battle of the captains last time out and had Andy Comerford under huge pressure throughout.

Jack's goal, a superb individual net-bulging blast following a barnstorming run, had the reigning champions five points clear after only six minutes, and Young Irelands will need a repeat of that form once again.

Charlie Carter also did his bit up front, notching four points, and showed up well in the pressurized closing minutes when operating almost as a third midfielder.

The feeling in certain expert quarters in Kilkenny however is that Young Irelands may well have let this one slip, that there is more room for improvement in O'Loughlin Gaels. Certainly Martin Comerford is unlikely to be held to just the bare minimum again while Andy will also be looking to step up his game.

If they can draw with Young Irelands with their two biggest guns misfiring somewhat, goes the logic, what happens when all are on song?

Young Irelands to feel the disabling effect of the DJ injury, O'Loughlin's to shade it.