Carey plays down Cats’ All-Ireland hopes as Offaly test looms
Even before their victory, the Cats were being touted as prospective All-Ireland champions. However, while neutral observers and the bookies may feel that favouritism has been strengthened, Kilkenny players and management won't agree.
Carey laughs off the suggestion that Offaly will present no great threat when the counties meet on June 12 and that they will sail through the Leinster championship.
"That has often been said and has often been proved wrong,'' he said.
"We won the League, we were very convincing throughout the competition and I'm sure most fellows celebrated yesterday and rightly so. But that will not mean anything in six weeks' time. There will be 15 guys from Offaly coming up against 15 guys from Kilkenny and they will have absolutely nothing to lose,'' he adds.
Asked to explain the turnaround in Kilkenny's play (from an eight-point loss to the Banner in Nowlan Park on March 20), Carey offered the view that no two games are the same.
And Monday's League final was certainly different from the previous game, when Tommy Walsh played at left corner-back, DJ was centre-back and Henry Shefflin was an absentee.
"You have got to take it every day as it comes. It doesn't mean what happened on Monday will happen today or tomorrow.
"Clare were firing well that day, things went well for them. They got a fortunate goal at one stage (against replacement 'keeper PJ Ryan) and Niall Gilligan was motoring very well, as was Colin Lynch. It's so difficult to repeat all of that. Unless everything is going really right for you every day it's a struggle.''
He agreed that the influence of the Kilkenny half-backs after half-time had a crucial bearing on the outcome.
"Peter Barry was starting to fly at that stage. He was plucking the ball out of the sky, when in the first half it was going through him. And winning there and at midfield gave great service to us inside.''
Skipper Barry's excellence, which earned him the man-of-the-match accolade, was all the more creditable in view of the long season he had with James Stephens. Indeed, Carey expects him to be just as effective for the rest of the year.
"Peter is a very dedicated guy. He has got a huge amount out of hurling and it's all down to pure dedication. He's a guy who has to work hard at his game and he's an example to anybody playing the game. If you really, really work hard at your game you can be a top player and that is what he is.
"He doesn't drink or smoke, so long runs in the championship won't take it out of the likes of him but they will take it out the guys who like to burn the candle at both ends. Eoin Larkin and Jackie Tyrrell also had a long run (with James Stephens), and yet those guys are playing very well.''
The tussles between Carey and Brian Lohan, who have been regular opponents over the last 10 years, provided one of the highlights of the game.
"With myself and Brian it's good, it's hard and it's tough. We always give as good as we get, at the end of the day that is all you can do.
"Brian Lohan is one of the guys who, when Clare were 10 or 12 points down, was trying to rally his team, trying to get out and encourage lads.
"He has this never-say-die attitude. I would like to think I'd be a similar player myself. He's a full-back and I'm a full-forward, but you never give up until the final whistle blows. And he's certainly one of those guys who epitomises that.''
In terms of the development of the Kilkenny team, he points out that the strengthening of the panel has been achieved only because of the quality of players who have become available.
The addition of new players does increase the competition for places, but these players must be up to the required standard.
"We brought in new players to freshen it up, but these new players must produce it as well.
"If they don't, you are back to square one.
"Kilkenny are successful very regularly so that means a new guy coming in is coming in to play with guys who have All-Ireland medals.
"And that is always a big help.''
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