Cats to call time on Banner’s ageing heroes

THE Guinness All-Ireland hurling championship will be decided in seven weeks’ time and, with apologies to Antrim, it would be generally accepted that any of the other five teams left could lift the trophy.

Waterford and Wexford are sitting snugly, if a little bit anxiously, while the four quarter-finalists fight it out in Croke Park tomorrow and the general expectation is that champions Kilkenny will advance to the semi-final, along with Cork.

Kilkenny’s game with Clare (4pm) is especially intriguing for the reason that they produced such a devastating display against Galway. Clare have managed to recover some of the ground they lost so surprisingly in their Munster championship opener with Waterford, but in performance levels, they are a good bit off Kilkenny’s highest standard.

The big question now is, can Kilkenny reproduce that kind of form tomorrow. And, if they do come out on top, would there be two more top-class performances in them?

One of the highlights of the Kilkenny/Galway game was the brilliant display of Tommy Walsh at left corner-back, which I compared to Willie O’Connor’s against Waterford in the 1998 semi-final. As far as I was concerned, he was the man-of-the-match twice over and, while you couldn’t quibble too much with the RTÉ award going to Henry Shefflin - also dynamic and scorer of a massive 2-11 - it was the magnificent work of the backs which was crucial on the night.

Walsh’s direct opponent, Damien Hayes - who had produced some great goals in the course of the League - managed to get the team’s only one on the night, but could have had several more but for the fantastic covering of the young Tullaroan star.

Clare have made some progress since the Waterford defeat. However, this will be a far greater test than either of their qualifier games. Frustratingly for Anthony Daly and more so for the player himself, it looks like Brian Lohan will miss the game because of recurring hamstring problem.

It’s not a mortal blow by any means, but, serious nonetheless. Because, apart from the way he can inspire the team, his loss would result in Frank Lohan having to switch from the attack to take his brother’s place.

This game could mark a watershed for Clare, in the sense that time is catching up (and in some cases, already has) with several of the players who played a major part (with Daly) in the county’s breakthrough nine years ago.

These are players, among them Jamesie O’Connor, who has been unfortunate with injuries in recent times, who began their careers in the early ’90s. Supporters looking down the road are beginning to get impatient, waiting for some of the young set to take on the leadership inspiringly given by the likes of Davy Fitzgerald, the Lohan brothers, Sean McMahon, Ollie Baker, Colin Lynch and O’Connor.

I feel it will be very difficult, if not impossible, for Kilkenny to reproduce their Thurles form. Anything less than their best would leave them vulnerable, especially if Niall Gilligan is in scoring form for the Banner. However, I feel pretty sure that if the Cats strike form they won’t be stopped.