If Cats were Lions, the All Blacks might cower

ON Saturday morning, the rugby experts and rugby public were raving about New Zealand out-half Daniel Carter as the All-Blacks pulverised Clive Woodward’s lamely-selected Lions.

Yesterday, those of us fortunate enough to follow both rugby and hurling saw another complete performance, with one critical difference. The Leinster senior hurling final was a real contest, a heavyweight match-up between two perfectly prepared and well-conditioned teams who went toe-to-toe from first bell to last. Standing above them all, in a game that saw umpteen outstanding individual performances, was will-o’-the-wisp Kilkenny wing-forward-cum-midfielder Tommy Walsh.

Doc O’Connor was brilliant for Wexford, he outhurled and utterly subdued Henry Shefflin; Diarmuid Lyng was outstanding in the half-back line, outshining the other D Lyng, midfielder Derek of Kilkenny; and wing-back Richie Mullally of Kilkenny came forward when Kilkenny most needed it. These were just three from half a dozen, but above them all, the dashing, flashing, smashing style of youngster Walsh.