Cats to turn tables on Tipperary

IT’S hardly a coincidence that Kilkenny and Tipperary — generally perceived as the two sides best qualified to win out the championship — should be meeting in today’s final of the Allianz NHL.

Quite apart from the happenings of last year, these have been most consistent in competition so far this season and, crucially, are better equipped in terms of forward power than all of the chasing pack. The only real surprise is that the counties haven't met in a decider and that was in the "home" final for 35 years!

Experience, both as a player and a coach, has taught him valuable lessons about the uncertainty of sport. Recent results, including defeat at the hands of today's opponents in a splendid contest in Nowlan Park, and a draw with Wexford at the same venue last Sunday, prove his point that the dual champions are far from invincible.

Remember that Kilkenny lost in two All-Ireland finals before they won the first championship under Cody in 2000 and look what happened the following summer.

"We thought in 2001 there was a great desire and a great hunger to go on and win things all over again. But the reality of the hurling world is that for the last ten years no team has succeeded in retaining the championship," he comments.

"I am only repeating what I have been saying for a long time, that there are seven or eight teams out there and realistically, one of these teams is going to win the All-Ireland at the end of the year. I don't know which it's going to be, but we are in with a chance and Tipperary are in with a chance. We're playing the League final, but there are six or seven other teams out there as well and they are gearing totally for the championship.

"If there are still people out there who have to be reminded about these things, fine, but surely to God at this stage they must be getting the message. It's fierce difficult to win the League and to win the championship is a massive task. Last July we beat Wexford by two points in the Leinster final and we were lucky to do so. How then, can Wexford suddenly become a team that's easy for us to beat? They couldn't be!"

Right now, the League title in Kilkenny's immediate priority and, the fact that they won't be in action in the championship until June 7 means that it's easier for them to focus on this game and all the more so now that the spectre of suspensions over some of their players has disappeared.

Cody recognises that Tipperary are in a different position in that they will be facing up to Clare next Sunday week.

"Obviously, winning the League final and losing to Clare wouldn't satisfy them. It's difficult enough for them, they know the best way they can get ready for Clare is to win," he points out.

Tipperary selector Liam Sheedy, still active with his club Portroe, makes the obvious point about their involvement at this stage of the League. It can be hugely beneficial in terms of giving them a serious test close to the Clare game but against that, there is the constant fear of injury which hangs over such ties. Consistency is the core issue which the Tipp management team want to assess this afternoon, the former All-Ireland medal winner concedes.

"It's hard to peak every week. The biggest concern we would probably have is that over the last 15/20 minutes of games we have been letting teams come back at us. We had a significant lead against Cork and again in the game with Galway. In both cases they were whittled down and in Cork's case it was turned around and we were defeated.

"Overall the team is performing well. It is hard, week on week playing the top teams and having yourself prim and proper for all of them. And, we have picked up an injury or two which hasn't helped the overall balance.

"This is our last serious work-out. If we pick up a league title along the way, great!"

While accepting that the League and All-Ireland champions have a lot of talent, Cody argues that it's not a bottomless pit. "We have players who we have in the panel and we have players who are out there as well who we are looking at and we'll revise the panel after the League. We'll try and keep it as competitive as possible. But there are players after coming through in the Tipperary team and in Wexford. Look at Offaly, they went through the League playing virtually an Under-21 team and they beat Cork.

"They produced days where they were outstanding and played really well and they had other days where they weren't as competitive, but that's part of the learning process for an inexperienced team. I think Laois had a terrific league, they didn't qualify for the knock-out stages, but I know in my heart and soul that they are a good team. Dublin beat us in the Walsh Cup, they hit good days and bad days. Waterford are coming back into form right now, the time they want to come into form."

On the topical issue of the venue, Cody said that their supporters realised that with Nowlan Park not just ready because of renovation works going on they were more than happy to play the final in Thurles. "Croke Park is a terrific place to play, but from the supporters' point of view, I'm sure they would have preferred somewhere nearer."

For him, the question to be asked of his team today is whether or not they still have the desire and the hunger to win big games. "We'll have a pretty good idea where we are," he says.

* I got it wrong the last day they played, but I expect Kilkenny to turn the tables this time. They look that bit more settled, with that bit extra to offer in attack, and if Ger O'Grady and Noel Hickey are again in direct opposition, I imagine the Kilkenny full-back will be all-out to prove a thing or two!

KILKENNY: PJ Ryan; M. Kavanagh, N. Hickey, P. Larkin; R.Mullally, P. Barry, J.J. Delaney; D. Lyng, P. Tennyson; J. Hoyne, H. Shefflin, T. Walsh; D. J Carey, M. Comerford, E. Brennan.

TIPPERARY: B. Cummins, M. Maher, P. Maher, B. Dunne, B. Horgan, D. Kennedy, P. Kelly, T. Dunne, N. Morris, J. Carroll, C. Gleeson, L. Cahill, E. Kelly, G. O'Grady, L. Corbett.