Conran going all out for Railway redemption
“It’s a big chance for our lads to make up for the last two years when Munster have beaten us. We were delighted to get away from Kiltoom last Saturday with a win over Connacht. It was a very bad day, very tough to play hurling in. We’ve had one get-together since then on Tuesday night in Carlow, but a good few lads were unavailable. Still, they’re looking forward to this.”
For a province many feel is in the throes of a black and amber dictatorship, the composition of the Leinster side attempts to reverse that perceptions. There are a clutch of Kilkenny stars at the core, but along with Offaly and Dublin featuring, some of the lesser lights also shine. Carlow man Edward Coady struck a goal from half-back during last weekend’s semi-final while Westmeath’s Brendan Murtagh chipped in with two points from centre-forward. Meath’s David Crimmins was introduced late on.
“We were very conscious of trying to spread it around,” says Conran. “What you have is five or six counties represented on the panel. But these are good players, they can hold their own amongst any team. That was proven with how Coady and Murtagh played last weekend.
“Kilkenny are a step above everyone else in Leinster at the moment but they are very good hurlers in the other counties. The main problem is probably that these counties just don’t have enough strong hurlers.”
On the eternal question surrounding the future validity of the interprovincial series, Conran is unequivocal in his views.
“This is a players tournament and one that every one of them loves. It’s a big honour for each one of them to represent their province. Throughout my four years with Leinster, I have seen no negative reaction from players on this matter. They have club commitments at this time of the year and they’re after a long season, but they still want to play. Even the Kilkenny lads, who you might think are sick to death of hurling at this stage, are well up for it and enthusiastic about playing.
“When you think about it, it’s the biggest representation that hurlers can get. In football, players can play for their country in International Rules against Australia but the hurlers don’t have that outlet. The other night Tommy Walsh and Edward Coady were talking about it and the way people give out that it’s not commercial enough.
“Commercialism should not be the be all and end all of hurling. It’s a players tournament and that’s all that matters. I think the authorities need to use a bit of imagination with regards to the competition. It’s be a terrible thing to get rid of from the GAA. I know our lads are well up for it tonight and they’ll be going all out to win it.”
MUNSTER (SH v Leinster): B Cummins; C O’Brien, P Curran (all Tipperary), S Hickey (Limerick); J Gardiner (Cork) G Quinn (Clare) S Óg Ó hAilpín; T Kenny (both Cork), B O’Connell (Clare); P Kelly (Tipperary), T Carmody (Clare), B O’Connor (Cork); A O’Shaughnessy (Limerick), E Kelly (Waterford), N Gilligan (Clare).
Subs: D Óg Cusack, C Naughton (both Cork), L Corbett, (Tipperary), D O’Grady (Limerick), D Fanning (Tipperary), B Bugler (Clare), E Cadogan (Cork), S Callanan (Tipperary), B Corry (Cork), P Donlon (Clare).
LEINSTER (SH v Munster): TBC
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