Cats to put Dubs in the shade

THIS time last year, I swore I’d never again go to a Kilkenny-Wexford Leinster final in Croke Park.

Thankfully we have a new pairing tomorrow — Kilkenny and Dublin! — however, it’s still on in Croke Park, far too big a stadium. It should be played in somewhere like Tullamore, where the atmosphere for the Kilkenny/Galway semi-final was fantastic, the facilities top-notch; or in Portlaoise, which would have been central to both counties.

It’s not that I want to deny either Kilkenny or Dublin their day at headquarters, just that I think it would have far more of a provincial final feel about it if it was played at a provincial venue. Additionally, I think you’d have had a lot more neutrals at the game, which — funnily enough, seeing as the game is being played in Dublin — would have benefited the Dubs, as most of those neutrals would probably have been shouting for the underdogs.

And underdogs Dublin most certainly are. Anthony Daly isn’t the only former famine-ending captain on their sideline — Richard Stakelum was Tipperary captain in 1987 when Tipperary beat Cork in the Munster final in Killarney, thus ending what, for them, was a 16-year provincial famine. That’s a double advantage already for Dublin, because both Anthony and Richard are two guys who know well what it feels like to be the underdog, but equally, both know what it takes to overcome those odds.

Since I had some involvement in the past with Anthony, I know him better than I know Richard, and I was always impressed with his leadership qualities. Even as a young man — and Anthony was still only in his mid-20s when he captained Clare to the Munster and All-Ireland titles in 1995 — he had this ability to remain cool even in the most critical situations while at the same time being open to suggestion from others. Those are great qualities in any individual, but even more so in a top team manager.

Unfortunately for Dublin, however, neither Anthony nor Richard will be lining out this Sunday — if Dublin are to do well in this game, it will be down, for the most part, to the players themselves. Some very good players too. I’m thinking of Tomás Brady at full-back, the youngster Oisin Gough in the corner, the experienced Niall Corcoran in the other corner, Stephen Hiney on the wing, Michael Carton on the other wing is a good hurler, John McCaffrey, a modern midfielder who covers a lot of ground. Up front, the forwards have really been hitting the high notes for Dublin, the likes of Dotsie O’Callaghan, Liam Rushe, Kevin Flynn and of course Alan McCrabbe, whom I expect to see out around the middle of the field.

IN THE past, they’ve often put it up to the big teams in the league, then suffered a few hidings, but not this year; they had three good wins in Division 1, drew with Clare, should have beaten Limerick, Tipperary, and even Kilkenny, in Kilkenny. That’s a good record.

Dublin supporters, the diehards who have been there through thick and thin, deserve this day out. The question is — is it going to be a sorry day out? The only way Dublin will be winners here is if Kilkenny are kidnapped, or lose their way to Croke Park tomorrow. And that ain’t going to happen.

Kilkenny will treat Dublin tomorrow with exactly the same respect as they treated Galway, they will approach the game with just as much focus. So I just can’t see them being beaten. Individually they have fantastic hurlers, in every part of the field, some of the finest stickmen the game has ever seen, but even more impressive, they hurl as a team, they play for each other at all times, utterly unselfish.

What Brian Cody has achieved with this group of players is fantastic; he has his finger on the pulse all the time, he has every one of them on their toes, and he picks on form. One thing we can all be certain of: no matter who takes the field for Kilkenny, they will give their all, and win or lose afterwards, there won’t be a word of complaint. This is a team of winners, not a team of whiners, unlike the group currently representing these islands in South Africa.

Winner? I’ve already given my opinion on that, but I hope it’s close, I hope it will be a game worth watching, because the last few Leinster finals I’ve seen were a waste of time. And if they do lose, I hope Dublin take it on the chin.

To the other two games, very quickly; after Cork’s performance against Tipperary, everyone sat up and took notice, and I still think Cork will have a say in the destination of the Liam MacCarthy Cup. However, this is a tricky one for them, and I’m surprised with the way they’ve lined out the team, the O’Connor twins especially. Jerry is an outstanding midfielder, Ben a brilliant wing-forward, and Tadhg Óg Murphy a coming corner-forward, yet all three have been placed in new positions. They should come through this, but they’ve left themselves a bit vulnerable with that line-up. As for Antrim-Laois, the fact that it’s on in Belfast means you have to fancy the home side.