Treaty firebrands will push Cats, but won’t prevail

I’m torn, really torn, about this game.

Despite losing their Leinster crown in such emphatic fashion to Galway, Kilkenny are still reigning All-Ireland champions, are still the team of the ages, still the finest hurling team most of us have ever seen.

The question is, how long can they go on? How long can they continue to be the most dominant team, the most intimidating team, the team most feared by all?

I’m reminded of Mike Tyson, of how so many of his opponents were beaten before they ever stepped through the ropes in his earlier man-eating days, first round KO after first round KO.

Then came Buster Douglas, that shock defeat and by knockout at that, and the aura was no more, Tyson-the-monster made mortal.

Did Kilkenny meet their Buster Douglas? Can Limerick now become hurling’s Evander Holyfield and end their run? I wonder.

The thing about Limerick here is that regardless of who they were meeting at this stage, they have now become a real force themselves. They are fit, fast, strong, physical but they are also consummate hurlers.

They have a commanding keeper in Nicky Quaid, a truly tenacious trio in the full-back line, a powerful half-back line, athletic all-action midfield, ball-winning half-forward line, deadly strike trio up front. and they have back-up now on the bench.

I would give them a chance against anyone, but here’s the rub — Kilkenny have been beaten, and that could work two ways.

It could be that Tyson/Douglas moment, or it could be Ali/Frazier, and we all know what that man did after his shock loss to Joe Frazier.

There is such pride in this Kilkenny team, such soul. Unlike Tyson, who had no answer after he had suffered the first punishing blows from Douglas and thereafter was knocked silly around the ring, Kilkenny came out in the second half of the Leinster final and won that mini-battle. They were beaten, yes, but they weren’t blown away.

Contrary to impressions they’re not an old team either. The warrior Noel Hickey and Henry Shefflin apart (and that man would still grace any team), all those who started against Galway are still in their prime.

Looks like the giant Brian Hogan will be missing and if he is that’s a huge loss, but then they might have JJ Delaney and Michael Fennelly back playing (no team at the time of writing) — all balances out.

Calling it? As noted above, I’m torn. There’s real talent and real threat in this Limerick team but this is Kilkenny, this is Brian Cody’s team, this is the team of legend and of legends, and this guy at least is still intimidated.

Verdict: Kilkenny