Plenty drama but where’s the physicality and intensity?

There has been plenty drama and excitement in the opening weekends of the Munster SHC but that shouldn’t paper over some worrying issues.

I have to question the quality and intensity of the hurling we’ve witnessed over the past fortnight.

It’s been pleasing to watch but I think it could do with a lot more bite. And a lot more fight.

Hurling is developing into a real running game now at every level, big scores being put up but not a lot of physical contact, no great physical exchanges.

It’s as if the players have all decided to let each other hurl and see who can score more, rather than the old style do-or-die approach of preventing scores at all costs.

There’s an expression we’ve all heard over the years, ‘lovely hurling’, and that’s what we’re seeing now, but is it hurling at its best?

I wonder.

I have to say I’d love to see a lot more of the physical game coming back, in Munster especially where it always belonged.

Just look at Cork and Waterford, and go back a few years. Those were great games not just because of the quality of the players and the quality of the play, but because they were such hugely physical encounters. I’m not talking about dirty play, for which I have no time, just good hard hurling, the kind Diarmuid O’Sullivan and big Dan Shanahan — to name just two from those games — used to revel in.

Is it down to coaches or to refereeing, how the game is being interpreted nowadays? Think back to last Sunday, a ball breaking at around ankle height and a Limerick player pulling first time, as he was surely entitled — free against him, and a yellow card. He hadn’t done any damage, had a Tipperary player doing a little hop alright but that was always hurling, a fella had to be able to account for himself on the field.

So to the replay between Cork and Waterford. I wonder are Cork suffering a hangover from last year’s two All-Ireland finals? I’m thinking about Shane O’Neill especially. He’s one of Cork’s best players, a real leader, but he was caught for three goals in the replay last September, looked shaky again in the drawn game, in the early stages especially. Would a move to the half-back suit him at this stage? He’s undoubtedly a good player but you don’t want someone in the full-back line who’s become unsure of himself.

The drawn game was my first time really seeing centre back Mark Ellis and I was hugely impressed. If he continues to progress he may solve a problem for Cork here. A bigger problem for Cork though, is the inconsistency of their forwards. They can blow a game open in 10 minutes, then disappear for 20 — that’s no good to any team. The change they’ve made is a positive, Bill Cooper starting; he made a big impact when introduced the last day. Word of advice for Conor Lehane — have a look around you before you shoot, you don’t always have to take on the posts, especially not from distance and under pressure. Also, what’s Seamus Harnedy doing on the edge of the square? He should be back in the half-forward line, where he belongs.

Waterford shouldn’t have to be coming back to Semple Stadium for this game, they should be preparing for Clare in the semi-final tomorrow week. They threw away the first game and Derek McGrath knows that. The team they’ve picked this time is probably stronger, with Shane O’Sullivan and Shane Fives back from suspension and injury respectively. I don’t think they’ll start in the positions named but it’s a good team, well capable of winning this replay.

One thing I’ve noticed about them though, they lack goal-scorers inside, are over-reliant on Pauric Mahony from placed balls. You’re not going to get an Austin Gleeson special in every game and this could be their undoing. I fancy Cork this time, if they’ve learned their lesson. There’s more in them, capable of a bigger performance on the field and on the line.

To Leinster briefly, and the first Sky game, Kilkenny and Offaly in Nowlan Park. Unless Offaly have improved immensely from their league performances I can only see one winner here.

Even if Offaly are at the top of their game, still only one winner. Kilkenny.