Tipp and Cats dream team
The All-Ireland final wasn’t one his better games but he could not be faulted for any of the three goals. His fine All-Ireland semi-final is still strong in the memory.
Kilkenny had singled out the young Holycross-Ballycahill man as a weak link in the first game. How wrong they were. Once more, Barrett outshone his opposite number, Walter Walsh.
Seamus Callanan may have been to the fore three weeks’ ago but that’s not to say the veteran was disappointing. He was on Callanan’s arm for all his points and has retained an assuredness throughout the Championship.
His duel with Patrick“Bonner” Maher in the second half deserved a camera all of its own. Three judges would have all called it a draw between the army men. Murphy remains the best in his corner.
The Tipperary captain wasn’t prominent in clearing his lines on September 7, a performance at odds with the security he has provided at wing back going back to last year’s qualifier defeat to Kilkenny.
Here’s a poser for Tipperary supporters: would they sacrifice the direction Maher provided for the number of scores Richie Hogan picked from his quarter in the second half? Maher is the heartbeat of his team.
He goes about his business quietly but so confidently and undoubtedly been the best performer in the Kilkenny half-back line this year. Offers a perfect blend of power and poise.
What was more surprising about Hogan’s All-Ireland final wasn’t his tour de force second half but his relative anonymity before the break considering how brilliant he has been this season.
But for Michael Cahill’s injury, McGrath may never have received this second opportunity. If Kieran Donaghy has been the renaissance man of Gaelic football this year, McGrath is hurling’sequivalent.
There is little doubt Fennelly could be doing more but what he has been contributing is enough to see him make this “best of” side. He hasn’t been too far from Hogan and TJ Reid in carrying the Cats.
An All Star certainty and looking just as impressive as he was before his difficult 2013 season. Few forwards graft as hard as the Lorrha man. A nightmare for a defender either with or without the ball.
Crafty is the word that comes to mind when considering the 23-year-old. May depend on others to win primary ball but his execution is clinical. Looked the part in his first final.
The manner in which the Ballyhale Shamrocks man took his goal was top class. He was as just as essential to giving Kilkenny a focal point in the forward line in the opening half when they were keeping their heads above water.
It goes without saying now that this has been a coming-of-age season for Callanan. The word is Kieran McGeeney has been of great counsel to him. No longer needs an early score to settle him.
We talk about work-rate with Bonner Maher but Larkin isn’t too far off him. The amount of yardage Larkin has covered has been immense. A selfless operator.
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