Dublin 6-19 Waterford 5-13:THE QUESTION about whether this Dublin hurling revolution can be sustained was emphatically answered in the curtain-raiser at Croke Park yesterday. Shay Boland's minors had banked four goals by half-time, for a 17-point lead, to all but guarantee a return to the All-Ireland final at this grade for the first time since 1983.
It is an achievement which surpasses that of current senior captain Johnny McCaffrey’s breakthrough Leinster-winning minor group of 2005.
Next up, however, is the superpower of this age grade, Galway, who under the guidance of Mattie Murphy have already won four All-Irelands this century.
It means the fear of complacency can be addressed straight away. This will also be helped by Waterford’s brave second-half revival yesterday.
“They’re young, and they’re not used to being here,” said Boland, who attempted to bring some logic to this bizarre match. “That’s the big problem for us – it is a new experience for us all. We really have to learn how it happens.
“Mattie Murphy has been at this since our God’s time – I mean, he is a dab hand at it. We made a lot of mistakes ourselves, on the line, and the players got a bit complacent but, look it, they’re young lads, they play off the cuff.”
With Cormac Costello, son of Dublin GAA chieftain John, in deadly form, they certainly did that. And it was a wonder to behold.
Costello tore the Waterford defence apart finishing up with 4-2. He was not alone in the early, relentless raids for green flags. Emmett Ó Conghaile may have only finished with 0-2 but he caused havoc. The same can be said of Paul Winters, while Ciarán Kilkenny was nothing short of awesome, be it fielding or rifling shots between the posts. He eventually checked out with 1-5.
Much like Brian Cody’s Kilkenny in their pomp, Dublin went immediately for the jugular, seeking goals right from the throw-in.
“Aw, it was no accident,” said Boland. “We set out our stall early on to get the ball in there and see where it took us.”
It worked. Waterford manager Liam O’Connor found himself in the unenviable position of having to replace his full back and centre back by the 26th minute, but the leakages were everywhere. Waterford were actually playing some decent hurling with all six forwards, including the impressive Gavin O’Brien, registering points before the break.
It simply wasn’t enough to stay with the ferocity and pace of Dublin – especially the hard running of Costello, Kilkenny, Winters and Ó Conghaile. A mention must also go to the defensive efficiency of Lowndes and Matthew McCaffrey (Johnny’s brother).
Costello’s second goal, Dublin’s fourth, was the killer blow; coming a minute before the interval. Shades of Waterford in 2008 sprung to mind as the haunted, young Deise men trudged under the Cusack stand.
“We had two choices at half -time; we could have curled up and died or come out fighting,” said O’Connor.
They took the latter option and must be commended for this. Stephen Bennett’s well-struck penalty on 54 minutes made it an eight-point game, following on from a their third goal, which was a brilliant effort by O’Brien.
Dublin’s reaction was swift and ruthless. Aodhán Clabby hit a point before Kilkenny closed out the contest with two excellent strikes.
Kilkenny is one of four dual players – Lowndes, Ó Conghaile and Costello are the others – that must now switch focus to the All-Ireland football semi-final against Galway on Sunday week.
“We have an agreement with (minor football manager) Dessie (Farrell) that we would manage it and it has worked out so far,” said Boland. “I wish them all the best in two weeks’ time. It would be great for those young fellas.
“But we don’t wrap anybody up, we play full-blooded matches. If you get a belt that’s tough, someone else comes in. That’s the benefit of having a panel like we have.”
Such is Boland’s practical attitude, it came as no surprise when he swatted aside attempts to hark back to ’83, never mind 1965, when Dublin last wore the minor All-Ireland hurling crown.
“That’s history and I’m not a great history person,” he replied.
That is the attitude of modern Dublin hurling. History won’t win them anything. But these hurlers just might.
DUBLIN: C Ryan; E Lowndes, C O’Callaghan, S McClelland; C Crummy, J Desmond (0-1, 65), M McCaffrey (0-1); G Whelan (0-1), C Cronin (0-1); C Kilkenny (1-5, 0-1 free), C McHugh, A Clabby (0-2); C Costello (4-2), E Ó Conghaile (0-2), P Winters (1-3, 0-3 frees). Subs: O O’Rorke for Winters (44 mins), B McCarthy (0-1) for McHugh (47 mins), C Boland for Cronin (51 mins), D Gormley for McCaffrey (58 mins), R Tierney for Lowndes (60 mins).
WATERFORD: P Cooke; J Barron (0-1), D Ahern, C Walsh; I Kenny, D Foley, J Power; S McNulty, R Barry; J Dillon (0-3, 0-1 free), G O’Brien (1-3, 0-1 65), D Breathnach (0-2); P O’Keeffe (0-1), S Bennett (1-1), C Curran (0-1). Subs: S O’Neill (1-0, free) for Ahern (23 mins), C Heffernan (1-0) for Foley (25 mins), D O’Brien for O’Keeffe (half-time), C Cester (0-1) for Breathnach, A O’Sullivan (1-0) for Curran (both 37 mins).
Referee: G Duffy (Antrim).
