HURLING ANALYST:The more romantic are saying it would be great if Dublin win it but they really need to just do themselves justice
KILKENNY WILL win their ninth provincial final of the decade tomorrow. I can’t make a rational case for Dublin winning the match so it becomes more a question of how hard they can push the All-Ireland champions.
They were put to the pin of their collar by Galway only to recover and come through magnificently in the last 20 minutes when every key player delivered. Any doubts about the form of Henry Shefflin were dismissed, Derek Lyng returned as a hurling force, while Richie Power looks to be nearing the stratospheric heights many in Kilkenny have been waiting for him to reach since he came out of minor in 2003.
With Eoin Larkin, Aidan Fogarty and Shefflin to the fore, Kilkenny looked as good as their peak moments in 2008. That exceptional last 20 minutes against Galway can be placed alongside the form displayed coming up to half-time against Cork and the remorseless dismantling of Waterford.
If Dublin are looking to retain some hope they should probably avoid analysing that period of majesty. What we know at present is Kilkenny retain a heightened sense of motivation. More worrying perhaps is the perspective Brian Cody could adapt as the defence needed to correct itself in both halves against Galway. They were uncomfortable to the point that Michael Kavanagh, eventually replaced by Seán Cummins, and JJ Delaney were forced to be more belligerent than is their norm.
Tommy Walsh falls into a different category. His overly aggressive actions have been noted recently but he curbed such impulses after the Waterford game in the NHL as the temporary yellow card sanction saw him dismissed. Back in championship mode, he came very close to the borderline of unacceptable defending against Galway.
This can be viewed as a slight chink in Kilkenny’s armour but by the finish the defence was on top of their men – that crucially included JJ Delaney on Joe Canning – a sign of vast levels of experience coming to the fore.
Can Dublin force them up to this standard once more? It has been a fantastic year so far under the guidance of Anthony Daly. The league campaign threatened so much more as they really should have beaten Limerick, Clare and even Tipperary, which would have put them in the final. But to make the provincial decider for the first time since 1991 is of vital importance to their development, especially considering Wexford seemed to be going better than the previous season.
Everyone wants to see Dublin contest a Leinster final. The more romantic are saying it would be great if they won it but they really need to just do themselves justice – something Wexford have been unable to achieve at this juncture in recent times.
There are two obvious benefits. Firstly, Daly has consistently sent out mentally strong and motivated teams since his move into management. Secondly, Dublin are not carrying the psychological baggage of Wexford or Offaly, who have suffered numerous drubbings at the hands of Kilkenny in recent years.
To make an impact they need to continually send ball into the full-forward line of David O’Callaghan, David Treacy and young Liam Rushe. Their league success was down to these three making an impact, mainly scoring goals, allied to the team’s overall application, only to slip into the old failing of creating significantly more than they scored against Antrim.
I think it is going to be difficult to get the ball past the Kilkenny half-forward line anyway. Galway don’t have the best half-back line around and it was exposed. Neither do Dublin without the injured Ronan Fallon. Stephen Hiney, Joey Boland and Michael Carton are decent players but they are clashing with unbelievable quality in Kilkenny’s middle diamond.
The hope that Kilkenny will have an off day can be dismissed as they are a ruthless group with at least one from Fogarty, Power or Eddie Brennan likely to spark to life with a goal when Dublin desperately need to keep them quiet. They are also back in the familiar confines of Croke Park.
All things considered, I actually think Dublin are mentally fresh and fit enough to avoid a hammering. Daly will have them prepared.
Cork versus Offaly is the draw neither team wanted. Cork won’t relish the trip up to Tullamore and they showed continued signs of wear and tear in defeat to Tipperary – hence the changes in the forward line, with Tadhg Óg Murphy and Pa Cronin coming into the team and Jerry O’Connor switching into attack.
Despite hurling well the last day, Cork simply spurned too many opportunities but looking at Tipperary’s display against Clare puts their form in further perspective. I expect them to prevail but struggle against Joe Dooley’s injured-ravaged side.
I see the potential for a Laois surprise against Antrim, Niall Rigney is doing good work down there and Antrim struggled in the Ulster final. There is the added motivation of a relegation play-off to help focus the mind here as losing out on genuine competition next year would be a disaster for both counties.
