John Allen Mostly Hurling: A very good intercounty hurling year crept to a close last Sunday at headquarters, ending with a game that was very similar to the senior final.
In essence this game was also over after 15 minutes. This Galway team were much too strong and are deserving champions, but Dublin produced some good hurling at times. Their interplay was commendable even though they were always playing second fiddle.
After 10 minutes in the minor final (a period in which Cork had two goal chances) there really wasn't much doubt as to which team would win.
In a year that had thrown up many excellent games the finals were all too one-sided. That being said, the best teams won all the main competitions.
The year had many highlights from a purely hurling perspective.
What absolutely magnificent sideline taking we saw from Joe Canning in his two intercounty matches. Brian Tyres, commentating on TG4 on the under-21 semi-final in Thurles, aptly responded to one of these wonders with the exclamation "Dia linn is Muire", which would just about describe the puck. Ben O'Connor and Eamonn Corcoran also showed on a few occasions during the season how good they are at this little-practised skill.
Dónal Óg Cusack's save in the league semi-final from John Mullane was extraordinary to say the least. This was a point-blank shot that the Cloyne man saved almost at his ease.
Referee Barry Kelly's excellent handling of the same game is also worthy of mention.
It's the third game of the Limerick /Tipp epic in Limerick. It's gone into extra time and the teams are level again. The sliotar lands on the Limerick 20-metre line. Eoin Kelly is surrounded but somehow manages to take the ball up with his free hand facing the wrong direction (if you know what I mean). He passes to Willie Ryan, who goals and puts Tipp three points up. This was an exquisite piece of skill from Kelly.
July 1st, Croke Park. Just over nine minutes gone and Kilkenny are all over Wexford in the Leinster final. JJ Delaney delivers a long ball to Henry Shefflin, who is in the corner-forward position on the Cusack Stand side. Shefflin controls the dropping ball on his hurley while turning. He then takes it in his hand before passing it over Darren Stamp's head, then passing Stamp himself. Next he picks and passes (in one motion) to Willie O'Dwyer, who scores his second goal of the day.
It's the eagerly awaited Munster final between favourites Waterford and Limerick. There are 60 minutes gone in what has been a dogfight. The scoreline has Waterford ahead by a point. The rain is bucketing down. Waterford forward Eoin Kelly gathers the wet sliotar way out on the left wing. He turns and strikes into the driving rain and wind to score a point that I could only describe as massive. I think this might have been the first time in the game when I thought that they were now going to win.
The use of what we'll call "possession hurling", particularly by Cork, over the past few years, has had its critics. But in the same Munster final we saw a perfect example executed by Waterford.
Séamus Prendergast is driving up the left side of the field. He sends a diagonal ball to Stephen Molumphy, who in turn passes to Paul Flynn, who takes it on before unleashing a powerful shot from 15 metres, which draws a magnificent save from Brian Murray in the Limerick goal. The sliotar ricochets to the inrushing prowler Dan Shanahan, who scores the first of three magnificent goals for him on that special occasion
The pick of the quarter-finals is under way almost 10 minutes. It's been closely contested and quite tense. Waterford are ahead four points to three. Tony Browne hits a long ball out of defence. It hops on the centre of the 20-metre line. Dan Shanahan, as only he can do, runs on to take the sliotar on the hop onto his hurley.
He moves to his left diagonally. The ball hops twice on his stick. He's now on the 13-metre line, still moving left. Dónal Óg, advancing to the edge of the small square, seems to have the angle covered. Dan, still running away from goal, places the ball across the keeper into the bottom corner.
This was as well-taken a goal as you're ever likely to see.
The Waterford/Cork replay is five minutes old. John Mullane has just opened the Déise account with a point. Dónal Óg Cusack's puck-out is dropping out of the clouds. Pa Cronin is coming from behind Brick Walsh. Jerry O'Connor is in front. Then Walsh rises into the clouds Teddy McCarthy-like or Aussie rules-like and takes the sliotar in his left hand. A fantastic piece of fielding.
Ken McGrath's catch in the 51st minute of this game in Croke Park, going toward his own goal, was also a magnificent piece of individual skill from a player who is a joy to watch.
It's two minutes into the second half of the All-Ireland semi-final. Limerick's 10-point lead has been reduced to two. Tony Browne is attempting to pick the ball inside the 13-metre line.
Ollie Moran thunders into him. The sliotar breaks toward the end line. Brian Begley takes it up and forces his way toward the goal area. Three Waterford players bear down on him. He handpasses the ball to the inrushing Donie Ryan, who first-times the sliotar to the back of the net. What a goal for Limerick.
Séamus Hickey's fine block on Eddie Brennan in the second half of the All-Ireland final probably denied the Kilkenny man a definite second goal and was a fine piece of individual skill.
So ends another highly enjoyable hurling year with Kilkenny once again masters of all they survey.
:quality(70)/cloudfront-eu-central-1.images.arcpublishing.com/irishtimes/YVIRIOZQ35EWRPZXR27KGMO6YU.png)