Mulrooney sees bright side of draw

ONE MAN heading back down the M9 motorway last Sunday night can be forgiven for being pleased with a drawn All-Ireland hurling final. Kilkenny’s under-21 manager Richie Mulrooney has enough on his plate this week to be worrying about celebrations in Citywest, or worse – commiserations, followed by a homecoming.

Joe Canning’s equalising point enables Mulrooney’s four senior panellists – Cillian Buckley, Walter Walsh, Richie Doyle and Willie Phelan – to switch their focus to Clare on Sunday in Thurles.

“The four lads were not involved in the ecstasy of winning or disappointment of losing,” said Mulrooney yesterday. “It is a result that is going to help our preparation. Solid and all that the four are, it would have been a lot to get their heads around.”

The four did not feature in the shootout against Galway as Brian Cody made just one change on 63 minutes with Matthew Ruth replacing Colin Fennelly.

No changes are expected to the Kilkenny side that impressively beat Galway in the semi-final.

“It was a very creditable performance considering seven Galway under-21s saw action last Sunday; three started and four came on. And they acquitted themselves very well,” said Mulrooney

The challenge of facing Clare should be less daunting but there is a rivalry between these players and managements. The Banner will have revenge on their minds.

“We played Clare in the 2010 minor All-Ireland final when I was the manager and Donal Moloney and Gerry O’Connor – the Clare under-21 managers now – were their minor management,” said Mulrooney. “We have played challenge matches against each other since so there wouldn’t be much we don’t know about each other.”

He mentions Conor McGrath, Colm Galvin, Tony Kelly, Seadna Morey. “And I could keep going. It gives you an indication Clare are a serious work in progress to becoming a serious senior team. I rate them very highly.”