Eddie Keher knows hurling as well as anyone and better than most, and he takes much pleasure in its present prosperity. Leaving aside recent controversies, he is satisfied that the game is in good health and more popular than ever.
Keher came on as a sub in the All-Ireland final replay against Waterford in 1959. It was the first of several experiences on a beaten Kilkenny side, but those disappointments were more than made up for by All-Ireland victories in six finals, including one as captain in 1969.
Still looking fit enough to hold his own in top company, Keher finds it difficult to get away from hurling. Yesterday he spoke of his intentions of going to the training session in Nowlan Park last night "just to see how they are shaping up". He is impressed by the spirit in the side despite a less-than-impressive Leinster championship. "I believe that our lads will have taken a lot of inspiration from the way Offaly played against Clare last Sunday and might have beaten them.
"Their spirit seemed to be dead in those earlier matches and yet they put up a fine show against Clare. They surprised a lot of people, including Clare. If Kilkenny can show the same kind of improvement as they did, I see no reason that we can't get to the final.
"I have seen them training in recent weeks and, in spite of injuries, they have come on a lot. There is great spirit in the side and, from what I hear, the injury problem has gone away. There may be one or two doubts at the moment, but the news that Charlie Carter will play is a great boost."
Like most Kilkenny hurling people, he takes a keen interest in Waterford affairs. "There is a great rivalry between the sides, particularly from people in the south of Kilkenny. I fancied them in matches I saw several months ago. They play a great brand of hurling and they have improved in every match."
Keher does not see a lot of difference between modern hurling and his own experience in the 1960s and '70s. "There are differences of course, but it's mainly due to the lifestyle of the players. The majority of players nowadays spend a lot of time in cars or sitting down and this causes problems as far as hamstring injuries and the like are concerned.
"Certainly they train much harder than we did. I feel that we were more naturally fit and didn't have to work so hard on the training ground, but the training nowadays is much tougher than it used to be.
"As well as that, modern players seem to move out of their nominated positions much more often, with full backs and half backs moving up the field. I remember a match when we were guarding a two-point lead and I was dropping back to try to help out when Pat Henderson roared at me to get back into my own position. He was right, of course, because if our defence cleared the ball there would be nobody to take it and it would merely go back down the field again.
"Players now move all over the place and the game seems to be faster. The style of the two sides for Sunday's match is very similar. Both teams will play and open, free-flowing game. Both have good strong defences and mobile forward lines and I expect an open, high-scoring match with not a lot in it at the end."
Keher shies away from a forecast. "Naturally I would like to see Kilkenny win but I know that most neutrals will favour Waterford and I agree that it would be marvellous to see them coming through.
"The game has spread in recent years, with Galway, Offaly and Clare and even Antrim making great strides. Hurling people welcome that and it is wonderful to see the game being so popular.
"I hope it continues."
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