Waiting to see who has the safest of hands

MOSTLY HURLING:As the season glides along many counties have put their trust in, well, a safe pair of hands.

A SAFE pair of hands. A safe pair of hands is the classic one phrase covers all. Meaning: A reliable person who can be entrusted not to make a mistake with a task.

Origin: applied to politicians or diplomats who were given sensitive work that required careful handling.

President Mary McAleese has proven herself to be a very safe pair of hands as the country's second female leader. Mick O'Dwyer is a safe pair of hands no matter what parish he's ministering in. The Kerry football ship was passed from a very capable pair of hands in Jack O'Connor's to an equally secure pair in Pat O'Shea's.

What a safe pair has taken control of affairs in the Irish rugby world. Declan Kidney had the safest in Munster; now it's time to see if they're the safest in the country. Nickey Brennan has been a very safe pair of hands in his time as GAA president, as was Seán Kelly, and I think Christy Cooney is regarded as an equally safe and sound pair.

George O'Connor was always a safe pair of hands when he wore the Wexford shirt and indeed, if he was still in the flush of youth, would, no doubt, be lining up to play his first football decider soon, such was his football prowess which I saw at first hand when he lined out with the Brendan's Football Club in Chicago sometime back in the last century.

Speaking of a safe pair of hands, Brian Cody, surely, has the safest pair in the hurling world. Not even a tribunal or a new Taoiseach could stop the Kilkenny bandwagon demolition of the poor Offaly men, to anchor themselves in yet another Leinster decider.

Now, with the three-in-a-row very much achievable, amazingly for the first time in Kilkenny's history, the conundrum might arise of how to properly honour this man's safe pair of hands. A statue might be out if the Nicky Rackard proposal in Wexford is anything to go by. Maybe they might go with the Hollywood Boulevard model where the star's hand and footprints are enshrined in wet cement outside the Grauman Chinese Theatre in Los Angeles. The "Safe Pair of Hands Boulevard" could be outside the main entrance to the Hogan Stand, with Brian, after September of course, as the first to be committed to the ground.

Down Munster way, Justin McCarthy's hands couldn't stop Clare's new messiah Mike McNamara (in a second coming of sorts; isn't that how all the real messiahs operate?) from causing the first of two major upsets in the Déise. The knock-on effect is that one of the safest pair of hands in the goalkeeping business is now trying his hand(s) at this bainisteoir stuff. Would Alan Sugar give him a chance? I've no doubt he would.

Davy Fitzgerald will bring an enthusiasm and energy that will probably border on the insane, to his new position. Antrim should provide the first fodder at the weekend. Sambo McNaughton's safe hands will have to return to the drawing board after Saturday. Write Fitzie's team off at your peril.

McNamara's safe hands have guided his team to a welcome return to the big time. The Banner have been the surprise packet of the championship to date and will certainly go to Limerick in a fortnight's time with a lot of hope. But maybe Tipperary manager Liam Sheedy's pair of hands, which are on course to be considered safe, post haste, have the more natural raw material to work with and might be a bridge too far for Clare this time.

Gerald McCarthy and Richie Bennis, as hurlers, possessed hands that were among the best in the business, now they need to find that something extra to transfer to their teams.

But Ger Loughnane has the hands which have overcome the curse of Biddy Earley so they have to be considered special. Indeed Ger has to be classed as the Special One in Clare hurling terms, so for Galway to have entrusted their hurling fortunes to his safe hands was not a major surprise and could yet prove to be a very wise move indeed. Laois will hardly pose a problem on Saturday and with two games played the Special One will have learned a little each time and will be reasonably confident the team he sends out the following weekend will be the best available (injuries notwithstanding)

John Meyler, the owner of two of the biggest, strongest hands in the hurling business, will have to perform some kind of sleight of hand if his team is to have any chance on Sunday. If we are to consider this Leinster final on history, facts, standard of players available, or recent form then there can be only one winner.

Is there any way that Wexford can stay with the champions on the wide open spaces of Croke Park? Well if they line up in standard formation they have no chance. They might try a sweeper between the full and half-back lines or a third midfielder. I'd also advise to play as much ground ball as possible and excellent goalkeeper Damien Fitzhenry, with the very safe hands, to vary the pucks-out. I don't hold out much hope for them, though.

So as the season glides along, is there any chance that we'll get a pair of hands attached to a body wearing a jersey, other than black and amber, hoisting the Liam MacCarthy aloft in September?

Well where there's a safe pair of hands at the tiller there's hope but we'll have to wait and see whose hands are the safest.