SENIOR
ÔDrive for FiveÕ won't be stopped
While Tipperary are probably the only team capable of stopping KilkennyÕs
bid for an unprecedented five-in-a-row of All-Ireland titles, itÕs unlikely
that they will have enough to deny Brian CodyÕs men their place in hurling
immorality. By Randal Scally.Ê
The All-Ireland hurling final the whole country wanted to see will take
place at Croke Park on Sunday, September 5 when old rivals Kilkenny and
Tipperary meet in the showpiece game for the second year in succession.
The big question on everyone’s lips is: can Tipp prevent their neighbours
from completing an historic five-in-a-row of All-Ireland wins? Such a feat
has never been achieved before in either hurling or football. Kilkenny and
Cork have both won four-in-a-rows in hurling, Kerry and Wexford have done
it in football, but so far the five-in-a-row has proved elusive.
And nothing would give Tipperary greater satisfaction than stopping the
‘Drive for Five’, particularly in light of their heartbreaking
and somewhat controversial loss to Kilkenny 12 months ago. Brian Cody’s
all-conquering Cats are 1/3 on with the bookies to rewrite the history books,
while odds of 11/4 are available on Tipp. After a disastrous start to the
championship, Liam Sheedy’s charges have regrouped magnificently and
on the evidence of their semi-final dismantling of Waterford, have a realistic
chance of bridging a nine-year gap since their last McCarthy Cup triumph.
While Kilkenny’s dominance of the hurling landscape in the past decade
has included All-Ireland semi-final wins over Tipp in 2002 and ’03,
the record between the teams in finals has been significantly different
with the Premier County only suffering two defeats since the 1920s.
The counties have met in eight All-Ireland finals since 1922 with Kilkenny
winning by four points in 1967 and by five last year, but going down in
1937, ’45, ’50, ’64, ’71 and ’91, when a Michael
Cleary goal proved decisive in a 1-16 to 0-15 victory for Tipp. In all,
it will be the 15th All-Ireland final meeting between the counties with
Tipperary having won nine to Kilkenny's five of the previous 14.
Unbeaten in 21 championship outings since they lost to Galway in the 2005
All-Ireland semi-final and appearing in their ninth All-Ireland decider
since the turn of the millennium, Kilkenny will know that they will never
get a better opportunity to achieve the five-in-a-row. But the absence of
talisman Henry Shefflin due to a torn cruciate ligament and injury concerns
over Hurler of the Year Tommy Walsh, Brian Hogan, Michael Rice and John
Tennyson leave them somewhat vulnerable to a Tipp ambush.
Tipp proved last year that they are able to go toe-to-toe with what many
regard as the greatest team of all-time and the experience of being involved
in hurling’s biggest day will stand to them.
Kilkenny had four games to complete the five-in-a-row, one game a month.
They’ve won in June, July and August, and now have just one to go.
There appeared to be chinks in their armour during the National League when
they were out of contention by the end of March, but their performances
in the championship to date have been close to flawless.
They walloped Dublin by 19 points in their provincial opener and followed
that up with a 1-19 to 1-12 Leinster final victory over Galway, which was
more emphatic than the scoreline suggests. Galway were attempting to win
the Leinster title for the first time, but they never looked capable of
prising it away from the Cats, who collected their sixth Bob O’Keeffe
Cup in-a-row and their 12th in 13 years of extraordinary dominance.
Galway were just four points adrift after 47 minutes, but within six minutes,
they were 10 points down after Henry Shefflin (two), TJ Reid, Richie Hogan,
Aidan Fogarty and Richie Power all hit the target. Game over.
Cork have caused their fair share of problems for the Cats down the years,
but the latest meeting of the great rivals in the All-Ireland semi-final
proved to be a total mismatch with Brian Cody’s side coasting to a
3-22 to 0-19 victory.
The Rebels must have felt they were in with a chance when they trailed by
just 0-2 to 0-3 after 17 minutes, but the floodgates opened after Eddie
Brennan swooped for Kilkenny’s first goal. A second goal from Aidan
Fogarty, allied to points from Richie Power, Martin Comerford, Michael Fennelly
and Eoin Larkin, left the Cats 2-12 to 0-5 clear at the break.
Even without the injured Henry Shefflin, Kilkenny continued to rack up the
scores in the second half with a third goal from Richie Power eight minutes
from the end putting them 3-20 to 0-13 ahead.
Tipp entered the championship as second favourites to lift Liam McCarthy,
but there appeared to be no way back for them after being humbled by Cork
in their Munster championship opener at Pairc Ui Chaoimh. Two goals from
Patrick Horgan, which had been created by a rampant Aisake O hAilpin, gave
the Rebels a 2-5 to 0-9 interval lead. The expected Tipp response never
materialised in the second half and by the end, Cork’s winning margin
was a whopping 10 points – 3-15 to 0-14.
The Premier County have shown tremendous character to bounce back from such
a shattering defeat, and they’ve done so without Liam Sheedy having
to carry out major surgery. They got the show back on the road with a 3-24
to 0-19 demolition of Wexford at Thurles and continued their rehabilitation
with a 0-21 to 1-12 defeat of Offaly in Portlaoise.
However, the jury remained out on Tipp until they edged out Galway by 3-17
to 3-16 in a classic All-Ireland quarter-final at Croke Park. It took a
point from the ice-cool Lar Corbett in the first minute of injury-time to
decide what has been the game of the championship so far. Tipp led by 2-8
to 1-9 at half-time thanks to goals from Eoin Kelly and sub Seamus Callanan,
but Galway overturned the deficit to lead by two points entering the closing
stages.
But Liam Sheedy’s charges showed their mettle when John O’Brien,
Gearoid Ryan and Corbett shot late points to give them a dramatic win.
Tipp’s best performance so far came in their 3-19 to 1-18 defeat of
Munster champions Waterford. Eoin Kelly had a rare off-day with his frees,
but more than made up for it with two goals. John O’Brien also impressed
with a six-point haul on a day when 3-15 of Tipp’s total came from
play.
After Kilkenny’s defeat of Cork, there were many who felt they were
cast-iron certainties to retain their All-Ireland crown, but injuries to
key players, coupled with Tipp’s fine showing against Waterford, means
the final is no longer a foregone conclusion. Tipp have improved beyond
recognition since their spectacular collapse at the hands of Cork, with
the switch of Paul Curran to full back, Shane McGrath’s return to midfield
after a brief flirtation in the half forwards and Noel McGrath’s move
to centre forward for the Waterford game working a treat.
Ideally, Sheedy would like to have held back the switch of Noel McGrath
to the ‘40’ until the final, which would have taken Kilkenny by
surprise. But such was Michael ‘Brick’ Walsh’s influence
this summer that Sheedy felt he had no option but to make the move against
Waterford.
A worry for Tipp must be the fact that they have conceded goals in every
game except for the Wexford tie. Nobody needs to tell Tipp that Kilkenny
will come looking for goals early and often, and won’t be satisfied
to just take their points.
There is no doubt that Tipp are on an upward curve and are approaching the
form that saw them come within a whisker of dethroning Kilkenny last year.
However, it could be argued that Kilkenny are playing better now than they
were this time last year when the gap between them and the rest appeared
to be closing.
Kilkenny are an exceptional side and one more victory would confirm their
status as the greatest team of all-time. Their half back line has been the
cornerstone of their success, their squad is unrivalled in terms of strength
in depth, Brian Cody is the most successful manager in the game and they
have proven big-game players in every position. Richie Power stepped up
to the plate when Henry Shefflin was forced off against Cork – both
from frees and in general play – while last year’s captain Michael
Fennelly has matured into the best midfielder in the country.
With so much at stake, all the pressure is on the Cats to deliver. Tipp
are the one team in the country capable of causing them problems, but do
they have the belief and, more importantly, killer instinct, to stop them?
A certain Seamus Darby, who famously denied Kerry a five-in-a-row of All-Ireland
football titles in 1982, runs a pub in Toomevara these days. How ironic
it would be if one of the Tipp players were to deny Kilkenny in similar
circumstances. Anything is possible, of course, but there is too much at
stake for Kilkenny to let it slip at this stage.
VERDICT: Kilkenny.
Ladbrokes.com
odds: Kilkenny 4/11; Draw 12/1; Tipperary 5/2 |
MINOR
Kilkenny minors look unstoppable
KilkennyÕs demolition of holders Galway would suggest they will have too
much for Munster champions Clare in the ESB All-Ireland minor hurling final.Ê
While it’s never advisable to read too much into All-Ireland semi-final
performances, Kilkenny’s five-star showing against Galway was truly
exceptional and makes them the hottest of favourites to claim a 20th Irish
Press Cup at the expense of a Clare team who were put to the pin of their
collar by Dublin.
Richie Mulrooney’s latest crop of young Cats are 1/12 on to regain
the ESB All-Ireland minor hurling title, having lost to Galway in last year’s
decider. By contrast, odds of 13/2 are available on Clare to upset the formbook
and win a first All-Ireland in the grade in 13 years.
While the Banner County can take encouragement from last year’s All-Ireland
under 21 final when they defeated the Cats, their joint-management team
of Gerry O’Connor and Donal Moloney will realise they have a huge task
on their hands. Kilkenny’s 19-point trouncing of the reigning All-Ireland
champions was as good a performance as seen at this level in recent years
and was not unlike the displays we have become accustomed to from Brian
Cody’s senior side.
Ominously for Clare, it wasn’t the first hammering Kilkenny have meted
out this summer. With the exception of their first round win over Dublin,
all of the Cats’ winning margins have been in double figures. They’ve
twice beaten Dublin comfortably which must be a worry for Clare as they
had just a point to spare over the same opposition in the All-Ireland semi-final.
The Banner deserve credit for the manner in which they have recovered from
a disastrous start to the championship, They didn’t look like a team
that would end up in an All-Ireland final after losing their Munster championship
opener to Waterford by 0-16 to 1-21 at Walsh Park. The Deise were the better
team throughout and were never headed after full forward Cormac Heffernan
first-timed Pauric Mahony’s pass past Ronan Taaffe in the 11th minute.
Fortunately for Clare, a 1-21 to 2-7 playoff victory over Kerry provided
them with the perfect pick-me-up. Niall Arthur top-scored with 0-9, 0-7
coming from frees, while Aaron Cunningham bagged 1-4 in what was a routine
win.
A quarter-final against Tipperary represented a step-up in class for Clare
who showed real mettle to hold on for a 0-17 to 1-13 victory after having
wing back Enda Boyce sent off on a second yellow card with 10 minutes remaining.
Full forward Arthur was once again their scorer-in-chief, finishing with
a personal haul of 0-7, including 0-4 from frees.
Clare’s best spell came midway through the second half when they surged
into a 0-16 to 0-11 lead, but Tipp came back to level with a 59th minute
goal from Liam McGrath before midfielder Tony Kelly hit a last-gasp winning
point for the Banner.
Another impressive display of free-taking by Niall Arthur proved decisive
in Clare’s 1-17 to 2-12 Munster semi-final victory over Limerick at
the Gaelic Grounds. Arthur posted 0-8 from placed balls for the visitors
who got off to a flying start and led by 1-7 to 0-2 after 17 minutes.
Limerick had the margin down to three points at half-time and, incredibly,
they were back on level terms within three minutes of the restart thanks
to a Michael Ryan goal. But Clare steadied themselves and were full value
for their win with the home side’s second goal coming in the final
minute.
Revenge was sweet for the Banner County when they defeated holders Waterford
by 1-16 to 1-11 to capture their first Munster title in 21 years at Semple
Stadium. Aided by the breeze in the first half, Clare looked the better
side, but Waterford went into the break on level terms (0-6 apiece) thanks
mainly to the accuracy of free-taker Padraic Mahoney.
The Deise opened up a three-point lead on the restart, only for David O'Halloran
to bring Clare level when he finished a three-man move to the net in the
38th minute. O'Halloran and Niall Arthur added points to push the underdogs
four points clear before Eamon Murphy revived Waterford's challenge with
a 45th minute goal.
But with O'Halloran, Daire Keane and Kevin Lynch to the fore, Clare shot
six unanswered points in the final quarter to end their long wait for provincial
success.
Just as they had done against Limerick, Clare made a blistering start to
their All-Ireland semi-final win over Dublin. Showing no Croke Park nerves,
they led 0-8 to 0-1 by the 18th minute, but Dublin outscored them by 0-6
to 0-1 in the remaining 12 minutes to only trail by 0-7 to 0-9 at half-time.
With free-taker Arthur helping himself to 0-8, the Banner managed to keep
their noses in front throughout the second half. They led by five points
in the 35th minute, four points in the 48th minute and again by four points
in the 53rd minute. But they were left hanging on for a 0-20 to 2-13 victory
after Cormac Costello banged in a second goal for the Dubs late on.
Kilkenny have enjoyed a trouble-free run to the All-Ireland final. Ger Aylward
struck 1-4 in their 2-13 to 1-9 opening round win over Dublin at Nowlan
Park. After trailing Offaly by a point after 13 minutes of their Leinster
semi-final clash at Tullamore, the Cats never looked back after Aylward
goaled to help them to a 1-10 to 0-9 interval lead.
Kilkenny stepped up a gear in the second half with a second goal from John
Power putting the seal on a 2-22 to 1-13 triumph.
Dublin once again provided the opposition for Richie Mulrooney’s side
in the Leinster final at Croke Park and this time Kilkenny were even more
emphatic winners. The game was up for the Metropolitans after just 17 minutes
when Thomas O’Hanrahan’s goal propelled the Cats into a 1-6 to
0-2 lead.
John Power was denied a second goal for Kilkenny soon afterwards after a
brilliant parry from Dublin goalkeeper Eamonn Dillon, but the resultant
'65 was fired over by the Carrickshock man and further points from Ger Aylward,
Kevin Kelly, Padraig Walsh and Ollie Walsh gave the defending champions
a 1-11 to 0-4 cushion at half-time.
Dublin lifted their game after the restart, with John Hetherton's frees
giving them hope, but Power and Aylward kept the scoreboard ticking over
at the opposite end as Kilkenny coasted to a 1-20 to 0-10 success and their
third provincial title on the trot.
The Cats saved their best performance of the season so far for the All-Ireland
semi-final against Galway. Clearly hurt by their defeat to the same opposition
in last year’s decider, they produced an exhibition of hurling to run
out emphatic 5-19 to 0-15 winners.
Kilkenny struck for early goals from team captain Cillian Burke and Michael
Brennan, but Galway trailed by just a point, 0-10 to 2-5, after Daithi Burke
pointed in the 23rd minute. However, a third goal from John Power left the
Cats sitting pretty on a 3-9 to 0-10 interval lead.
The Cats were relentless in the second half and had amassed a whopping 2-10
without reply before substitute Cathal O’Brien scored Galway’s
first point in 21 minutes. During that second half, Ger Aylward claimed
four brilliant points and pounced on an error by Galway ‘keeper Shane
Kelly for a 33rd minute goal. The fifth green flag was raised by Kevin Kelly
in the 52nd minute after he capped a mazy run.
Backboned by half a dozen players from St. Kieran’s All-Ireland Colleges
winning side, Kilkenny boast six survivors from last year’s All-Ireland
final loss to Galway – John Power, Luke Harney, Cillian Buckley and
Ollie Walsh – while Ger Aylward and Willie Phelan missed the final
through injury and illness respectively.
Midfielder Walsh is a son of Kilkenny under 21 manager and former All-Ireland
winning goalkeeper Michael, while half forwards Power and Padraig Walsh,
who scored 1-6 between them against the Tribesmen, are younger brothers
of senior stars Richie and Tommy.
Walsh, Jason Corcoran and Brian Kennedy were also members of last year’s
panel, with Walsh making an appearance as a substitute in the All-Ireland
final and Corcoran playing in the Leinster final.
Clare are back in their first All-Ireland final since 1997 when John Reddan
captained them to a 1-11 to 1-9 victory over Galway. That triumph was notable
for the fact that it was Clare’s first in the grade and that they were
the first team to win an All-Ireland via the backdoor system.
Clare are not short on quality with Tony Kelly, Paudge Collins, Niall Arthur,
Daire Keane and David O’Halloran some of the players Kilkenny will
need to keep a close eye on. If they can keep things tight, they will be
in with a chance, but this Kilkenny team has been untouchable all year,
and unless they suffer a serious bout of complacency, they won’t be
denied.
VERDICT: Kilkenny.
Ladbrokes.com
odds: Clare 7/1; Draw 16/1; Kilkenny 1/16 |