TJ the best in country
DUBS WARY OF KILKENNY SUPERSTAR AHEAD OF CHAMPIONSHIP OPENER
ANTHONY CUNNINGHAM reckons the Cats are back – and insists TJ Reid is the real deal.
Cunningham guided his native Galway to Leinster title success against Kilkenny but lost two Allireland finals to Brian Cody’s formidable outfit, in 2012 – after a replay – and again three years ago.
Frustrated to be cut adrift after that 2015 decider as a result of dressing-room unrest, he’s back involved at that level again as coach to Dublin under Pat Gilroy.
And after a disappointing League campaign, Gilroy and Cunningham face a Championship baptism of fire against the Cats at Parnell Park on Sunday, with Cody’s men fresh from their latest League title success.
“Look, it’s a massive game to have,” admitted Cunningham. “The best place to play Kilkenny is at home, and in the first match.
“Every team would see it as a challenge to play in Parnell Park – except Dublin, they like playing there. We’re going to bring huge intensity, and so are Kilkenny.”
The 53-year-old travelled to Wexford Park to watch the Cats in the flesh in the League semifinal – and was hugely impressed
as they chalked up 1-27 and a nine-point win over Davy Fitzgerald’s side.
Kilkenny then beat Tipperary in the League decider, putting a dampener on talk that it would take years for them to be competitive again as a team in transition – and following last summer’s qualifiers exit.
“They were really hungry that day,” recalled Cunningham. “Wexford were a bit off. But Kilkenny’s hunger that day…i wasn’t (surprised). They’ve won nearly the same amount of minors as Galway and Tipperary have over the last 10 or 12 years.
“They’ve won more colleges finals than any other county in Ireland. So, the conveyor belt is very strong.
“Some people got carried away that maybe their under-21s didn’t compete as strongly in the final last year. That was a once-off game – they were still in the final, and everyone spoke highly of the Limerick team.
“Their club hurling is extremely strong. With a backbone of Padraig Walsh, Cillian Buckley, TJ Reid and Wally Walsh, I mean they’re four massive players to
build around – and they have the players.”
Reid helped himself to a 15point tally in the league semi-final and final. The 30-year-old remains a potent weapon and Cunningham believes he has made a step up in terms of responsibility.
“He’s done it for many, many years now,” said the Dubs coach. “He’d a bit of a break last year and deserved it. He’s just a tremendous hurler, has all the skills.
“But his vision and his strength, everything – he’s the top hurler in the country for the last five to ten years. He’s taken over from (Henry) Shefflin. He’s taken over from the JJ Delaneys of this world. So, yeah, he’s the real deal.”
Cunningham insists Dublin’s only goal is to get out of Leinster’s round-robin format.
“Whether you qualify first, second or third, it mightn’t matter! But you have to qualify,” he said. “Nick a home win and the last match or two could be very interesting then.”