Revolutionary days have come around again, Treaty are poised to lead new order’s charge
AH, the revolution years of the 1990s. A decade when the old order was turned on its head, when Limerick’s last National League title in 1997 summed up a truly different era of hurling democracy, one when the goings-on in Kilkenny almost beggared belief.
That was when it was decided to scrap the notion of winter hurling and run the competition off in the calendar year. Not like today’s format but one in which the competition started in March and finished in October, traversing the Championship. The relevance of it all?
Well, after losing the Leinster final to Billy Byrne’s famous cameo from the bench, it required one of the great individual displays from DJ Carey to inspire them to victory against Galway in an All-Ireland quarter-final, before Ger Loughnane’s Clare reminded them of the winds of change blowing through hurling. The problem was, Kilkenny still had a League semi-final to fulfil.
It was only in the aftermath of a seminal defeat by Limerick on a 1-17 to 0-10 scoreline that departing manager Nickey Brennan laid it bare. ‘Sunday was an embarrassment. The League’s the second national competition and the match was a chance to rise themselves. We only trained for it for one night and only 13 turned out. The session was very light and there was no pressure. I brought them in 90 minutes before the match started and knew then we’d be in trouble. Credit to Limerick. Although they had a hell of a lot of replacements playing, they took their chance to perform. But for ourselves, it had clearly gone too far.’
Just think about that: only 13 players turning out for a Kilkenny training session ahead of a semi-final in a national competition. That the home crowd at Nowlan Park turned on one of their own, jeering the introduction of Nickey’s younger brother Canice, has made it an uncomfortable frame of reference. ‘It was just after half-time and we took the field before Limerick. I was asked what were the changes and I said, “Brian McEvoy for Canice Brennan”. When this was announced, a cheer went up and it was like a knife through the heart. I don’t know what effect it had on the Kilkenny players but our performance dived in the second half.’
Brennan spoke of issues in the camp, of debating whether he should have taken ‘strict disciplinary action’ in certain cases and adding: ‘There’s an awful lot of other players who should examine their conscience.’
Right at that moment, it was hard to imagine Brian Cody taking charge after the oneseason reign of Kevin Fennelly and the empire
striking back to devastating effect. The turn of the millennium would see the Big Three reassert their status – Cork winning in 1999, Kilkenny in 2000 and Tipperary in 2001.
It’s taken until now to really believe that hurling’s revolution years might be upon us once more.
Given their storied past – that 1997 triumph under Tom Ryan was actually Limerick’s 11th title, leaving them fourth in the roll of honour before the usual suspects – it’s intriguing that this is the first time Limerick and Waterford have met at this stage.
In a competition that has been hugely unsatisfying this year, between the absence of relegation in Division 1A and the January start in miserable conditions, both Waterford and Limerick have to be commended for the high standards they have maintained.
Watching Calum Lyons raid forward and bang over a big score from distance in the semi-final against Galway showed the level of confidence within this slightly remodelled Waterford team.
While Austin Gleeson has yet to pin down a regular home, he has shown flashes of his best form, the five points from play against Clare were simply stunning. One of the team’s star performers remains Jamie Barron who continues to weave his magic in the close confines of a crowded midfield. Given how Waterford set up, a player cam would be well served trying to track his movement, or that of Cian Lynch in the Limerick midfield.
Tadhg de Búrca looked like a man who needed the match practice after a lengthy layoff and his return against Galway is another reason for Waterford to feel that they are a match for the AllIreland champions.
Sean Finn and Richie English have the mix of physicality and mobility to keep tabs on the Bennett brothers, Stephen and Shane, if that’s how the match-ups pan out, though it’s a big ask to keep the pair from stealing a goal on their current form.
The intensity that Dublin brought to their semi-final against Limerick is just what the All-Ireland champions needed to strip them of any delusions about the year ahead – not that such a grounded group have shown any to date.
A League and Championship double, even in reverse, would confirm Limerick’s credentials. Verdict: Limerick