Improving Crotta not yet ready to topple champs

Ballyduff v Crotta O’Neills Saturday, June 30 Austin Stack Park, 7.15pm

PROBABLY we were expecting too much from Crotta O’Neills in the first round of this year’s championship.

The buzz had been steadily building over the last couple of months. Look at the number of inter-county players at their disposal people would say – Seán Weir, Tomás O’Connor, Jordan Conway, Shane Nolan, Barry Mahony – look at how well they did in the last two county minor hurling championships they’d add.

Undoubtedly it’s all positive stuff and it does point to a brighter future ahead for the green and red. The thing to remember, however, is that it’s not like flicking a switch. For Crotta to move onto the level of championship contenders is going to take time. It’s a process.

Crotta’s first round victory over Ballyheigue is just one part of that process. An important one. It meant they were guaranteed an additional two games in this year’s championship, but there was evidence that Pádraig Cronin’s men are still very much a work in progress.

No harm in that. It just means that they’re unlikely to be ready to take down a Ballyduff side who have started this year’s championship much as they ended last year’s – with a bang. The firepower the green and white have at their disposal can be pretty overwhelming.

Even with Seán Weir positioned at the edge of the square – as he was against Ballyheighue – it’s hard to see how Crotta can keep Ballyduff at bay. If it’s not Aidan Boyle it’s Pádraig Boyle, if it’s not the Boyles it’s Jack Goulding (he scored 1-4 the last day).

A defeat for Crotta wouldn’t be the end of the world. They should – and surely would – see a defeat as just another learning experience. With each game these young players are likely to learn and improve. Ballyduff are the benchmark right now, it’s no harm to find how close – or far away – you are from it.

Crotta have enough about them to trouble the champs, but not enough to down them. Not yet.

Verdict: Ballyduff

Crotta’s Barry Mahony in action against Ballyheigue’s Michael Leane during the first round Photo by Domnick Walsh / Eye Focus