BACK TO FRONT
Ultimate glory still the target for four remaining qualifiers
WHEN Kilkenny won the 2012 All-Ireland via that rare pathway of the backdoor — especially for a team that has held Leinster in a vice-like grip during the Brian Cody era — selector Martin Fogarty dared to suggest afterwards that it took from the title slightly to have suffered a defeat along the way.
Safe to say, nobody travelling to Semple Stadium today will be feeling the same way.
The qualifier route has been a source of redemption for so many counties and has notably provided the springboard to Liam MacCarthy Cup success; Clare in 2013 and Tipperary in 2010 the most obvious examples.
If some of the earlier rounds of the Championship have a phoney-war element to them, well, that can’t be said about the two highstakes affairs on an intriguing double bill at Thurles.
This mini Munster Championship features three of the province’s big hitters with only Dublin left to fly Leinster’s flag. Cork and Clare meet for what is a fifth Championship meeting in the last two years and no better way for Jimmy Barry Murphy’s players to try and redress the All-Ireland final defeat of 2013 by dumping Clare out of the Championship.
In 2011, Dublin secured their only victory over Limerick in six meetings over the years and face into this with the spotlight firmly on the unity of the camp following Michael Carton’s decision to quit the squad in the build-up and manager Ger Cunningham taking heavy f l ak f r om one of his predecessors Humphrey Kelleher.
CORK
LAST DAY OUT: Mixed a sublime first-half attacking display against Wexford with a second- half fade- out that was bordering on ridiculous. When in full flow, there are few sweeter attacking units. Conor Lehane and Séamus Harnedy were at the heart of everything good the last day and doing much to alter the perception that Cork lack a goal threat.
WHAT THEY NEED: To fine-tune a new-look defensive structure that saw Mark Ellis dominate at times in a sweeper’s role against Wexford.
BACK-DOOR PROSPECTS: A glittering front-line has the potential to put up a match-winning tally but Cork’s defensive uncertainty remains the county’s Achilles Heel.
CLARE
LAST DAY OUT: Left Offaly hurling with another bout of soul-searching after filleting Brian Whelahan’s team to the tune of 20 points. Conor McGrath’s return to fitness and Colm Galvin’s return from Boston make them a far more potent force.
WHAT THEY NEED: For Davy Fitzgerald to loosen the defensive shackles.
The damage Conor McGrath, Shane O’Donnell and Darach Honan could do closer to goal has to be factored in.
BACK-DOOR PROSPECTS: A feeling that Clare’s stars are aligning once more. Win here and anything is possible.
DUBLIN
LAST DAY OUT: Made heavy weather of defeating Laois at times but the goal- scoring prowess of Mark Schutte and Conal Keaney carried them through.
Michael Carton’s defection from the panel has cast the team selection of Ger Cunningham into sharp focus and has heaped the pressure on.
WHAT THEY NEED: To settle on their best 15 after the musical chairs of the summer so far. Peter Kelly’s absence has been sorely felt and the guessing game over where Liam Rushe is best suited to play continues apace. Cunningham was appointed with a view to bring Dublin to the next level but they need to win here, otherwise the evidence will say they have gone backwards rather than forwards in the wake of Anthony Daly’s departure.
BACK-DOOR PROSPECTS: Way too late in the summer to have so many questions marks.
LIMERICK
LAST DAY OUT: Struggled to beat a game Westmeath side and looked like they were clearly feeling the effects of a 16-point Munster semifinal defeat by Tipperary.
WHAT THEY NEED: Their key players to find form. Séamus Hickey and Declan Hannon have been big day performers in the past, yet have had to live with being left out the last day.
A hard-tackling defensive unit was the key to their Munster title in 2013, and their resurgence in recent seasons, so they have to rediscover a mean streak at the back after conceding 4-16 against Tipperary.
BACK-DOOR PROSPECTS: Uncertain. Haven’t hit anything like the same heights since the gutsy All-Ireland s e mi- f i nal s howing against Kilkenny last year. In other seasons they have been able to put lacklustre League form behind them but the malaise has continued into the summer this year. Winning a poor- quality game in the first round against Munster doesn’t look so meaningful now.