ULTIMATE COOL CAT

Even against this talented Tipperary outfit, we should know better than to write off a Cody side by now

Exclusive interview with Jackie Tyrrell

‘RYAN’S OPTIONS ON THE BENCH MIGHT JUST SHADE IT FOR TIPPERARY’

THE more things change, the more they stay the same. For the past few months, we have been talking about how the landscape has been altered by the new teams that have emerged, led by Micheál Donoghue’s Galway. But Kilkenny and Tipperary just keep popping up, don’t they? They keep hanging around.

Kilkenny have won eight Allianz League titles since Brian Cody took over in 1999. If they win today, that will be nine in 19 years; a remarkable record. To put that in context, Tipperary haven’t won a League since 2008 and they were All-Ireland champions on two occasions since then. It shows that League titles aren’t easily won unless you are Kilkenny, who are the exception to every rule.

It is amazing what Kilkenny have done over the course of this spring. They lost their first two matches in Division 1A, albeit only by three points, and it looked like Cody had a massive rebuilding job on his hands. On these pages a few weeks ago, I suggested that it was the biggest reconstruction project he had undertaken in two decades at the helm and wondered if they would win another All-Ireland title under him.

And yet here they are, in the League final. It has been their spirit, their drive, will to win and pride in the jersey that has got them there. They are basic principles that every team needs, no matter what the sport, but Kilkenny have them in abundance. Under Cody, the players hurl with an honesty of effort that simply isn’t matched by anyone else.

It is about getting the basics right. Hurling is a simple game when you break it down. It is about winning your individual battle. Tactics come after that. Cody gets stick sometimes for saying that every game takes on a life of its own. But it’s true and when the basics are right, then teams can adapt to whatever game unfolds.

What Kilkenny do is simple. They put their best players at 3, 6, 11 and 14 and build the team around that. And such a solid base has allowed young players like Richie Leahy and John Donnelly to flourish. Both Pádraig Walsh and Cillian Buckley are natural wing-backs, two of the best in that position in the game. But Cody needs them at full-back and centreback to solidify his team’s spine. So that is where they are playing. And that’s where they are staying put.

Walter Walsh has been rejuvenated at full-forward. He burst on the scene by being man of the match in an All-Ireland final replay back in 2012 but has struggled to get back to those heights. But he’s flying fit and playing some great hurling.

We all know what TJ Reid can do. He is one of the best forwards to ever play the game. However, over this campaign, he has taken his game to a new level. He has driven the team forward. When Kilkenny and Tipp met a few weeks ago, it was Reid who created the winning score for Leahy. When Offaly drew level with them in the final few minutes of the League quarter-final, it was TJ who lifted his team out of the mire. Reid and Walsh give Kilkenny an option for route one. While much has been made of how this Kilkenny team are playing it short much more, TJ and Wally offer them a direct route to goal. They can mix it, play it both short and long. Cody and Mick Dempsey know how to build a team around its strengths. What truly sets Kilkenny apart is that they want to win every single game they play. It doesn’t matter if it is Walsh Cup, League or Championship, they are determined to win. And that comes from a manager who has never dropped his standards. Reid is his team’s most important player and he will face Tipperary’s most important one this afternoon. The battle between Reid and Pádraic Maher will be a defining tussle in Nowlan Park and will have a huge influence on the result. If Reid was removed from the Kilkenny side in the morning, I think all the other top teams would beat them. But similarly, for all the talk of the strength in depth that Tipp possess, if they didn’t have Pádraic Maher, I think they would find life pretty tough against the top teams, too. Maher’s ability to play his own position and mark his own man has always been good but it is his ability to drive forward, the calming presence he is for his teammates, and his scoring from play that has really marked him out as one of the superstars of the game. If there was nobody else on the field today, the tussle between Reid and Maher would be worth going along for on its own. Even though neither has anything left to prove, there will be no step backward from either today.

Tipp have been playing some brilliant hurling in attack, but they are also conceding big scores. While they have averaged 0-28, they have given up an average of 0-24. It is almost like they are saying to their opponents no matter what you score, we will score more. Whether they will be able to play like in the Championship is a different story.

They seem to have unearthed a cornerback in Alan Flynn while James Barry has found a bit of form at the edge of the square. Whatever holes they have had in defence, they have been able to plug — at least, so far.

It’s up front where their real power lies. Jason Forde has been exceptional all spring and he has compensated for what his side are conceding at the other end. Today will be a big test for him against Walsh. If he maintains the form he has shown all spring, that may ultimately decide the outcome of the game.

Forde was missing when Tipp lost by a point in Nowlan Park a few weeks ago, as was Pádraic Maher, John McGrath and Barry Heffernan. They will be a much stronger outfit this afternoon.

It was interesting to hear Brendan Maher talk during the week that Tipper- ary pushed themselves too hard last year in trying to defend the All-Ireland title. If you take last year’s League, they looked unbeatable before they were demolished by Galway in the Gaelic Grounds. So perhaps, Tipp have played a little within themselves in the past few weeks, ensuring that something is in the tank for later on in the summer, mindful of what happened a year ago.

Michael Ryan (left) probably knows 10 or 11 of his starting XV for their Championship opener against Limerick. There are four or five places up for grabs and there are plenty of options for those places. Think of John ‘Bubbles’ O’Dwyer, who we have barely seen, Noel McGrath or Bonner Maher, who we haven’t seen at all.

I don’t think Tipp have overly exerted themselves yet in the League. They are gradually building up to Championship pitch, but they might have to reach that today. Given the intensity of these encounters over the past 10 years, there will be no holding back.

Psychologically, it is important for Tipperary to win as they haven’t beaten Kilkenny in their own backyard for 10 years. Ryan’s greater options on the bench might just shade it for Tipperary.

But I have been waiting for Kilkenny to be beaten in this year’s League. I thought Wexford would do it last week and they had no answer for their determination and drive. It would be just like the Cats to prove me wrong once again.