Déise look deadly but Limerick still hold aces
IN the midst of my wedding celebrations last weekend, I found a quiet corner to watch the Allianz National Hurling League final and I was hugely impressed by Waterford. Cork’s running game can be very effective against some teams but Waterford showed how they could be stopped at source by putting on the pressure up front. Their attitude, workrate and athleticism really shone.
When they lost to Limerick at the All-Ireland stages, it wasn’t so much down to their hurling, they simply hadn’t the power to live with the champions. That doesn’t look to be the case any more.
Liam Cahill has made subtle changes to the team. Jack Fagan is gone to wing back. He’s very good in the air. If the aerial bombardment comes, then they have to have a halfback line that can compete.
We saw with Calum Lyons that Limerick targeted him defensively at times. He is an option around the middle too and then there is Carthach Daly, who delivered a thunderous performance.
Stephen Bennett is a brilliant player – but it’s the teamwork that makes such a difference and contributes to the 2-11 he registered.
Go down then through the bench. With Austin Gleeson missing, there is the recurring argument: are they better off without him? There has to be a moment when he realises that discipline is so important. Because the brilliant hurler that he is, he’ll come back into the team for the Munster Championship. Waterford won’t win AllIreland without a player of his talent on the field.
You have Jamie Barron to come back. Shane Bennett and Pauric Mahony coming off the bench the last day. You can say the League doesn’t matter that much but I admire the way they’ve gone about winning it. Indeed, they’ve been quite bullish since, making no apologies for winning. That’s a great attitude to have.
That will give them an energy, an edge – but I still think Limerick are the team to beat. Munster looks cutthroat. I fancy Waterford, Limerick and maybe Cork to take the three spots going in the round-robin.
We’ve had such a restricted Championship – it’s so exciting to see the round-robin back.
If Munster looks like it has its own Big Three, I’m well used to this as a player, Leinster being the second graders, the underdogs. In fairness, the power has shifted in recent years. More than likely, the champion will come from Munster.
And yet Kilkenny can’t be discounted. We say it every year. They beat Waterford in the League. They are always going to be competitive and I’ve been impressed with new players like Mikey Butler and David Blanchfield – and TJ Reid still has to return. They’re maybe not good enough to win the All-Ireland but
good enough for Leinster. Wexford’s season so far has been bookended by two heavy defeats – in the Walsh Cup to Dublin and then against Waterford in the League semi-final. I don’t think they’ll be too worried about either because there was a lot of good in their Division 1 campaign. They are playing a more expansive game and will be difficult
to beat at Wexford Park next Saturday.
Opponents Galway remain the big enigma. I saw them up close in the live game against Limerick and they were very good in that match, more than any other game. They were very physical. Some key players are back in form too, the likes of Conor Cooney. They’ve huge strength at the back in Daithí Burke, Fintan Burke and David McInerney.
I talked here about my wedding and the good times after having touched on the tragic death of Paul Shefflin. It must be tough for his brother Henry. The Galway players must be thinking that he has gone through such huge personal loss and yet is here driving us on.
No doubt Henry will get a warm
Bennett is brilliant but it’s teamwork that contributes to his scoring
welcome down in Wexford, but there will be strong emotions in that Galway dressing room firing them.
Dublin impressed in the early part of the League and I expect them to get over Laois. Westmeath had a great win in the Division 2A final and they will be trying to inspire the next generation – no mean task facing Kilkenny.
The round-robin is back – here’s hoping for more great days and a great Championship to come.
lTHE Joe McDonagh Cup remains ultra-competitive. Antrim were very impressive in beating Offaly in the play-off to remain in Division 1. That power and pace in the team takes years to build. The prize is huge to go up to the Liam MacCarthy Cup and Antrim look a step ahead.