Monday, March 22, 2010 Previous editions
WHAT an outstanding advert for the National Hurling League this was.
I’M DOWN in Cork for a few days this week, took in a game, a senior hurling relegation match between Midleton and Carrigtwohill. It was a replay, went to extra-time, and all I can say is this – if I see anything tomorrow in Croke Park like I saw in Castlemartyr, the quality of the hurling, the play, the players, I’ll be a happy man. I met a man on the way out, and typical Cork, he thinks I won’t — “Hey boy,” he said to me, “you won’t see anything like that on Sunday.”
BEFORE we get into any details, I want to address something here in general terms, namely the lack of buzz around the championship this year.
AS usual before an All-Ireland final, I travelled to both competing counties this past week, to Hayes’ Hotel in Thurles and to the equally renowned Langton’s in Kilkenny.
I’M DOWN in Cork for a few days this week, took in a game, a senior hurling relegation match between Midleton and Carrigtwohill. It was a replay, went to extra-time, and all I can say is this – if I see anything tomorrow in Croke Park like I saw in Castlemartyr, the quality of the hurling, the play, the players, I’ll be a happy man. I met a man on the way out, and typical Cork, he thinks I won’t — “Hey boy,” he said to me, “you won’t see anything like that on Sunday.”
BEFORE I go into any preview of this weekend’s action, I’d like to get one thing off my chest. Why don’t the GAA return to the system where you had quarter-finals, semi-finals and a final, with the two top teams in Division Two brought in at quarter-final stage?
THERE are a number of interesting games again this week. Offaly and Galway is a big one for both counties, Dublin and Kilkenny likewise, since both have lost twice; Tipp and Limerick is an interesting tie but only for the latter, and we all know why.
HOW did Portumna change so much from their last three appearances in Croke Park?
AT this time of year, most clubs in the country, whatever their grade, are in serious training for their upcoming county championships. But any of those worth their salt are also thinking of All-Ireland finals.
I MET a few people on the way into the Gaelic Grounds on Saturday evening, mostly Limerick supporters, and I remarked that it was a pity all this trouble was happening.
Tony Considine (TC): “You two have both been involved with Clare teams at various levels over the years, how does this team compare with those?”
BEFORE I go into the match analysis, I’d like to compliment everyone involved in Semple Stadium for the state of the pitch yesterday.
IT was celebration time in the GAA on Sunday on the exact date of that famous meeting in Hayes Hotel in Thurles 125 years ago.
THE FIRST thing to say was how fantastic to see Plan B going up in lights at Croke Park again yesterday.
THERE have been three outstanding hurling games this year.
I WANT to compliment whoever made the following decisions at Croke Park yesterday: (1) the band playing the national anthem, the voices coming only from the crowd; (2) the common sense that prevailed at the end of the game, when the crowd broke the cordon on Hill 16 and the decision was made to move the presentation back to the Hogan Stand, thus allowing the Kilkenny supporters to do what has always been done traditionally on All-Ireland final day in Croke Park and mix with the players; (3) and this one is crucial – the appointment of Diarmuid Kirwan as referee.
IN these final few days before the All-Ireland decider, all the talk is about the players from both teams. Henry, Eoin Kelly, Eoin Larkin, Lar Corbett – these are the stars, these are the guys you pay to see, and the pressure is on them to produce.
JOHN F Kennedy produced a line for the ages in his inauguration speech as US President when he told his audience to “ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country.”
AS I made my way from Croke Park yesterday I met a number of people, from different counties, and all were saying more or less the same thing – “shocking match, you won’t have much to write about.”
CROKE PARK yesterday was a marvellous place to be, two hugely entertaining hurling games and a fine football game between Meath and Mayo.
IN all the years I’ve been doing this column, the one major disappointment for me is that I’ve never been in a position to analyse a big win for Clare.
I WAS down around the square in Thurles yesterday, and five or six Dublin lads passed me talking loudly.
GOING through the records, we have two very unusual situations tomorrow in Thurles, two games in which two teams have never beaten their opposition in championship – I’m talking about Galway and Dublin.
I WAS talking to four fairly shrewd Corkmen in the press box before throw-in against Galway on Saturday evening and asked them who they thought would win.
I’M going to start this analysis not with the senior final – by which I wasn’t at all impressed, and more on that later – but with the minor game.
BEFORE we get into the match analysis, I thought it was nice light touch by the announcer at the end of proceedings in Croke Park yesterday, when he thanked the Kilkenny supporters for staying off the pitch.
THE TWO games I saw this weekend – Tullamore on Saturday and Tipperary against Clare in Limerick yesterday – have restored my faith in hurling.
COMING into Tullamore on Saturday, you knew something special was going to happen; there was magic in the air.
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