Saturday, March 20, 2010
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.
However the most important match of all this week, however, is the clash of Cork and Waterford in Walsh Park. A win for the Rebels and they’re almost home and dry and looking good to make the final, but a win for Waterford and it’s all wide open again.
In the last decade, some of the greatest games we’ve seen have been between Cork and Waterford, and I defy anyone to disagree with that.
I saw Cork against Kilkenny last week and while they weren’t overly impressive, they were still good enough to get past a weakened Cats team.
What I have to wonder now, however, in light of all the changes made by Denis Walsh, is do they have any real interest in getting to the league final?
I suppose some of the changes were fairly predictable; definitely they had to change the full-forward and centre-forward; Cian McCarthy — son of Teddy — comes in on the 40 while Michael Cussen replaces Aisake Ó hAilpín. It will be interesting to see how those two go, but they should certainly have a better touch than the two they replace.
Changes also in defence and midfield for Cork. I have no doubt that Donal Óg is the number one number one in Cork, and will be for a few years yet, but you have to know how your other men will do too, so I can understand why they’ve brought in Anthony Nash. It will be interesting too to see how Seán Óg goes at corner-back, but with changes to the two corners and the full half-back line, I ask again — how serious can Cork be about this league?
And John Gardiner, man-of-the-match at wing-back last week, going to midfield? I don’t know what’s going on here, I don’t think this is going to bear any relation to how Cork are going to be lining out come championship, so why would you do it? Maybe they have their reasons, management are often on a different level of thinking to everyone else. Maybe they want to find out a few things, and certainly they’ll know a lot about this team after their journey to Walsh Park — no better place to test fellas in the league.
Waterford will be going all out for this. They had a brilliant win over Dublin the first day, then came a cropper against Galway. It was always on the cards that they were then going to beat Limerick, but this one now is a real test.
They are missing a huge player for them at the moment, and no, I’m not talking about either Tony Browne or Ken McGrath — I mean the injured Brick Walsh. Brick is an outstanding player, and he’s a huge loss to Waterford.
I don’t know their team at the time of writing, but I have been impressed with some of their young guys — Noel O’Connor at corner-back and Maurice Shanahan up front. They’ll be targeting this one and they have a great chance of making the final. They’ll be up against it, and I have a feeling Cork could sneak it.
Back to the other games; Galway will be hurting after their loss to Tipperary last week, but I’ve been impressed with how Joe Dooley is bringing on this very young Offaly team. Still, if Galway have any pride at all, and if they have any ambitions about making a real challenge in the championship this year, this is a must-win game for them.
Kilkenny are not going to find it easy in Parnell Park. I know they put it up to Cork in Páirc Uí Chaoimh last week and might even have won if they hadn’t had a man sent off, but Dublin are strong at home, and they have a bit of atoning to do after losing to Offaly last week. Still, you’d have to fancy Kilkenny.
To the Gaelic Grounds, and what can you say? Limerick/Tipperary was always a great old battle, but Tipp should win this pulling up, just as Galway, Cork and Waterford have done already – and anyone in Limerick who thinks any of those three teams were at full tilt is deluding themselves.
Overall, a good weekend of hurling in prospect and when the dust has settled, we’ll have a clearer picture of where the thing stands — or will we? It could all be thrown wide open too; hopefully the weather holds up and the crowds turn up, because hurling needs that. We’re well into the league now, the players have shaken off the cobwebs — it’s time the supporters did the same and start the build-up to the championship in earnest.
© Examiner Publications (Cork) Limited, City Quarter, Lapps Quay, Cork. Registered in Ireland: 73385.