Mostly Hurling:Whoever finds the most responses will come out best in Sunday's latest instalment of the age-old Munster rivalry, writes JOHN ALLEN
GROWING UP in the hurling hotbed of Aghabullogue in the 1960s meant hurley in hand as often as possible, keenly-contested games in the school field at lunchtime and even more enthusiastically-contested battles in the same school field in the late evening.
The Noonans could always be seen playing their pre-dinner, post-work game most evenings, with Tipp and Cork always in opposition.
Our side wall was always available if one had to do battle alone. The wall then became Jimmy Doyle, Theo English or Len Gaynor and you were Con Roche, Charlie Mac or even Christy Ring.
Cork and Tipperary names were the only ones we knew in those very early days of television coverage. And your voice was always Micheál O’Hehir’s.
Now we all know the names and faces of our hurling heroes. Well the faces mightn’t be that familiar in the future now that everybody has to wear a helmet.
The history and tradition continues on Sunday when the venue switches from the school field to Páirc Uí Chaoimh, but the prize is still the same. It’s the pride in the jersey, the county rivalry, the bragging rights for the fans, and the rite of passage for the victors.
In many ways the teams line up Sunday with a similar set of unanswered questions. Both teams are in the unsettling position of not having a settled 15. It is their first championship game of the year, I hear you say. But for any management team, having had a league campaign to experiment in, and, not being sure of the starting line-up, is a concern.
Cork reached the league final and seemed to make progress in each and every game, but there were many flaws exposed in the final. Much has been written about the fact Cork now possess a pair of players two metres tall and the expected advantage it should give the team. But that advantage didn’t accrue in the league final. I’m not sure if Denis Walsh knows exactly how to extract the most from these two giants.
Does he start both of them? (there is a strong possibility Tom Kenny won’t start, regardless of the team named on Wednesday) If he does, where does he play them?
Should he use both as the puck-out target?
Does he use both as a two-man full-forward line? Or does he only start one of them?
Only O’hAilpín has been named to start, but the side will probably be subject to some strategic use of both Cussen and Ó hAilpín.
Will Kieran Murphy start nearer to the goal? How will Ben O’Connor be best utilised? Can Cork reach the intensity Galway played to in the league decider?
Can Ronan Curran dominate the centre back position? Will Tipp expose Seán Óg’s apparent lack of pace? Is Jerry O’Connor still able to make a big impact? Many questions.
On the Premier side, Pádraic Maher was a revelation at full back last year, but was at sixes and sevens against Cork in their league game. Is Brendan Maher an able assistant to Shane McGrath in the middle of the field? The forwards, while individually very skilful, accurate players, have yet to play and gel as a unit.
Really, to match Kilkenny the opposition has to have at least 18 players of the highest quality. Tipp had a baker’s dozen last year and so far this season are pushed to reach the regular dozen. There is a distinct lack of form in the Tipp camp, Eoin Kelly apart. An unknown by the name of Brian O’Meara is being touted as the in-form player who is going to make the difference. Declan Kidney would play him. Liam Sheedy will start him.
We saw fierce intensity in the recent league games between these arch-rivals. I’ve no doubt but we’ll see even more in this game. Cork might have more appetite for this one but Tipp have the greater strength in depth and should figure in a few months time as the season thunders to an end.
Saturday night will see league champions Galway embark on their next hurling voyage. If we are to use the form of the recent league finals as a guide then the Tribesmen will win easily. The Division Two final was like a minor game in comparison will the high-octane decider that followed.
But how often in recent years have Galway impressed hugely one weekend and then when the pressure of favouritism is on their backs underperform? They allowed Waterford to win last year. They have allowed Cork to win on a few occasions over the past decade. Wexford turned them over in the league quarter-final three years ago.
But Galway turned a psychological corner in the last quarter of their league match against Kilkenny when they wrestled back the game when defeat looked on the cards. They showed a strength of character in that game that is often missing in Galway teams. They carried that belief into the league final and augmented it with intensity and a high work-rate.
They will be too strong for Wexford, whose sojourn in Division Two for the past couple of seasons will be a decided handicap.
So as the first real hurling weekend approaches we wish for honest endeavour, high numbers on the scoreboard, low numbers in the card department, no talk of underhand passes or referees and a sign there is a team in waiting to dethrone the champs.
