Once again hurling was the winner in
Croke Park, as the U21 final was nothing but a roller-coaster all the way
through.
I have huge admiration for Kilkenny as they seem to continuously
produce quality players and their conveyor belt of underage talent is endless.
Not only do they win at senior level but they put huge emphasis on minor and U21
level and because of this system, Brian Cody has an abundance of talent to
choose from, allowing to keep his panel very fresh and competition for places
will always be at a premium. Such talent allowed Cody the comfort of leaving Cha
Fitzpatrick and Martin Comerford on the bench for final day.
No other county
could afford doing this as they would be pivotal players on any other
team.
Sunday was a day for the
Banner men and no one will begrudge them their day out in the sun.
Clare's winter blues will be shorter
Clare had a
horrible year at senior level, this win will no doubt shorten their winter blues
and give an injection of hope back into this county.
Beating the Cats in Croker
in the ultimate test and this bunch of young players can now look forward to a
very bright future in hurling once they don’t get carried away with this win and
once Clare County Board push these players to a higher level and prepare them
for the ultimate tests to lie ahead at senior level.
As for Kilkenny, no doubt they will
be disappointed with this one point defeat but they will still gain 3 or 4
players to freshen up their senior panel and this defeat will not deter or alter
Cody’s plans of a 5th All Ireland.
A lot of people compare Kilkenny and
Kerry - both powerhouses in their respective games; both having won 30 odd
titles; both counties always in the shake up come September.
Kerry's record is not complimentary
The only difference
I see right now is that Kilkenny have a far superior underage record over the
last 10 years in minor and U-21 level while Kerry’s record over the last 10
years is anything but complimentary.
The last minor title was back in 1994, last
final appearance in 2006 losing to Roscommon in a replay. Kerry won the U-21
title in 2008, previous to this Kerry won 3 titles in 1996, 1997 and 1998 – this
team forming the backbone to senior all Ireland titles in 1997, 2000 and
2004.
Kerry have slipped at underage and
Cork have once again taken over similar to what they did in the 1980’s. It is
very simple, if you are not winning at underage and bringing 2 or 3 to the
senior table every year, it is inevitable that your senior team will suffer
burnout.
But Cork's U21 success has tranformed fortunes
Cork have managed to transform their team this year by introducing
their new kids on the block from their U-21 success.
Players like Kerrigan,
Kelly, O’ Neill, Goulding have re-energised this Cork team and have given the
rebels a huge blend of sped, power, work rate and more important than that
players who like Goulding and O’ Neill who know where the goal post are.
The one question mark I had over the
above players was their ability to mix it physically with a team like Tyrone but
they passed this test with flying colours.
They outfought, outplayed and
outscored a Tyrone team which Kerry have struggled with over the last few years.
The key reason for this was Cork’s ability to increase their work rate
throughout the field.
From Number 1-15 all Cork players left every ounce of
energy on the field. They tackled high up the field, didn’t allow Tyrone play
their running game and got loads of bodies back into their defence protecting
their full back line and made life a misery for the Tyrone forwards.
Kerry been quite naive
Over the
last few years Kerry have been quiet naïve when playing Tyrone. Their work rate
throughout the field was not good enough, they put too many balls up for grab up
front allowing Tyrone build from the back and Kerry allowed their defenders to
be exposed in the big spaces in Croker by giving The Tyrone forwards acres of
space by not getting their midfielders and wing forwards back to help out the
cause.
Cork did this to tremendous effect and hit Tyrone on the break, the way
Tyrone likes to play. End result – a huge win for the rebels who now are only 70
minutes to their holy grail.
Cork will be the more confident in the final
Cork will go into this game brimming with
confidence are they have every right to be this way.
On the 2 occasions they
played Kerry this year they were by far the superior team out working, out
running and out scoring Kerry in the replay. If Cork can keep this work rate up
combined with the physical edge Counihan has brought to the team, well they will
very hard to stop on Sunday.
But Kerry have improved since last Cork clash
What of Kerry, well thankfully this
is a far improved team which played Cork on Lee side in June. Kerry have now a
settled team.
The first day in Killarney our central spine was not balanced.
Tommy Griffin at No.6, Quirke and Kennelly at Midfield, Donnacha Walsh at 11 and
Tommy Walsh at 14- this was a very experimental team and Cork just blew them
away and Kerry were lucky Noel O’ Leary gifted them a late free kick for a draw.
However even with a shuffled team for the replay, Kerry were completely blown
away in Lee side with the Cork defenders were allowed salter out of defence
without a hand been put on them.
Thankfully since then, Jack has
rejuvenated his team. He now has a full panel to pick from (1st time
this year).
Marc O Se hamstring which he tore against Cork in the replay is ok and
no doubt he will relish a chance to marking Donnacha O’ Connor again.
Mike Mac
return has been inspirational and big Pearse O’Neill will not have come across a
player of this calibre before.
Scanlon return to midfield has made a huge
difference as his ability to ctach ball over his head is immense and his honest
workrate has to be applauded.
Dara O Se is a much fitter player now to the
player whostruggled against Cork in Lee side. Kerry will need a huge game from
the big man and has he ever left us down.
Upfront Kerry now will have Gally back
to play a full match and his form since that blunder has been immense. Horse
Kennelly is playing great stuff and he was one of the only players that shone
against Cork as Canty was rarely involved that same day.
Kerry will have to dig deep to win
Kerry will need huge games from
their inside line – neither Declan, Gooch,Tommy or Darren would be pleased with
their performances against Cork in June so next Sunday is the ideal
opportunity to right a few wrongs.
But if Thomas 'the star' Kenneally is on...
And then there is the option of the
Star – if this man is ready to play well let's say it will be worth 6 points to
Kerry.
A big concern is the fact Kerry have
no established free taker, Sheehan is making the cut this year. I might be old
fashione but I like to have a free taker to notch off the bread and butter
scores on final day.
Last word - ref you better be neutral this time
So roll on next Sunday, also Martin
Duffy from Sligo is the ref, the last time he was the man in black for Cork v Kerry, he took a set on the O Se brothers sending off Marc and Dara.
Let's hope Duffy does not bring old baggage into this match
All the best
The Pony