Enjoyed the two hurling semi finals today and the results awaken a little hope that maybe, just maybe things might be different this year.
However, I am not going to get carried away that Tipp managed to overcome the Cats while Galway saw off the Rebels.
Tipp in fairness dug in during a game, which was tough and combative. Tipp fought like their lives depended on it but I felt at times that the Cats were still revving up the engine for bigger things later in the season when they try again to achieve the coveted three in a row, which Cork denied them earlier in the decade.
The Premier men will be delighted that they won the game without relying on the scoring prowess of Eoin Kelly carrying their efforts single handedly.
Lar Corbett once again found the net for the Premier County.
Lar is an enigma the only thing consistent about him is his inconsistency but he does know where the net is.
Shane McGrath turned in another great performance and he, Paul Curran and Seamus Callinan stepped up to the plate as the Cats worked hard to get back in to the game in the second half.
Kilkenny surprisingly spurned a couple of chances to level the score and when Kelly put Tipp three ahead again 1-11 to 1-8 they never looked like they would lose their advantage.
For Tipp a league title would be progress but for the Cats it’s the Liam McCarthy or nothing and it showed even in the body language of their players as they left the field.
There seemed to be no sense of huge disappointment in the Cats’ camp at the final whistle.
Tommy Walsh was again at times in this game awesome while I don’t think PJ Delaney, who was brilliant nonetheless will finish the season in full back.
Eddie Brennan scored a goal but was well contained and at critical times the physical presence as well as sheer brilliance of Henry Shefflin was badly missed.
The Cats don’t taste defeat too often, it usually makes them all the more dangerous and they will be back but for now Tipp can look forward to renewing their rivalry with Galway in next week’s final.
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