Looking forward to another great day's championship action with the final round of the hurling qualifiers and the Ulster football final replay.
The hurling season has stuttered along so far but last weekend was really the start of us getting down to serious business.
Cork shocked, I know it's a strong word given that they have one of the top two sides in the country for the last six season, all of us with the quality of their performance last weekend against Galway and their sheer guts and determination in the second half against the wind with a man down.
They defeated the Tribesmen in a game where we saw one of the great individual performances by a teenage Joe Canning.
When you see a young man put in a game like that you just have wonder how good he can be.
If he keeps his feet on the ground and remains injury free, which will be difficult given that he puts his body on the line to create space, he has the potential to become an all-time great.
However, the Cork half back line of Gardiner, Curran and O hAilpin looked like men on a mission and with Joe Deane on fire up front Cork looked irresistible.
Clare on the other hand have also a lot to prove after a fairly poor performance in the Munster final and they should at least not be as dependent on one player to do the damage for them as were Galway.
In the end I think Cork will edge it just because they take their scores easier than Clare but if the Banner can find the Cork net the way they breached the Waterford and Limerick defences early in the season then it could be quite a contest.
I fancy Waterford to overcome Wexford despite their over reliance on Eoin Kelly to beat Offaly last week.
I still think there is a big game in Waterford and it's now die dog or shite the licence.
Wexford are a poor side, their league form and their efforts in Leinster tell us that.
The gap between the rest in Leinster, Cats apart, and Munster isn't as big as some suggest, but the Decies know this is the last throw of the dice and I would expect some of them to begin to perform as they can.
I wouldn't even dream of calling Ulster. Prevailing wisdom that Fermanagh had their chance and that they will be eaten up by Armagh in the replay isn't going to happen.
Fermanagh are much too fit and physically strong to roll over for anyone. They know they had the game by the throat for the last 25 minutes and they will take great heart from that but they must do something about the free taking.
Armagh are methodical, clever and slick in full flight but McGrane is no longer a 70 minute player, he tired last week and the team suffered.
They are a little too pedestrian at times in the build-up and it was a tactical error bringing in Oisin McConville left the field.
The old Armagh disease of the two Brians era of not pushing on when they had a big lead cost them dearly and unless they address the issue of pace in their side they will be found out by better sides than Fermanagh no matter what Curran and McDonnell can conjure up.
I think we are in for another great battle as winning is everything in this one as the losers will find it very tough lifting themselves for the qualifers.
Showing posts with label Clare. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Clare. Show all posts
Sunday, 27 July 2008
Tuesday, 15 July 2008
Clare remain a threat
Was disappointed with the Clare performance in Sunday's Munster hurling final but if the Banner men learn anything from the game they could be a threat yet and no one will enjoy playing them.
I thought the occasion got to some of the Clare players and it was a very nervous first half performance from their forwards in particular.
When Mark Flaherty missed his first shot from a free I had a feeling it was going to be one of those days for the Banner.
However, I have to confess that I didn't expect the likes of Niall Gilligan to be suffering from the shakes.
He spurned three out of four chances in the first half, one after he had done all the hard work to win the ball, shake off his man only to blaze a mishit shot wide.
Clare's series of early wides cost them the game, you could almost see the confidence draining out of them as Carmody, McMahon, Gilligan and Clancy all missed chances.
The failure too to deal with the threat posed by the Tipp three quarter line until the break left them too much to do in the second half.
The biggest difference between them and Tipp was that the Premier men seemed to be able to take their scores at will while Clare had to fight for every chance they got.
The weaknesses in the Banner defence exposed by Waterford and Limerick couldn't be covered up by a big score being posted at the other end.
However, they did put some of this right at the interval and Gerry Quinn's move to centre half certainly turned the game in their favour.
It was worrying however, that so much of the fight back was built upon the efforts of the veterans like Quinn, Colin Lynch, who was magnificent throughout, and Gilligan.
Maybe the tension of a first Munster final for the younger lads and the expectation this raised in the county took its toll but despite the horrific number of wides posted by the Banner if they can learn from the experience they will not fear anyone coming out of the next round of qualifiers.
We can only hope that the weekend's games do indeed signal a change in the hurling order and that Tipp and Clare will emerge once again as genuine contenders for the Liam McCarthy.
I thought the occasion got to some of the Clare players and it was a very nervous first half performance from their forwards in particular.
When Mark Flaherty missed his first shot from a free I had a feeling it was going to be one of those days for the Banner.
However, I have to confess that I didn't expect the likes of Niall Gilligan to be suffering from the shakes.
He spurned three out of four chances in the first half, one after he had done all the hard work to win the ball, shake off his man only to blaze a mishit shot wide.
Clare's series of early wides cost them the game, you could almost see the confidence draining out of them as Carmody, McMahon, Gilligan and Clancy all missed chances.
The failure too to deal with the threat posed by the Tipp three quarter line until the break left them too much to do in the second half.
The biggest difference between them and Tipp was that the Premier men seemed to be able to take their scores at will while Clare had to fight for every chance they got.
The weaknesses in the Banner defence exposed by Waterford and Limerick couldn't be covered up by a big score being posted at the other end.
However, they did put some of this right at the interval and Gerry Quinn's move to centre half certainly turned the game in their favour.
It was worrying however, that so much of the fight back was built upon the efforts of the veterans like Quinn, Colin Lynch, who was magnificent throughout, and Gilligan.
Maybe the tension of a first Munster final for the younger lads and the expectation this raised in the county took its toll but despite the horrific number of wides posted by the Banner if they can learn from the experience they will not fear anyone coming out of the next round of qualifiers.
We can only hope that the weekend's games do indeed signal a change in the hurling order and that Tipp and Clare will emerge once again as genuine contenders for the Liam McCarthy.
Munster win signal that Tipp have arrived
The Munster hurling final may not have delivered on its promise of a great contest between two sides hungry for honours but it has signalled the arrival of a Tipp side who were a joy to watch.
Liam Sheedy's team showed that their National League win was no one off and this young Premier side looked equipped to take on even the mighty Cats.
I have always believed there is no substitute for class and the Tipp lads showed that in abundance on Sunday.
They seemed to be able to take their scores at will from all angles but this was due to some great passing into the front three and great movement at pace off the ball by Lar Corbett in particular which created the openings for Tipp to finally put Clare to the sword.
Tipp to be honest looked good all over the field.
Their full back line gave Clare no quarter whatsoever and it was no fluke that Niall Gilligan only got into the game after half time when he moved out the field.
It was a tough day at the office for Gilligan and young Mark Flaherty in the opening half.
Eamon Corcoran put in another mighty performance in half back and while Clare had purple patches in the middle of the field Shane McGrath kept working hard and eventually came out on top.
Tipp enjoyed a great return from their half forwards Seamus Callinan and John O'Brien, their two goals were really nails in the Banner men's coffin.
Eoin Kelly put in another good solid performance and I think he has been helped by the fact that the team is no longer so dependent on him to bring home the bacon, Kelly can afford to play almost like a mere mortal these days and the team will come up with the goods.
Corbett is absolutely flying this season. He seems to be playing much more consistently and his constant probing is opening up gaps in any defence he has faced so far.
What most impressed me was the sheer quality of Tipp's striking and movement and they matched this with the toughness required to face strong opposition.
Of course they still have to face the Cats and will have to overcome another stiff test in the All-Ireland semi final no matter who comes through the qualifiers just to earn the right to take on the champions.
However, they look for the first time in years like the genuine article.
They are a young side and have a conveyor belt of young talent breaking through to suggest that they will be a force for a few years to come.
Hurling badly needs at least one team capable of a genuine rivalry with the Cats and the Premier County men look like the team best equipped to put in a sustained challenge, but try telling that to Galway!
Liam Sheedy's team showed that their National League win was no one off and this young Premier side looked equipped to take on even the mighty Cats.
I have always believed there is no substitute for class and the Tipp lads showed that in abundance on Sunday.
They seemed to be able to take their scores at will from all angles but this was due to some great passing into the front three and great movement at pace off the ball by Lar Corbett in particular which created the openings for Tipp to finally put Clare to the sword.
Tipp to be honest looked good all over the field.
Their full back line gave Clare no quarter whatsoever and it was no fluke that Niall Gilligan only got into the game after half time when he moved out the field.
It was a tough day at the office for Gilligan and young Mark Flaherty in the opening half.
Eamon Corcoran put in another mighty performance in half back and while Clare had purple patches in the middle of the field Shane McGrath kept working hard and eventually came out on top.
Tipp enjoyed a great return from their half forwards Seamus Callinan and John O'Brien, their two goals were really nails in the Banner men's coffin.
Eoin Kelly put in another good solid performance and I think he has been helped by the fact that the team is no longer so dependent on him to bring home the bacon, Kelly can afford to play almost like a mere mortal these days and the team will come up with the goods.
Corbett is absolutely flying this season. He seems to be playing much more consistently and his constant probing is opening up gaps in any defence he has faced so far.
What most impressed me was the sheer quality of Tipp's striking and movement and they matched this with the toughness required to face strong opposition.
Of course they still have to face the Cats and will have to overcome another stiff test in the All-Ireland semi final no matter who comes through the qualifiers just to earn the right to take on the champions.
However, they look for the first time in years like the genuine article.
They are a young side and have a conveyor belt of young talent breaking through to suggest that they will be a force for a few years to come.
Hurling badly needs at least one team capable of a genuine rivalry with the Cats and the Premier County men look like the team best equipped to put in a sustained challenge, but try telling that to Galway!
Tuesday, 24 June 2008
Great to have the Banner back
Delighted to see Clare reach the Munster hurling final for the first time since 1999.
Then a packed Thurles saw the restoration of the old guard when a young Cork side managed by Jimmy Barry Murphy ousted Ger Loughnane's team, which had won three out of the last four Munsters and two All Irelands.
That day signalled the end of an era, the end of the hurling revolution and normal business was restored as only Cork, Tipp and Kilkenny have won the All Ireland since after being frozen out of the honours for five years between 1994-'98.
Clare have enjoyed some great days since, reaching an All-Ireland final back in 2002 only to be badly beaten by a DJ Carey inspired Kilkenny.
Under Anthony Daly the Banner enjoyed a couple of good days at the office through the back door but they have for the most part been bit players since the 1999 defeat.
This year's resurgence under Mike McNamara has come in almost under the radar.
Only a very brave man would have predicted that Clare would reach a Munster final at the start of the season.
However, McNamara has brought most of the same bunch of players who have been there for two to three seasons now through games with Waterford and Limerick.
Neither of those sides played to their full potential so it is difficult to assess just how much progress Clare have made but there is nothing like a couple of wins in the championship to lift a team and they will not fear their Munster final opponents, Tipperary quite in the same way as Cork.
The Clare forward line has done the business posting a huge score against Waterford and while not setting the world on fire on Sunday they still managed four goals.
Tony Carmody is strong and a good target for the long ball while young Mark Flaherty, Gilligan and sub Barry Nugent all have helped to make the full forward line a bit more competitive.
The half forwards are industrious with Johnathon Clancy a live wire and in mid field Brian O'Connell is a workhorse alongside Lynch's experience.
The half back line is the one I would worry about.
Clare have leaked 40 scores over the two games and the Morans made hay on Sunday from the half forward line.
A fully fit Gerry Quinn might be the solution to some of this problem area but it can only be good for the Munster championship to have the Banner back.
Then a packed Thurles saw the restoration of the old guard when a young Cork side managed by Jimmy Barry Murphy ousted Ger Loughnane's team, which had won three out of the last four Munsters and two All Irelands.
That day signalled the end of an era, the end of the hurling revolution and normal business was restored as only Cork, Tipp and Kilkenny have won the All Ireland since after being frozen out of the honours for five years between 1994-'98.
Clare have enjoyed some great days since, reaching an All-Ireland final back in 2002 only to be badly beaten by a DJ Carey inspired Kilkenny.
Under Anthony Daly the Banner enjoyed a couple of good days at the office through the back door but they have for the most part been bit players since the 1999 defeat.
This year's resurgence under Mike McNamara has come in almost under the radar.
Only a very brave man would have predicted that Clare would reach a Munster final at the start of the season.
However, McNamara has brought most of the same bunch of players who have been there for two to three seasons now through games with Waterford and Limerick.
Neither of those sides played to their full potential so it is difficult to assess just how much progress Clare have made but there is nothing like a couple of wins in the championship to lift a team and they will not fear their Munster final opponents, Tipperary quite in the same way as Cork.
The Clare forward line has done the business posting a huge score against Waterford and while not setting the world on fire on Sunday they still managed four goals.
Tony Carmody is strong and a good target for the long ball while young Mark Flaherty, Gilligan and sub Barry Nugent all have helped to make the full forward line a bit more competitive.
The half forwards are industrious with Johnathon Clancy a live wire and in mid field Brian O'Connell is a workhorse alongside Lynch's experience.
The half back line is the one I would worry about.
Clare have leaked 40 scores over the two games and the Morans made hay on Sunday from the half forward line.
A fully fit Gerry Quinn might be the solution to some of this problem area but it can only be good for the Munster championship to have the Banner back.
Saturday, 21 June 2008
Season hots up in the provinces
Looking forward to tomorrow's games after another great football match in Ulster tonight.
I have really enjoyed this season so far and we are only getting to the crucial stages of the provincial championships and we still have the qualifiers to come.
I'm going to have a quick punt on tomorrow's games, should be the kiss of death for any side tipped but here goes.
I think that Mayo will see Sligo off fairly comfortably.
Sligo's win in Connacht last year was one of the fairy tales of the season but Sligo came back down to earth with a bump in the quarter finals and they haven't really recovered.
Under new management they have had a disastrous league campaign and I can't see them rising to the same heights again.
Despite the squander mania of last week I expect the Dublin hurlers to put Wexford away this week.
The Dubs threw the Model men a lifeline last week and may have encouraged a little self belief among the southern side that they can at least progress to the annual whipping by Kilkenny but I think the Dubs have what it takes.
Wexford and Laois should be another good game in the football.
Laois has had the upper hand over the Model footballers in recent years but look well short of the sort of form they showed under Micko earlier in the decade.
I think Wexford might just shed this one but there won't be much in it.
The game of the day has to be the Munster hurling semi final between last year's All-Ireland finalists Limerick and Clare.
Limerick have struggled to produce the goods this season and Clare will be boosted by their win against a poor Waterford side.
However, the confidence gained in that win might stand to the Banner tomorrow but one way or another we are guaranteed a new winner in Munster.
I think Clare might sneak through but their defence has to improve.
I have really enjoyed this season so far and we are only getting to the crucial stages of the provincial championships and we still have the qualifiers to come.
I'm going to have a quick punt on tomorrow's games, should be the kiss of death for any side tipped but here goes.
I think that Mayo will see Sligo off fairly comfortably.
Sligo's win in Connacht last year was one of the fairy tales of the season but Sligo came back down to earth with a bump in the quarter finals and they haven't really recovered.
Under new management they have had a disastrous league campaign and I can't see them rising to the same heights again.
Despite the squander mania of last week I expect the Dublin hurlers to put Wexford away this week.
The Dubs threw the Model men a lifeline last week and may have encouraged a little self belief among the southern side that they can at least progress to the annual whipping by Kilkenny but I think the Dubs have what it takes.
Wexford and Laois should be another good game in the football.
Laois has had the upper hand over the Model footballers in recent years but look well short of the sort of form they showed under Micko earlier in the decade.
I think Wexford might just shed this one but there won't be much in it.
The game of the day has to be the Munster hurling semi final between last year's All-Ireland finalists Limerick and Clare.
Limerick have struggled to produce the goods this season and Clare will be boosted by their win against a poor Waterford side.
However, the confidence gained in that win might stand to the Banner tomorrow but one way or another we are guaranteed a new winner in Munster.
I think Clare might sneak through but their defence has to improve.
Monday, 9 June 2008
Fitz the man for the Decies
The appointment tonight of Davy Fitzgerald as Waterford boss will bring another dimension to this year's championship.
Enjoyed Pat Spillane's teasing of the former Clare keeper last night about whether or not his hat was in the ring and the efforts of Davy Fitz to keep him off his case.
Fitzgerald's appointment is definitely going to keep the spotlight on the Decies and he was at pains to praise the calibre of their players on the Sunday Game.
He has inherited a good group of players, under achievers maybe, ageing definitely but they are capable of a last hurrah if they can regroup for a big team effort.
Davy Fitz has only a very short period to get them in shape but given his determination to succeed at everything he takes on I think we are in for an interesting championship.
Enjoyed Pat Spillane's teasing of the former Clare keeper last night about whether or not his hat was in the ring and the efforts of Davy Fitz to keep him off his case.
Fitzgerald's appointment is definitely going to keep the spotlight on the Decies and he was at pains to praise the calibre of their players on the Sunday Game.
He has inherited a good group of players, under achievers maybe, ageing definitely but they are capable of a last hurrah if they can regroup for a big team effort.
Davy Fitz has only a very short period to get them in shape but given his determination to succeed at everything he takes on I think we are in for an interesting championship.
Sunday, 1 June 2008
Raising the Banner
Very mixed feelings about today's Munster hurling championship game which Clare won at a canter.
First it's great to see the Banner back in business in Munster, their first championship win for five years and they will relish the prospect of playing against neighbours Limerick in the semi final.
Clare were hungry, energetic and the fact that they scored 28 times will do their forwards' confidence no harm at all.
The Bannermen played in a manner which we associated with good Clare sides of the last 15 years, they made up for finesse with strength, fitness and a fierce competitive spirit.
Griffin and Carmody had a field day up front with O'Flaherty weighing in with some good scores on his championship debut.
Diarmuid McMahon also excelled at half forward and all this created so much more space for Niall Gilligan who too often must have felt like the Lone Ranger in the Clare attack in the last six or seven seasons.
I also thought the fact that Frank Lohan had a quiet day at centre full back said much about Clare's dominance out the field as Waterford struggled to create goal chances.
If Clare has any concern at the end of this game it must be about the fact that a Waterford team which had thrown the towel in at least 20 minutes from the end still conceded 22 scores.
It's true that this was a very open game but John Mullane roasted both the full backs put on him and Limerick boss Richie Bennis will feel that his forward line will give Clare more problems than the Decies did.
However, this is a young hungry Clare side, its tails will be up from this victory and manager Mike McNamara now has time to work on further improvement.
Clare will not fear Limerick or feel any sense of inferiority as they might if they had to face Tipp or Cork at this stage.
Limerick came from nowhere last year to reach an All-Ireland final.
The Bannermen know that they have a long road to travel before they are serious contenders for the All Ireland but there is nothing like a championship win to boost a side's confidence and it can only be good for hurling if the Banner was to rise again.
First it's great to see the Banner back in business in Munster, their first championship win for five years and they will relish the prospect of playing against neighbours Limerick in the semi final.
Clare were hungry, energetic and the fact that they scored 28 times will do their forwards' confidence no harm at all.
The Bannermen played in a manner which we associated with good Clare sides of the last 15 years, they made up for finesse with strength, fitness and a fierce competitive spirit.
Griffin and Carmody had a field day up front with O'Flaherty weighing in with some good scores on his championship debut.
Diarmuid McMahon also excelled at half forward and all this created so much more space for Niall Gilligan who too often must have felt like the Lone Ranger in the Clare attack in the last six or seven seasons.
I also thought the fact that Frank Lohan had a quiet day at centre full back said much about Clare's dominance out the field as Waterford struggled to create goal chances.
If Clare has any concern at the end of this game it must be about the fact that a Waterford team which had thrown the towel in at least 20 minutes from the end still conceded 22 scores.
It's true that this was a very open game but John Mullane roasted both the full backs put on him and Limerick boss Richie Bennis will feel that his forward line will give Clare more problems than the Decies did.
However, this is a young hungry Clare side, its tails will be up from this victory and manager Mike McNamara now has time to work on further improvement.
Clare will not fear Limerick or feel any sense of inferiority as they might if they had to face Tipp or Cork at this stage.
Limerick came from nowhere last year to reach an All-Ireland final.
The Bannermen know that they have a long road to travel before they are serious contenders for the All Ireland but there is nothing like a championship win to boost a side's confidence and it can only be good for hurling if the Banner was to rise again.
Friday, 30 May 2008
Thank God for Munster!
It's back and with it for me the beginning of championship hurling.
I am of course referring to the first game of the Munster hurling championship between Waterford and Clare this Sunday.
And yes I know that the Leinster and Ulster championships have already started but let's be honest we haven't seen any competitive hurling yet.
Leinster and Ulster are two dead certs, I doubt Paddy Power would give you a double of 1/100 of Kilkenny and Antrim which is about as good a punt as you'll get at the moment in these post Celtic Tiger times.
But the Munster hurling championship, that's another ball game altogether. Three out of five of the contenders have won the championship this decade while last year's All-Ireland runners-up Limerick lost to Waterford in the final last year, so despite the era of qualifiers and back doors no one seems to have told the Munster men that their local rivalry is any less important than it ever was.
To be honest the Munster Championship is the only fiercely competitive hurling we'll see before we get to the latter stages of the All-Ireland championship and without it the hurling championship would be a snore, unless the authorities had the courage to go for an Open Draw and if the provinces could set local pride and revenue to the side.
But I'm not holding my breath waiting for the change and in the meantime I simply can't wait to see Clare and Waterford go for it on Sunday.
When this draw was made I could only see one winner, the Decies, but things have changed a lot in the past couple of months.
Waterford had a poor league campaign, for God's sake even Wexford beat them and that was their only decent result in a campaign which saw them relegated.
There was a theory then that the Decies were keeping their powder dry, that Justin McCarthy was allowing his veterans to rest up in anticipation of an All-Ireland campaign which might see them finally lift the Liam McCarthy again.
Then the injuries came, Ken McGrath, Eoin Kelly, Paul Flynn all out and Dan the Man on the treatment table too.
Big Dan will be back but even he was not firing on all cylinders earlier in the year and I think that Clare can smell blood.
The Clare men have had their problems too with an injury to top scorer Niall Gilligan but apart from that the Banner will be at full strength.
Clare are not yet back in contention with the top sides but they improved last season and they will know that a big effort on Sunday could fell the Munster champions at the first hurdle.
Like most neutrals I have watched this Waterford team in hope more than expectation that they might break the monopoly of the Big Two on Liam but I fear that on Sunday we may be watching the beginning of the end.
I hope I'm wrong!
I am of course referring to the first game of the Munster hurling championship between Waterford and Clare this Sunday.
And yes I know that the Leinster and Ulster championships have already started but let's be honest we haven't seen any competitive hurling yet.
Leinster and Ulster are two dead certs, I doubt Paddy Power would give you a double of 1/100 of Kilkenny and Antrim which is about as good a punt as you'll get at the moment in these post Celtic Tiger times.
But the Munster hurling championship, that's another ball game altogether. Three out of five of the contenders have won the championship this decade while last year's All-Ireland runners-up Limerick lost to Waterford in the final last year, so despite the era of qualifiers and back doors no one seems to have told the Munster men that their local rivalry is any less important than it ever was.
To be honest the Munster Championship is the only fiercely competitive hurling we'll see before we get to the latter stages of the All-Ireland championship and without it the hurling championship would be a snore, unless the authorities had the courage to go for an Open Draw and if the provinces could set local pride and revenue to the side.
But I'm not holding my breath waiting for the change and in the meantime I simply can't wait to see Clare and Waterford go for it on Sunday.
When this draw was made I could only see one winner, the Decies, but things have changed a lot in the past couple of months.
Waterford had a poor league campaign, for God's sake even Wexford beat them and that was their only decent result in a campaign which saw them relegated.
There was a theory then that the Decies were keeping their powder dry, that Justin McCarthy was allowing his veterans to rest up in anticipation of an All-Ireland campaign which might see them finally lift the Liam McCarthy again.
Then the injuries came, Ken McGrath, Eoin Kelly, Paul Flynn all out and Dan the Man on the treatment table too.
Big Dan will be back but even he was not firing on all cylinders earlier in the year and I think that Clare can smell blood.
The Clare men have had their problems too with an injury to top scorer Niall Gilligan but apart from that the Banner will be at full strength.
Clare are not yet back in contention with the top sides but they improved last season and they will know that a big effort on Sunday could fell the Munster champions at the first hurdle.
Like most neutrals I have watched this Waterford team in hope more than expectation that they might break the monopoly of the Big Two on Liam but I fear that on Sunday we may be watching the beginning of the end.
I hope I'm wrong!
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