“I didn’t interrupt you, boy”. And there it was, Donal Og Cusack’s arrogant ignorance got in the way of meaningful analysis and reasoned debate. Worse still, he was let away with it by Joanne Cantwell. But then, how she ended up with the most prized job in Irish sports broadcasting ahead of either Jacqui Hurley, Marie Crowe or Evanne Ni Chuilinn – if they were determined to have a female anchor – is the eighth Glorious Mystery
To begin, let’s park the tractor on the headlands and survey the field. In this case, a David Burke red card. Jackie Tyrell, for and on behalf of the defender’s union, was of the opinion the challenge Burke put in on Fergal Whitely warranted a yellow at most.
Cusack, on the other hand, began pontificating about the rights and wrongs of how the game has changed over the past decade. Almost talking down to Tyrell as if the Kilkenny legend didn’t know what he was talking about. He’s forgotten more than you’ll ever know, boy!
Given the way our games are refereed these days, it had to be a stone wall red. Ten years ago when men were men and our games were as they should be, it wouldn’t have even constituted a yellow, but such is the world we live in now.
Though in fairness, the new methodology for dealing with high tackles, head injuries has been adopted from rugby. The most physical yet best policed sport in the world. Luckily, there was enough top class hurling played out over the weekend that Donal Og’s latest hissy fit was nipped in the bud fairly lively.
You had Dublin finally hitting somewhere close to what they have been long thought capable of when chalking up a resounding and deserved win over Galway. From a certain angle, the story could be spun to relate more to the vanquished outfit’s shortcomings and the uncertainty around Henry Shefflin’s future as their manager. But such a focus would do a grave injustice to Dublin.
The reasoning behind it may be unclear, but, Micheal Donoghue’s side have looked a rejuvenated lot this early summer. Retrieving the seemingly impossible against Wexford and then giving Kilkenny their belly full of it in Parnell Park.
It wasn’t until Sunday last, though, that it all came together for the two shades of blue. Eoghan O’Donnell, Paddy Smyth, Chris Crummey, Danny Sutcliffe and Donal Burke have always ranked among the finest stickmen in the country but, for whatever reason, all too seldom could they put it together though.
Then, on Sunday last, everything fell into place as would have been desired, the above quintet had their efforts augmented with those of goalie Sean Brennan, Conor Donohoe, Brian Hayes, Ronan Hayes and Sean Currie.
All of which meant that, even after temporarily losing Whiteley after the clash with Burke, the two shades of blue were only two adrift at the break, 2-11 to 0-19. The goals coming courtesy of Dublin’s D. Burke and the burgeoning Currie.
Naturally, expectation would have been that the visitors would’ve kicked on buoyed up by having the extra man – and to a certain extent they did – but, despite the normally inspirational Conor Whelan being held to a point, Shefflin’s side admirably kept in there swinging until numerical disadvantage eventually took its toll.
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Do you remember the kerfuffle over a Kevin Keegan press conference on the run in to the 1996 Premier League season where he went apoplectic because Alex Ferguson said, basically, that if Leeds United put the same effort against every team as they do against the Red Devils they’d be a whole lot better off!
Now, in no way is there an implication pertaining to the application of the Wexford hurlers at any stage, but there is a trend that they tend to play better against their greatest rivals from the Marble City then other teams. And so it was most recently as a Cathal Dunbar goal gave Keith Rossiter’s hard working side a 1-11 to 0-12 half time lead.
Their commendable efforts seemed to have come unstuck, though, when a contentiously awarded penalty was summarily dispatched by TJ Reid, leaving Derek Lyng’s lot clear by 1-15 to 1-11 at that stage.
Just for clarity, there’s no doubt Eoin Cody was fouled, but the location the transgression took at was a lot less clearcut. Not surprisingly, thereafter, the Cats flexed their claws and scratched the chasm between themselves and the purple and gold out to 1-20 to 1-14.
Job done? Not just yet. A Conor McDonald goal nearly lifted the roof off the Nowlan Park stand as the Yella Bellies closed to within a point. Kilkenny get the premium ticket to what ended up being a surprise date with the Dubs while Rossiter’s troops – deservedly – stay in the title race but must go the circuitous route.
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And so we journey forth into deep south. On paper at least, for Tipperary, their clash with high flying Clare was a dead rubber. But for a county which sets its standards to the absolute maximum on the dial and judges them to the nth degree, there are no free rides. Especially under a manager who comes in with as inflated a reputation (well earned and deserved) as was the case with Liam Cahill – patience tends to be in short supply.
Players are a proud lot too, so it was no surprise to see Tipp ironically produce their best itteration of the season in the match essentially meant nothing, other than the possibility of knocking Cork out of the Championship. Which in fairness no Tipp person will ever turn down!
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The next stop on a Super Sunday to rival anything produced in a certain other code threw up a scenario which could not be more polarised from the so-called non event immediately above. For you see, though it might seem unthinkable, five-in-a-row-chasing Limerick had to beat Waterford or their summer would be done. Before the serious business of the season had even begun.
That’s the thing about genuine greats though, when they appear to be most impounded on the ropes, they find a way and come out fighting. For Limerick, that meant doing what they always do – absolutely zero panic, kept things very simple and sent an avalanche of points over Sean O’Brien’s crossbar.
It will give you some indication of the amount of possession John Kiely’s side enjoyed when you consider that they hit 14 points and the exact same total of wides in the first half.
In riposte, Waterford conjured 1-06, and even though Davy Fitz’s outfit showed admirable obduracy – with Shane Bennett (two) raising green flags – the volume and variety of scores and scorers the Treaty were able to hit back with saw them record a ten point success which in fairness was decidedly harsh on Waterford.
Perfectionists always find fault with themselves. Thus, you can be sure Kiely et al will not be happy (a) that Nickie Quaid was beaten twice, (b) with the unusual level of profligacy and (c) that quite a few of their defenders picked up cautions.
Whomever the porter is up top, mind you, generally never closes one door without opening another and the champions’ camp discovered a little bit more about themselves as Shane O’Brien (three), Conor Boylan and Adam English all made scoring contributions off the bench. More firepower, just what their opponents needed to hear!
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Even all of the above, mind you, doesn’t cover all the epic hurling done on the day. In the final chapter thereof, what was, essentially, a relegation showdown involving Antrim and Carlow. And once again the unique setting that is Corrigan Park produced another belter.
Not surprising given the quality of player on the two teams. Where you had Jon Nolan, John Michael Nolan, Marty Kavanagh and Chris Nolan on one side and James McNaughton, Conor Cunning, Niall McKenna and Keelan Molloy on the other. The great pity, though, is that, unlike in Munster where Tipperary were cut adrift but they suffer little other consequence, having lost the Corrigan Park cracker, Carlow find themselves, once again, in pursuit of Joe McDonagh next season.
It recalls that line from George Orwell’s Animal Farm “All animals are equal, but some are more equal than others”.
FOGRA – As you might have guessed, this piece has been eight days in the making due to difficult circumstances beyond my control. Hoping for an easier week this week.
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