Kilkenny won their third All-Ireland crown in September 2008. Fact. Brian Cody’s men are a fierce, hungry, talented, driven and skilled bunch of players. FACT.
Waterford, trained by the larger than life Davy Fitzgerald, provided the opposition in the hurling decider for the first time since 1963. Fact. The Deise were the second best team in the country in 2008 and deserved their place in Croke Park on the first Sunday in September. FICTION.
Waterford ran out on the Croke Park sod on September 7 on the basis of their semi-final victory over Tipperary. In that match Waterford intimidated, outmuscled and ultimately overcame a Premier County side that, up to that encounter, seemed the most likely team to make Kilkenny doubt their three-in-a-row aspirations. Waterford stormed out of the blocks in the semi-final and by the time Liam Sheedy’s men got into their stride the game had drifted away from them.
Tipperary had been slow starters against Cork in the Munster championship semi-final on June 8 too but a sublime and timely goal from Eoin Kelly turned the tide down by the Lee and led to Tipperary, incredibly, coming away from Pairc Ui Chaoimh with their first win in 86 years.
The Munster final against Clare followed and while it was a decent match it lacked the intensity and passion usually associated with Munster hurling deciders. At this stage Tipperary must have had their sights set on an All-Ireland final berth, given that Waterford had bowed out of the Munster championship at such an early stage, and in such a tame manner. But Tipperary’s five-week wait between the Munster final and the All-Ireland semi-final in Croke Park may have led to their demise.
Meanwhile, Waterford were negotiating the qualifiers and playing nearly every weekend. Tipperary had been doing similar up to the Munster final en route to winning the Waterford Crystal Cup, the Allianz National Hurling League and the finally the Munster Championship.
I spoke of facts earlier and the most imminent fact to hand is that Tipperary begin their defence of the Waterford Crystal Cup in Carrick-on-Suir on Wednesday night under lights. The opposition, you guessed it, Waterford.
Tipperary took this competition very seriously last year and it certainly served them well when it came to the league. All in the Premier County camp were eager to impress new boss Liam Sheedy in his first year in charge and that instilled a purpose that had perhaps been missing from the Tipperary camp since Nicky English masterminded Tipperary’s last All-Ireland success in 2001.
Significantly, that year saw the Munster kingpins go undefeated in all competitions. At one stage last year, Liam Sheedy must have had thoughts of emulating that achievement on his mind, but there is no question of what is his sole objective is this year. To beat Kilkenny and return the Liam McCarthy Cup to what can loosely still be described as the ‘home of hurling’!
Sheedy has put together a very capable team since he took the reins in Tipperary. They beat all before them in 2008, including a Joe Canning-inspired Galway team in the National League decider. Cork and Clare in the championship and Kilkenny in the league also fell by the wayside before the Premier County came unstuck against Waterford.
With Cork effectively out of the equation due to the players’ row, Galway unable to hurl with any great consistency, no matter who manages them, and Limerick and Clare somewhat below what it takes to win an All-Ireland, it should be Waterford who will pose Tipperary most problems before taking a shot at beating Kilkenny.
Starting the season with a win in the Waterford Crystal Cup would set the right tone, but it will be Kilkenny that Tipperary will have their sights on. Not retaining their league and Munster crowns would be forgotten were Liam Sheedy’s men able to break the Cats’ stranglehold.
They have the hurlers to do it! John O’Brien, whose goal effectively won the Munster final, is set to captain the team and he will be the most determined player on the Tipperary team having missed out on the captaincy after breaking his leg in 2001.
O’Brien is set to be part of a half-forward line that caused no end of problems to opponents throughout last year. Up front, Tipperary’s work ethic has been very noticeable in a pacey and skilful attacking unit. Pat Kerwick and Seamus Callinan showed that with the right sort of instruction they can decide games with moments of brilliance. Add Eoin Kelly and the Thurles Sarsfields duo of Lar Corbett and Pa Bourke to the mix and you have a fairly nifty forward unit.
Going back through the field, Shane McGrath was a revelation in 2008 and has the ability and potential to be the best midfielder in the country. Conor O’Mahony has made the centre-back spot his own, a position that has caused numerous Tipperary managers headaches since the great Bobby Ryan from Borrisoleigh hung up his hurl.
In the full-back line, the corner-backs may not be household names yet Eamon Buckley and Conor O’Brien will make it difficult for any opponent while Brendan Cummins is probably still the number one ‘keeper in Ireland.
So, it all seems set up for a Tipperary-Kilkenny final in September! Wouldn’t it be great to see two counties that have done so much for hurling down through the years fight it out for the right to climb the steps of the Hogan Stand. Early bets suggest it may come to fruition but as we all know betting is a mugs’ game. Nevertheless, I might put a monkey on that very outcome. If I had it, that is!
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