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The Kilkenny Observer Friday 03 June 2022
kilkennyobserver.ie
Hurling matters
Sport BY NIALL SHERRY SPORTS EDITOR SPORTSEDITORKILKENNYOBSERVER.IE
AIB Leinster GAA Hurling Senior Championship Final Saturday, June 4th Croke Park, 7pm Galway vs Kilkenny
This could be huge. This could be epic. This is Shefflin vs Cody. This is Galway vs Kilkenny. Supporters from both counties will descend on the capital tomorrow evening for what is sure to be a right battle. When the sides met on the first weekend of May in Salthill, there was just the 1 point between them at the final whistle. There is nothing to suggest that the next encounter will be any different, but let’s hope the outcome is. Galway and Kilkenny arrive at headquarters on the back of two very different results. The Tribesmen were 6-point winners over Mattie Kenny’s Dublin team, while the Cats suffered a home defeat to Darragh Eagan’s Wexford. Despite the loss to the Model County, Brian Cody’s charges still qualified for tomorrow’s Leinster decider, but will know that they cannot afford a repeat of that UPMC Nowlan Park performance, if they are to stand any chance of lifting a 74th Bob O’Keefe Cup in Drumcondra on Saturday night. Since the embarrassing defeat to the Yellowbellies, a few home truths will have been spoken and many minutes racked up on the training pitches as the management team look to carve out an advantage as they seek to gain revenge on Henry’s men following that controversial defeat in Salthill. Controversial? Yes, that’s right. I’m still not happy at Colm Lyon’s decision to award that free against O’Loughlin’s Paddy Deegan, right at the death. One of the things we learned from the defeat to tomorrow’s opponents, is that Conor Cooney will not pass up many opportunities from the placed ball, so those in stripes be warned – no silly fouls please! The St Thomas’s man, who is now second only to the legendary Joe Canning in championship scoring history for Galway, hit 0-13 in his latest outing against the Dubs. While TJ may only have seen one half of action in Salthill, I think it’s safe to say he’ll get a few more minutes on the clock at Croker. The
battle of the free-takers will again be crucial, and in Conor Cooney and TJ, we will witness two of the best around. Should Alan Murphy keep his starting spot, this may well prove useful to the Noresiders, as the Glenmore man has been very reliable when tasked with placed ball duty. Not only that, but Alan also brings a different kind of physicality to the table. It is clear that Kilkenny will need to win the physical battle, in order to earn the right to play the game on their terms tomorrow. One Kilkenny man that will look to continue a decent run of form is Ballyhale’s Adrian Mullen. Deployed in a deeper lying role recently, Mullen has shown a great ability to pick-off scores from distance and deliver quality ball to the inside forward line. This will be vitally important to the Cats cause in the provincial decider, as Galway’s defence will look to shackle the black and amber threat closely. Mullen’s Shamrocks club mate, Eoin Cody knows all about that kind of shackling, as the westerners tried a number of markers on him last time, before Padraic Mannion stifled the twice Young Hurler of the Year’s influence on the game. Mind you, Eoin Cody finished with 1-2 that day. The Carlow IT man was unusually quiet in Nowlan Park last week, and failed to raise a flag of any description in the defeat to Wexford. I would imagine that Cody will relish the big open spaces of Croke Park, and this will allow the diminutive attacker freedom to hopefully wreak havoc in the Galway rearguard. The other members of Kilkenny’s forward line will need to step up in tomorrow’s
The Final C Provincial crown up for grabs as master meets the apprentice Photos by INPHO
Paddy Deegan will give everything to get the win
Cody & Shefflin both legends are up for the cup
final. It will be interesting to see who gets the starting jerseys in the attacking third. Martin Keoghan only got a few minutes against Galway last time out, but he has been a hugely reliable goal-getter for the Noresiders this season. Perhaps the boss would prefer to spring Mossy from the bench in the 2nd half, and use his undoubted energy when defenders are tiring.
It was a surprise to many that Padraig Walsh was benched for the Cats last outing against Wexford. The classy Tullaroan man has been in sensational form while wearing the No.11 jersey this year. He’s always good for a couple of points, especially from long-range, and given the likelihood of a packed Galway defence, shooters from distance might
be a good weapon in the Kilkenny arsenal. Unless he’s injured, Padraig Walsh WILL start tomorrow. Talking of Walsh’s, Walter will be looking forward to another crack at those in Maroon. The TullogerRosbercon man hit 0-3 in Salthill, and one can see his aerial ability and lungbursting runs being of major importance to the Cats,
especially if we try to work the sliotar through the lines at headquarters. Graigue-Ballycallan’s Billy Ryan is another player that will hope to be recalled to the starting XV. Some feel the pacey forward has been a victim of the manager’s desire to get the ball from back to front in the shortest time possible, or to put it another way, dropping long balls
