Cats & Clare set for semi clash at Croker
BY NIALL SHERRY, SPORTS EDITOR
SPORTSEDITOR@KILKENNYOBSERVER.IE
All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship Semi-Final
Kilkenny vs Clare
Tomorrow, Croke Park, 3pm
Kilkenny make the well-worn path to Croke Park tomorrow, where they will face-off against beaten Munster finalists Clare in the first of this year’s Senior Hurling semi-finals (throw-in 3pm). The prize for the victors; is another crack at the 5-in-a-row seeking Limerick. Something to wet the lips over, or a poisoned challenge? Well, you can rest assure that both Derek Lyng and Brian Lohan will both want to be the manager that gets to plan for a Liam MacCarthy decider with John Kiely & Co.
Tomorrow’s opponents, Clare, will feel that they should have ended Limerick’s impressive run at some point in the last couple of years and will be keen to test themselves at the Jones’s Road venue in a couple of weeks’ time. The same can be said of our boys, the team that some neutrals have talked about as the side most likely to de-throne The Treaty. In last years decider, the Cats looked somewhat in control, and went 5 points ahead, but then the ‘green machine’ stepped on the gas and outscored the Noresiders by 14 points in the final thirty minutes.
In order to earn a crack at The Treaty, you have to take care of semi-final business, and that is what lies ahead of both Kilkenny and Clare tomorrow. While we have beaten The Banner in successive semi-finals, Brian Lohan did mastermind two recent wins including a League final victory over the Cats this season, and the Wolfe Tones clubman will be keen to stretch his winning streak to three games when he battles Derek Lyng’s charges in Croker on Saturday afternoon.
Having secured the Allianz League title, Lohan’s side began their provincial campaign with a 4-point loss to Limerick in Ennis, but got a win in their second-round game away to Cork, The Banner had two points to spare on Leeside. The next match in Ennis saw them beat Davy Fitz’s Deise outfit by the bare minimum before they finished the group stage with a decent victory over Tipp in Thurles.
The Munster decider saw Clare tackle Limerick again, this time in Semple Stadium, and a couple of missed goal chances saw Lohan fall to Kiely again, this time six points the difference at the long whistle. This result saw The Treaty County become the first side to record six provincial titles in a row.
Clare talisman Tony Kelly has been gradually getting back to match fitness and notched 0-3 in the Munster decider, while Aidan McCarthy top scored for his side with eight points. Peter Duggan put in another strong performance and finished with 1-1.
Inagh-Kilnamona clubman, Aidan McCarthy was the second highest scorer in the provincial campaign, finishing behind TJ’s nemesis, Pa Horgan. Derek Lyng will be acutely aware that his side cannot afford to cough up easy free’s as McCarthy has shown he is an accurate and reliable place ball shooter. Peter Duggan is a player that has always caused Kilkenny problems and will be hopeful of putting in another stellar performance tomorrow. Who will ever forget the Clooney-Quin man’s goal bound effort that All-Star keeper Eoin Murphy somehow managed to save? Big moments, big players.
Along with Ballyea’s Tony Kelly, they have another sprinkling of stardust in Shane O’Donnell, another player that has impressed against the Cats in the past. Throw in Inagh-Kilnamona’s David Fitzgerald and you can see how this talented panel are a match for most sides on their day. Mark Rodgers sometimes blow’s hot and cold, but if he’s on his game he can be an important cog in the Clare attacking machine.
In defence, Diarmuid Ryan, David McInerney and John Conlon are experienced campaigners who can be relied upon, while everyone will be looking forward to Adam Hogan’s battle with Eoin Cody. Between the sticks, Eibhear Quilligan is a keeper that won’t be found wanting when facing any forward threat. Brian Lohan will know that if he gets his ‘match ups’ right in defence, that this will give his side a great chance of progressing to the final.
For Derek Lyng, he knows that his side has produced a little bit of everything this season, the good, the bad and a little bit of the ridiculous when you factor in the draw with Carlow, no disrespect to the Barrowsiders. There has been a number of mitigating factors in our senior hurlers season so far, including injuries to key players and bedding in some new lads to the panel, but perhaps slow and steady is the way to go, even in this condensed format that we currently have.
The return of Adrian Mullen to the side is a huge boost to the Cats. The Shamrocks Ballyhale man looked like he’d never been away when he returned against the Dubs, hitting a magnificent 7 points from play. His fellow clubmen Eoin Cody, and the Reid brothers have also been instrumental in helping the Marble City men reach the last four of the senior championship. TJ won’t need anyone to remind him that the clock is ticking and his desire to add to his 7 Celtic Crosses already secured in his illustrious career to date, the last of course, gained in 2015, before the drought began. TJ is a born winner, and you feel that if he didn’t genuinely think that there was a chance of reclaiming Liam for his beloved Kilkenny, then the hard yards necessary at this level wouldn’t be something that he would put himself through. Younger brother Richie, has been deployed in a sweeping role in and around the’6’ position. His ability to sniff out and prevent danger is one of his greatest attributes, along with passing ability. These elements will be very much needed in Croker tomorrow, especially with Clare looking to unleash the likes of Fitzgerald, Kelly and O’Donnell.
It will be interesting to see who Derek Lyng selects to fill the other attacking spots in his starting XV. Thomastown’s John Donnelly is essesntial, while Mossy has had a great impact so far this year and we know he loves a goal, especially on the big stage. Graigue Ballycallan’s Billy Ryan is another that provide real menace, alongside a serious hard-working ethic, while Conahy’s Tom Phelan was certainly one of our best performers in Croker deciders.
The Village’s Cian Kenny has probably not received the credit due after some serious performances this season. He is fast turning into one of the first names on the team sheet for manager Lyng. The full-back line of Huw Lawlor, flanked by Mikey Butler and Tommy Walsh has been getting stronger with each game and they will want to put themselves in the frame for another tilt at Limerick by downing The Banner this weekend. Young Ireland’s Mikey Carey and his wing-back partner David Blanchfield, are another two players that are beginning to pick themselves in this Cats side. Both players are powerful and strong runners, and the latter is always likely to trouble the scoreboard.
All-Star keeper Eoin Murphy will hope to have a straight forward day at the office against Clare, but we all know that the Glenmore man can be counted on as Peter Duggan knows all too well. With the likes of Walter Walsh, Shane Murphy and Jordan Molloy, to name but three all pushing for inclusion, the Kilkenny faithful will be hoping that their strength in depth can help propel them to a 3rd All-Ireland Final on the bounce and another shot at ending the wait for Liam.
