Up for discussion: The All-Ireland SHC final between Tipperary and Kilkenny.
Chatting were: John Fogarty, Diarmuid O’Flynn, Fintan O’Toole and Terry Reilly.
TERRY REILLY (Irish Examiner assistant sports editor): Lads, after yesterday, is it fair to say Kilkenny are the greatest hurling team of all time?
DIARMUID O’FLYNN (Irish Examiner staff writer): I said it long before yesterday, but it certainly emphasised it.
FINTAN O’TOOLE (Irish Examiner staff writer): If there was any doubts about the greatness of this Kilkenny team and its management, they were shredded yesterday. They displayed their capacity for reinvention, similar to how they did in the 2006 final, by learning the lessons of a painful defeat and bouncing back strongly.
JOHN FOGARTY (Irish Examiner GAA correspondent): I don’t think there’s any doubt about it. Yesterday wasn’t the prettiest victory but was so, so sweet. They suffocated Tipperary. As Tommy Walsh said to the Irish Examiner, it wasn’t hunger; it was hurt.
DIARMUID O’FLYNN: Problem for Kilkenny was this — their motivation; if they had lost, Tipp fans especially would have been saying ‘we beat the so-called greatest team in two All-Ireland finals out of three, and should have won the third but for decisions going against us’. There’ll be none of that talk now!
JOHN FOGARTY: But let’s make it clear — what Cody did, at least by his own terms, was revolutionary yesterday. Never before would he have considered defensive match-ups. Tyrrell would have always been stationed in the corner. In Wexford Park, we saw the first signs that Cody realised Kilkenny couldn’t be so rigid again.
FINTAN O’TOOLE: The defensive improvements were huge yesterday in comparison to 12 months ago. If you consider how isolated Noel Hickey was against Lar Corbett for Tipperary's first goal last September, there was a marked difference yesterday. Tipperary did not get that freedom up front as Kilkenny choked the space available to them and the physicality of their defending was also important.
JOHN FOGARTY: At the same time, there was a level of hurt in Tipperary about last year’s win being sullied by injuries in the Kilkenny team. Their hurt wasn’t enough, though.
DIARMUID O’FLYNN: Not sure either about it not being a great spectacle, sometimes a defence will get on top, and that too can make for great viewing — Kilkenny definitely on top there yesterday, and we’re seeing some of the greatest backs of all time. Yes Cody was tactical, but as Tony Considine said in today’s paper, it’s the oldest tactic in the hurling playbook (if such a book exists!) — man to man, individual battles.
TERRY REILLY: Where did Kilkenny win it?
JOHN FOGARTY: Defence, defence, defence. Cody, Brennan and Walsh all paid credit to Colin Fennelly for putting his body on the line to block Corbett just before half-time but they were just so good snuffing out Tipperary in their rearguard. They hunted in packs, something Tipperary did last year.
FINTAN O’TOOLE: Everything went right for Kilkenny at the back yesterday. Tommy Walsh and JJ Delaney hit the high notes in their performance levels again. Brian Hogan and Jackie Tyrell were excellent. And crucially Paul Murphy and Noel Hickey, two players Tipperary may have sought to exploit beforehand, was impressive. Murphy showed no nerves for his first final and after a poor game last year Hickey's display was much better on this occasion.
DIARMUID O’FLYNN: They won it everywhere, every position in Croke Park yesterday saw a Kilkenny player willing to die for the cause, but it probably started in Nowlan Park in those now-famous ‘behind closed door’ sessions. So many wounded Cats after last year’s final, at the back especially, so much motivation, and as John says, so much hunger.
JOHN FOGARTY: Man to man, yes, but overly tactical. Dropping back the midfielders for the puck-outs, reshuffling the defence to match the Tipperary attack. Cody said they thought long and hard about how to get the better of the Tipperary attack, hence the closed door training sessions. Cody realised after 2004 and ’05 he had to embrace tactics. Last year was another reminder.
FINTAN O’TOOLE: The displays of Murphy and Colin Fennelly, both 22 years of age and products of the 2008 All-Ireland U21 winning team, have been very significant this year. They've been the youthful figures that have revitalised the Kilkenny setup. They needed some of that after last year.
TERRY REILLY: That defensive play looks like a football tactic, will we see more teams using it next year?
DIARMUID O’FLYNN: Not really a football tactic. I was brought up watching man-to-man, going back to the Tipp team of the ’60s and that magnificent defence — man-to-man, that’s all. What’s new is the way the forwards ‘defend’, but Kilkenny are at that since 2006.
TERRY REILLY: But they did hunt in packs Diarmuid, the tactic used by Armagh and Tyrone.
DIARMUID O’FLYNN: Kilkenny are defending in packs for years, all over the field. But, they don’t drop 12 behind the 45m line!
JOHN FOGARTY: Dropping 12 behind the 45m line? That’s the extreme. There are things hurling is gleaning from football, that’s obvious.
DIARMUID O’FLYNN: It’s just having forwards who are prepared to work hard off the ball, which is something the most successful teams always had anyway — the difference with Kilkenny is that it’s a prerequisite that all six do it.
JOHN FOGARTY: Anthony Daly with the sweeper is just one example.
DIARMUID O’FLYNN: Workrate from the forwards John, that’s all, and even at club level it was something we were emphasising back in the ’70s — no standing around to let a back get in an unchallenged clearance, fight your own corner even if you lose the ball. I know where you’re coming from, but it’s nothing revolutionary, absolutely nothing.
JOHN FOGARTY: Revolutionary in Cody’s way of thinking was my point. He wouldn’t change his back-line for love nor money in the past. He embraced change this year.
TERRY REILLY: No it’s not revolutionary to the game it’s following football tactics and unfortunately that’s one of the reasons yesterday wasn’t the spectacle we’ve seen in the last two encounters.
DIARMUID O’FLYNN: Just talking Kilkenny John — other teams have to be a bit more tactical, simply because they don’t have the type of players Kilkenny have.
JOHN FOGARTY: If Tyrrell didn’t haunt (mark) Corbett yesterday, things could have been a lot tighter. Nobody tracked him everywhere last year.
DIARMUID O’FLYNN: Disagree with ye both; I played on club teams in the ’70s/’80s where the instruction going out was that every back picked up certain people and went with them wherever they went; instructions also for the forwards to never give up on a ball. And I can get as much of a kick out of watching the likes of Tommy/Brian Hogan/JJ dominating in defence, putting up a wall, as watching Henry/Eoin/Richie popping over points, racing through for goals.
JOHN FOGARTY: But Cody didn’t match up defenders to forwards like he did until this year. That’s a fact.
DIARMUID O’FLYNN: Not disputing that, just pointing out that it’s far from revolutionary.
JOHN FOGARTY: On his behalf, it is. I never said hurling.
FINTAN O’TOOLE: I thought it was an absorbing contest. It did not have the relentless scoring levels of last year in the first-half but the intensity and physical nature of exchanges kept it interesting. After the break there was a danger that Kilkenny would run riot after Richie Hogan's goal but Tipperary fought back and it stayed a contest until the finish. It may not have been as epic as the last two finals but it was going to be very hard for that to happen. A satisfying end to the trilogy.
TERRY REILLY: Who was your own personal man of the match yesterday lads?
FINTAN O’TOOLE: Man of the match for me was JJ Delaney. It was very tight between himself and Tommy Walsh, although Paul Murphy really sparkled as well. But Patrick Maher played a lot of ball on Walsh and was heavily involved. Would just see Delaney shade Walsh then for the award. The Fenians player was magnificent, setting the tone early on with the tackle to put Corbett out over the sideline underneath the Cusack Stand.
DIARMUID O’FLYNN: Mine was Tommy, with JJ a close second, Paul Murphy next.
JOHN FOGARTY: I’d have had Paul Murphy just ahead of Tommy Walsh. Walsh’s duel with Patrick Maher was absorbing. Walsh came out on top but had his nose bloodied metaphorically speaking of course (poor Brian Gavin got it for real).
TERRY REILLY: Has that loss just set up part four for next year?
DIARMUID O’FLYNN: Set up Kilkenny/Tipp part four? No disrespect to either, but God I hope not!
JOHN FOGARTY: I don’t think so. Can see one of them getting there but not the pair.
TERRY REILLY: What about Tipperary, where do they stand now?
FINTAN O’TOOLE: There is an issue after yesterday as to whether Tipperary peaked too soon this year. Their performances in the Munster championship got progressively better from game to game, culminating in the destruction of Waterford in the provincial final. But since then their form has dipped, as they dropped a level in the Dublin game and another yesterday.
DIARMUID O’FLYNN: Tipperary stand hurt and asking themselves all sorts of questions. They had some good individual performances in Bonner Maher and Michael Cahill but the main men were silenced. Massive set-back for Tipp, their forwards stymied for the second game in a row, some of their biggest names snuffed out. Their two best forwards yesterday are — arguably — the two men with the least pure hurling, Patrick Maher and John O’Brien, but they’re strong, brave, big hearts.
FINTAN O’TOOLE: And that was part of the phe problem for them yesterday. Their best two forwards were Patrick Maher and John O'Brien. Won plenty of ball and very energetic players but not the finishers that are going to strike plenty scores. Tipperary needed other players getting into those scoring positions.
TERRY REILLY: Going into the game there was a lot of talk about Kilkenny not having the legs they used to — what would ye say about that now and are they the favourites for next year?
DIARMUID O’FLYNN: Irony from yesterday, all the talk — as you say — about old Kilkenny legs, but it might well have been old Tipp legs exposed!
JOHN FOGARTY: I don’t think there’s a case of old legs on either team. Kilkenny’s hurt sustained them coupled with some shrewd management from Cody and his backroom team.
FINTAN O’TOOLE: The bright spots for Tipperary yesterday were Paul Curran and Michael Cahill in the full-back line while I thought Gearoid Ryan was very solid at midfield. They're certainly not going to fade as a force, the age profile of the team will not allow that. Bar Brendan Cummins, there will be nobody else who may consider retirement.
DIARMUID O’FLYNN: How much ball did Eoin and Lar get on yesterday?
JOHN FOGARTY: As Fintan O’Toole pointed out yesterday, Tipperary’s goal threat came primarily from Eoin and Lar — neither scored from play. A startling statistic even if Lar did well to set up Bourke’s goal.
DIARMUID O’FLYNN: Amazing what one defeat can do, but in light of the last two games, Tipp will definitely have to review their attack. If Dublin had had Keaney, who knows? Tipp WERE vulnerable that day, more vulnerable than I thought either beforehand or even in hindsight.
FINTAN O’TOOLE: In retrospect, the smoothness of Kilkenny's preparation this year must have been a contributing factor to their success. The hysteria last year over whether Shefflin, Tennyson etc would play cannot have helped their cause. This year they had everyone on board, focused on the task at hand and obviously they had ferocious hunger as well. That was going to be worth a few points to them and so it proved yesterday when they had four to spare at the final whistle.
JOHN FOGARTY: Tipp have had such a difficult time retaining All-Ireland titles. Here in their hotel foyer, there’s a feeling Tipperary thought more of where they really were.
DIARMUID O’FLYNN: Worrying though, their minors were badly beaten — they could really do with their U21s winning this weekend now, give them a massive boost.
TERRY REILLY: And that puts Dublin in an even more positive light — imagine if they had their full squad?
JOHN FOGARTY: Dublin are contenders. Keaney was questioned earlier this year when he said one of the reasons he switched codes was to win an All-Ireland. Nobody queries him now. Minor is so unpredictable. Dublin will come again — a lot of that side are eligible next year. Kudos to Mattie Murphy once again. A magician.
DIARMUID O’FLYNN: Dublin still need an All-Ireland title though John, and hopefully it comes sooner rather than later. This Kilkenny win yesterday was really bad news for Dublin; I believe Brian Cody will stay on now, help Henry to the ninth. There’s a mutual bond, referred to by Brian Hogan in his speech when he said he hoped the team was a reflection of the personality of the manager (they are).
TERRY REILLY: What about Henry lads, moved to joint second on the all time scorer from play charts with Christy Ring and just four points behind Eddie Keher. How much of a difference was he?
DIARMUID O’FLYNN: I thought Henry was very effective yesterday, and anything more from any forward is a bonus. His best years are behind him, and it was the likes of Colin Fennelly, Richie Hogan and all the others all stepping up. He’s still leader of the pack, but the gap is closing! Will be back stronger next year I think.
JOHN FOGARTY: Henry Shefflin’s recovery was remarkable but should we be surprised? Cody and himself had digs at a national newspaper for a “Croker Chokers” headline after the league final. They were hurt, that was clear. Eddie Keher has spoken about repositioning him in the full-forward line sometime soon. I can see it.
DIARMUID O’FLYNN: Yes, so can I, with perhaps a roving commission.
JOHN FOGARTY: Brian Gavin can also be complimented on having a decent game. Although, Kilkenny’s free count was low once again. Further testament to them that they won without relying too much on frees.
DIARMUID O’FLYNN: Seriously though, back to the drawing-board for Tipp, another tilt at history for the Cats, ninth for Henry and Eddie (not forgetting Michael K, but now there’s that bloody asterisk). Prayers that Dublin continue to improve, that JBM works the oracle for Cork, that all others also continue to improve. Brian was there to keep account of time and scores, did as bid by both team managers, and both sets of players, let it flow.
JOHN FOGARTY: Hurling fare has been so bad over the last three or four years. Let’s hope for some sort of a revival next year.
TERRY REILLY: Not a sell out either, any reasons or views why?
DIARMUID O’FLYNN: Price, weather, boredom with same pairing.
JOHN FOGARTY: The price and all that goes with getting to Dublin.
Source: http://feeds.examiner.ie/~r/iesportsblog/~3/fyemLoBV9qA/post.aspx
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