IT was a super weekend’s hurling, even if I was immobilised myself. I’m due for a hip operation soon which meant I had to take in RTÉ’s presentation and analysis of the two All-Ireland semi-finals.
I felt bad enough missing out on Croke Park but listening to the television discussions, I can see the need for medication in different situations.
You had Joanne Cantwell presenting and Ursula Jacob, Joe Canning and Donal Óg Cusack. Then Anthony Daly, Liam Sheedy and Patrick Horgan.
Now I never heard such bull**** in my life. I haven’t a bad interpretation of the English language but they were introducing this strange phraseology over the course of the weekend.
Nobody can question their ability on the field. But when they went through the game and started waffling about implementing all these systems, well, the God’s honest truth is that I didn’t know what they were talking about.
Nobody can question the ability of Cusack, Jacob or Canning on the field of play
After the Limerick-Clare game, Diarmaid Byrnes was interviewed. I know him very well. He’s a great bloke, an outstanding player for his county and Patrickswell.
He was asked what was the message at half-time. His answer? ‘Put the f***ing ball over the bar!’
That one sentence cut through the bull**** I had to listen to for hours over two days.
RTÉ, whatever subvention they are looking for, can think again. Their contribution is having a big effect on managers and coaches and how they are approaching games rather than giving the simple, unvarnished truth.
Thankfully both games were huge occasions. Clare-Limerick had everything hurling can produce. It really shone a light on the best aspects of the game.
I had compliments coming in from all sides about how we read it. About how to challenge Limerick. The need for the opposition to push up, to mark them, and as Jack Charlton said, ‘put em under pressure’.
Clare did that.
I always said to my forwards that I want them to do extra work for no extra pay. But they have to be able to score as well. And that’s what let Clare down in the second half.
One point from play just wasn’t going to be enough, no matter the fuss around Peter Duggan and the foul by Limerick goalkeeper Nickie Quaid.
Diarmaid Byrnes is a great bloke, an outstanding player for his county and Patrickswell
Serious credit to Limerick. How they manage the end of games is incredible. The character in the team.
This stuff about systems is bull****. The team is made up of tremendous characters and hurlers.
Six down and in a corner, to be able to come back and win – it’s not about systems but how individuals on the field handle the pressure.
Clare were brilliant for so long but you have to complete the job.
Clare have to look at their bench, number one. The lack of impact. And they had some atrocious wides, especially coming from out the field.
And it’s not as happy a camp as everyone might think. Rory Hayes has been one of the top backs but got a very raw deal.
Wasn’t named in the match day squad last Sunday. Ultimately, they ended up being found out in the backs, right down to the last goal.
And now Shane O’Donnell is gone. Was it the right time to announce his departure in the build up last week?
Now, Limerick got the rub of the green as well. I find the boys at the top tend to get that rub of the green.
But the introduction of Cian Lynch was a master-stroke. He has been questioned the past year. But he’s one of the greatest of modern times.
The possession he won for the last goal – the way he won it, got the ball away, and it led on to Aidan O’Connor’s goal, that will give him a big boost ahead of the final.
There’s nearly a public inquiry here about Aaron Gillane and why his form has dipped. Well, maybe it’s because the half-back line of Diarmaid Byrnes, Will O’Donoghue and Kyle Hayes have been pressured by teams so that their delivery can’t be gift-wrapped.
Lynch will start for the final so there will be one change.
They have the advantage of getting another tough game so they’ll go into the final with no cockiness because they saw what happened on Saturday.
Lynch has been questioned the past year but he’s one of the greatest of modern times
Galway came with a plan – a plan to upset Cork. Last year, there was a stewards’ inquiry about the Cork dressing room; this year the speculation might as well be about trouble with the team bus because they stayed on it.
I was puzzled by their approach. I have such high regard for the ability and skill of those players.
Anyone who pulls a county jersey over his head needs support and encouragement.
Cork were only beaten by a point in the Munster final by Limerick. But for Quaid’s superb saves, they could have won it.
Rather than go criticising them, what they should do is gather the whole squad together.
Lock the door. Sit down and declare that no one has any superiority over anyone else. Let the players and management discuss the game – on equal terms. Not a lecture by Ben O’Connor or his coaches.
I remember after Limerick won the 1973 All-Ireland, it went to the head of a lot of our top players.
And when that happened, they couldn’t get to grips with what went wrong. Dick Stokes was involved in the management of the team and an All-Ireland winner himself in the 1940s.
I was only a sub but he had a special regard for me. He said call them together and we had a meeting in the Shannon Arms Hotel, that was our HQ. We rented a room one Sunday, had dinner there. Everyone had their say, and it unleashed a lot of the negativity.
What happened Cork was the fear factor. When you see a full-back line and half-back line feckacting with the ball and passing it backwards and sideways – that happened to Waterford and Wexford when a certain man had them.
Cork’s players and management don’t need a lecture by Ben O’Connor or his coaches
Rather than engage in any blame game, that’s my suggestion.
That wasn’t Cork hurling last Saturday.
They lacked physicality. I couldn’t understand Séamus Harnedy not being introduced as a ball-winner. Ben O’Connor looked to be mesmerised on the line.
Galway were like a breath of fresh air and had much the same idea as Clare in how they attacked the game. The way they played with such intensity was their main strength.
It all promises a brilliant end to what had been an ordinary enough year.
