All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship semi-final: Kilkenny v Limerick (today, Croke Park, 6pm)
IT’S not often the hurlers of Kilkenny turn up for an All-Ireland semi-final as underdogs. But that’s exactly where Brian Cody's players find themselves in 2019 as they saddle up to headquarters this evening to debate a final spot with defending champions Limerick.
The Kilkenny players were probably still in the showers soaking up the after-glow of their brilliant third quarter that blitzed Cork in the All-Ireland quarter-finals when Cody was telling reporters just how much Limerick were fancied to retain the Liam MacCarthy Cup.
“Limerick," Cody keenly pointed out, "were the best team in the country last year, and they’re even more so this year by winning the League and the form they showed the last day [their Munster final win over Tipperary] was exceptional.
"They are everybody’s strong favourites to come out on top, not only the next day but with eventual honours."
But the veteran Kilkenny manager planted one convenient caveat in the post-match press room: "That’s a terrific challenge for us to be facing.”
The fact that tonight will be Kilkenny's first appearance in an All-Ireland semi-final since they defeated Waterford after a replay in 2016 suggests the county's halcyon days are firmly in their rear view.
Prior to their six-point quarter-final win over Cork, former Kilkenny great Henry Shefflin remarked that it was "hard to know if Kilkenny were going backwards or forwards" and sensed the entire squad was slightly unsettled due to a raft of injuries to key personnel and fluctuating form.
After dismissing a Pa Horgan-inspired Cork 13 days ago, Kilkenny could rightly claim that they were in fact going in the right direction, but perhaps not with the same confident stride of the past.
That legendary warrior spirit of the 'Noughties' and indeed the first part of the current decade is not as easily traceable these days.
For example, Conor Fogarty's failure to fully commit to winning a 50-50 ball with Galway's Brian Concannon, that directly led to Johnny Coen's game-winning goal at Nowlan Park on June 9, shone an unforgiving light on Kilkenny's defensive frailties.
They couldn't contain the Galway forwards and had arguably more trouble trying to close down Wexford's Rory O'Connor, Conor McDonald and Lee Chin in their three-point Leinster final defeat on June 30.
And they fluffed their lines in the closing stages in trying to haul back the Model County.
More woe awaited Huw Lawlor and co against Cork with Pa Horgan mining 3-10 (2-2 from play) and Alan Cadogan escaping Joey Holden's clutches to hit three points.
Cork probably should have put Kilkenny away in the early exchanges but for a brilliant Eoin Murphy save to deny Cadogan and Cork a second major.
Despite the weaknesses, Cody won’t overhaul his man-on-man defensive system.
The Kilkenny manager is a firm believer in giving his defenders a chance to ride out the storm and come to terms with the task at hand – even if it didn’t work out for Huw Lawlor against Wexford or Cork.
And yet, here they are in another All-Ireland semi-final facing a Limerick side they got to within two points of during last year’s All-Ireland quarter-final.
Kilkenny aren't facing an insurmountable task at Croke Park this evening. Their third-quarter scorching of Cork, where they outscored John Meyler’s men 1-9 to 0-1 between the 37th and 52nd minutes, was the winning of the game.
And all of the Kilkenny forwards scored from play.
Despite a truncated Championship campaign due to a back problem, Richie Hogan drew on all his craft to hit a crucial 1-2, full-forward Colin Fennelly carries a significant goal threat and TJ Reid strikes fear in every defence he faces.
Walter Walsh is close to full fitness again, Adrian Mullen is tipping away nicely while Cody has sufficient quality in reserve to be confident of a strong finish.
But how will they handle the Limerick cyclone that obliterated Tipperary in the Munster final and left Liam Sheedy speechless?
After finally ending their 45-year wait for the Liam MacCarthy last summer, Limerick are playing with more freedom and appear to be carrying the mantle of defending champions quite lightly.
It happens to champions sometimes where that overwhelming sense of liberation makes them a better team – in the same way the Tyrone footballers were better in 2005 two years after their maiden All-Ireland victory.
Limerick are in that same mental space.
Rustiness and a razor-sharp Cork forward line caught them in the opening round of the Munster round robin series before they proceeded to steamroller their way to a 20th Munster title.
The work-rate and tackling from their forwards remains a glowing feature of their play this year, evidenced by Peter Casey’s dispossession of Brendan Maher in the provincial final that allowed Kyle Hayes to blast to the Tipperary net and put six between the sides going down the home straight.
Limerick feel they can always out-work and out-hurl whoever they play.
They have a better, more settled attacking unit than tonight’s opponents and their defensive structure, marshalled so expertly by Declan Hannon, is also superior.
But then there was the six-week lay-off between their League final win over Waterford on March 31 and their opening Championship defeat to Cork on May 19.
They’ve had four weeks to handle between their handsome Munster victory over Tipperary and tonight’s semi-final, whereas Kilkenny’s quarter-final win over Cork has kept them ticking over nicely between games.
There is also a sense that Leinster was more physically demanding than Munster this year, especially when you consider Limerick won three Championship games by 20 points (Waterford), 18 points (Clare) and 12 points (Tipperary).
Perhaps there was a softness and, dare it be uttered, a lack of competitive edge about the Munster series this year.
Or perhaps Limerick are simply far too good at this moment in time for their provincial peers.
The truth probably lies somewhere in between the two theories.
Kilkenny, meanwhile, haven’t won a Championship game by more than six points (against Cork) but haven’t lost one by more than three in reaching the last four.
We know Kilkenny aren’t the force of old, but they’re battle-hardened. And we know Limerick are a force of nature but mightn’t be as battle-hardened as they’d like after barely breaking sweat in Munster.
Kilkenny have some heavy artillery to blow a few holes in Limerick this evening – but maybe not enough to prove fatal.
The Shannonsiders have the armoury, the scorers and the bench to keep the back-to-back dream alive.
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Team talk…
Limerick
LIMERICK boss John Kiely has kept faith with the same starting 15 that comprehensively defeated Tipperary in the Munster final on June 30.
Indeed, Kiely names 13 of the starting side that won last year’s All-Ireland final with William O’Donoghue and Peter Casey since being promoted from the bench. O’Donoghue continues to keep out Darragh O’Donovan out of the midfield berth and partners Cian Lynch, while Casey’s performances have been good enough to keep Seamus Flanagan in the wings with Na Piarsaigh’s Shane Dowling another strong option held in reserve
Limerick (All-Ireland SHC semi-final v Kilkenny): N Quaid; S Finn, M Casey, R English; D Byrnes, D Hannon, D Morrissey; C Lynch, W O’Donoghue; G Hegarty, K Hayes, T Morrissey; A Gillane, G Mulcahy, P Casey.
Subs: B Hennessy, T Condon, A Costello, S Dowling, S Flanagan, B Nash, D O’Donovan, P O’Loughlin, D Reidy, C Ryan, P Ryan.
Kilkenny
LIMERICK will have to keep on guessing as to who will start for the Cats this evening. It’s difficult to predict what starting 15 Brian Cody will go with, primarily due to several fitness concerns.
Cillian Buckley started in the All-Ireland quarter-final against Cork but lasted only a half. There have been fitness issues surrounding forwards Walter Walsh and Richie Hogan, with neither playing a full game against Cork.
Walsh, though, staked a claim for a half-forward berth with his 0-3 salvo in the second half against Cork, while Hogan will be better for the 50 minutes he played after a nagging back injury that has severely curtailed his involvement in this campaign.
Billy Ryan and Billy Sheehan’s impressive cameo appearances in the second half against Cork perhaps displays more depth in Kilkenny ranks than might be initially acknowledged.
Man of the moment…
TJ Reid (Kilkenny)
THE Ballyhale Shamrocks man may have been held scoreless by Cork’s Stephen O’Donnell and Wexford’s Matthew O’Hanlon in the Leinster round robin, but he remains Kilkenny’s most important player.
He was still influential against Cork the last day and gained revenge on O’Hanlon in the Leinster final. TJ has amassed 5-64 (0-47 frees, 2-0 pens, 0-6 ‘65s) in the Championship. If the 31-year-old seven-time All-Ireland winner clicks, Kilkenny won’t be far away from a first All-Ireland final appearance since 2016.
Key battle…
Huw Lawlor (Kilkenny) v Aaron Gillane (Limerick)
FOR all the tactical innovation visited upon hurling, Brian Cody is still very much a disciple of man against man. That means Kilkenny full-back Huw Lawlor will probably have an uncomplicated showdown with Aaron Gillane this evening.
Even though Lawlor had tough periods on Wexford’s Conor McDonald and an even tougher day on Cork’s Pa Horgan, Cody left him in there to fight it out. Gillane, who has hit 2-7 from play in this year’s Championship, still has another gear in him.
After shadowing McDonald and Horgan, Lawlor couldn’t be better prepared for the Gillane challenge.
Weather watch…
Overcast with temperatures peaking around 19C at throw-in. No rain, slight breeze. Perfect hurling conditions.
Who’s the Ref…
Alan Kelly (Galway)
THE Rahoon-Newcastle has taken charge of Championship games Carlow-Kilkenny, Clare-Tipperary and was the man in the middle for Laois’ famous win over Dublin.
Kelly was the guilty party who awarded Tipperary a dubious goal in last year’s Munster Championship clash with Waterford at the Gaelic Grounds. He also officiated Loughgiel Shamrocks All-Ireland final win over Coolderry in 2012.
A no-nonsense referee who is still highly regarded among the GAA’s top brass.
Betting box…
Limerick 8/15
Kilkenny 2/1
Draw 8/1
Handicap
Limerick (-3) 11/10
Draw (-3) 12/1
Kilenny (+3) 5/6
First goalscorer
Aaron Gillane 5/1
TJ Reid 7/1
No goals 20/1
Worth a punt: Colin Fennelly first goalscorer 8/1
