Kilkenny still reign supreme after epic showdown

THERE can be no doubt about it now. This Kilkenny team is the greatest to have ever graced the hurling fields in the last 125 years. The champions withstood a fierce challenge from fired-up Tipperary in securing a record-equalling four-in-row and extending their unbeaten championship run to a staggering 18 matches at Croke Park last Sunday.In terms of raw intensity and sheer commitment, I cannot recollect a more gruelling and compelling decider. It simply had everything. There was no place to hide; no compromise from either of these traditional arch rivals; and the crowd was treated to an epic showdown worthy of the occasion. Personal safety was repeatedly laid on the line in pursuit of the hard ball.Tipperary threw everything at the title holders and in 20-year-old full back Padraig Maher, Declan Fanning, Conor O’Mahony, Lar Corbett and the revitalised Eoin Kelly, they had some of the outstanding players on the field, but still Kilkenny survived with the controversial penalty award by Diarmuid Kirwan and Benny Dunne’s justified dismissal ultimately swinging a magnificent battle their way.At times, however, Kilkenny were scarcely hanging on. Tipperary had the legs on them and such was the challengers’ determination and quality of their hurling that the Munster champions looked in prime position to capture the county’s first All-Ireland title since 2001 when powering into a three point lead by the 57th minute in the wake of Dunne’s dismissal for a nasty pull across the brilliant Tommy Walsh.Unfortunately, for Tipperary, their numericial disadvantage eventually caught up with them in the closing seven or eight minutes, but they might still have managed to protected that lead only for Kirwan taking central stage. In real time, it appeared that Richie Power had actually overcarried the ball as he drove towards the Tipperary posts in the 62nd minute and though he was eventually fouled, the free was committed outside the rectangle.Kirwan ruled otherwise and up stepped Henry Shefflin to blast the sliothar to the net. It was the turning point of the match and in the context of what the Cork official had let go earlier – how Seamus Callanan, for instance, wasn’t awarded a free when floored by Jackie Tyrell in the opening minutes was beyond belief – the decision smacked of inconsistency. In fairness to Kirwan, his obvious desire to let the exchanges flow contributed significantly to a rousing battle, but Tipperary supporters weren’t happy with him.For all that, Kilkenny once again underlined why they are impossible to beat these days. They had less possession and less territory than Tipperary for large tracts of the match, but still had the composure, belief and resilience to achieve an admittedly flattering five points victory margin in the end. It was just as well that two players stood apart for them. Wing back Walsh was simply heroic, especially in the opening-half, when the Tullaroan man was unbeatable. He cleared an ocean of ball and topped it off with a rousing long range point into the bargain.Kilkenny’s other Man of the Match contender was goalkeeper PJ Ryan. Those outstanding reflex saves at the start of the second-half from Callanan, in particular and Kelly, desperately unlucky to lose his footing when about to strike, kept his team in the contest, and Ryan went on to embellish a great display with further stops from Kelly (free) and young Noel McGrath before the finish. The Cats would surely have fallen only for him.After Shefflin converted the penalty with typical assurance, Kilkenny went for the jugular as only they can. Michael Kavanagh, now the loose man, did superbly to avoid carrying the ball over the sideline and from his clearance, the strong finishing Eoin Larkin set up substitute Martin Comerford for the champions’ second goal in little more than 60 seconds. They were mortal blows to Tipperary’s hopes and try as hard as they did to retrieve the situation, Kilkenny were never going to be caught.Beating Tipperary in such an absorbing final will only add to the champions’ legendary status. It was also their seventh All-Ireland title over the past decade – an unparalleled achievement – and the squad’s astonishing consistency is a tribute to the commitment, dedication and quality of both the players and the Brian Cody led management. Once again, Kilkenny used their substitutes to devastating effect. Apart from Ryan and Walsh, Kilkenny also had stirring contributions from Tyrell, Eddie Brennan, in the first-half, Eoin Larkin, late on, Kavanagh, and reserves Michael Fennelly and Comerford, while Shefflin, relatively subdued in general play, still held his nerve from a series of frees. Richie Power and John Tennyson had their moments too as hurling’s most powerful force once again underlined their greatness.Tipperary supporters were proud of their team in defeat. Despite 12 players contesting their first All-Ireland senior final, they rose to the occasion in magnificent style and stood a great chance of ending Kilkenny’s long-standing dominance only for those two critical incidents in the closing quarter. Two of the survivors from the 2001 final, Corbett and Kelly, couldn’t have done anymore to inspire their team, while the likes of Padraig Maher, Paddy Stapleton, Fanning, O’Mahony, Shane McGrath, Callanan (second-half) and Noel McGrath, late on, typified Tipperary’s energy and class on the day. Substituted wing forward Pat Kerwick didn’t always use possession wisely, but he too highlighted their fearless approach. It’s doubtful if ever a team has played so well in an All-Ireland and still ended up being beaten, but when Kilkenny are in the other corner, the normal rules of engagement don’t apply. It was some match and they are some team!MINORS SPARKLETHERE is always something special about beating Kilkenny in an All-Ireland final and the Galway minors got the opportunity to savour that achievement when deservedly claiming the county’s eighth championship in the grade after a stirring battle on Sunday. This was a high quality decider with the opening ten minutes producing a wonderful series of scores from both teams.We were slightly worried beforehand that the hype surrounding Galway might affect their performance, but these young players didn’t take their eye off the ball in coping admirably with Kilkenny’s best efforts. Two first half goals from team captain Richie Cummins proved critical to the outcome while there were also top class displays from full back Daithi Burke and midfielder Davy Glennon.In truth, Galway looked an above average outfit at this level. Corner backs, Johnny Coen and Conor Burke, are other players with bright futures too with the likes of Donie Fox, Shane Moloney, Joseph Cooney and Brian Flaherty also shaping with considerable promise. Ironically, two of Galway’s key players, James Regan and Niall Burke, were not at their best last Sunday, but both have already shown their inter-county pedigree.Galway’s triumph is also a testimony to the tireless pre-paratory work of Mattie Murphy and his management team of Michael Haverty and Michael Fogarty. Putting together a minor squad takes a lot of time and effort, but the team’s mentors again weren’t found wanting in this regard. They made important changes and switches during the course of the final too which helped their team to turn the tables on Kilkenny for last year’s agonising defeat.Murphy must be particularly lauded for again turning out another championhip winning outfit at this level. He has done it five times now and that represents an incredible record by any standards. He is the Brian Cody of the minor grade and for a man who hasn’t always been treated fairly by club delegates and Board officials over the years, you’d have to admire the way Murphy leaves the past in the past.JAMIE KYNETHOUGH only 18, Jamie Kyne was already being tipped for greatness in the saddle when his young life was cut short in tragic circumstances in Malton, North Yorkshire over the weekend. The Claregalway jockey had been making a big impression cross-channel since moving over to pursue his career early in 2008. Lying third in the UK apprentice championship with 29 winners so far this season – his last success was on Duchess Dora at Beverley on August 30 – Jamie was regarded as one of the most promising young riders around.The outpouring of grief, both in Ireland and cross-channel, over his premature passing shows the high respect in which Jamie was held. He was also a talented hurler and boxer whose chirpy nature endeared him to many. Jamie Kyne was a young sportsman going places until tragedy intervened in the most needless fashion. To his heartbroken family, we offer our deepest condolences.THE BANNERISN’T it great to see Clare contesting Sunday’s All-Ireland U-21 hurling final at Croke Park. The Banner boys had already proven their worth in claiming a first ever Munster title before going on to edge out Galway in a titanic semi-final battle. Champions Kilkenny missed nothing in their Leinster decider against Dublin and as a result might have looked better than they actually are. Clare go to Croke Park with a fighting chance and look a tempting bet at 6/4 to make history.