GER AYLWARD TERRORISED Wexford in Nowlan Park this afternoon as Kilkenny made light work of their Leinster senior hurling championship semi-final.
The reigning All-Ireland champions may have lost 48 senior All-Ireland medals to retirement but they still had 24 points to spare over their visitors with the Glenmore club man contributing no less than 3-5.
Aylward’s contribution earned him the man-of-the match award this evening on The Sunday Game.
Panellists Brendan Cummins and Donal O’Grady gave Aylward the nod ahead of his team-mates Michael Fennelly and Richie Hogan.
Cummins said: “He contributed 3-5 today and when you talk about the game being taken away from Wexford, it was his goals really that put Wexford to the sword.”
Tipperary put an end to Eamon O’Shea’s Munster championship woes thanks, in part, to John O’Dwyer’s man-of-the-match performance.
The Killenaule forward scored 0-7 — 0-6 from play — as last year’s beaten All-Ireland finalists showed no signs of rust in the opening game of their 2015 championship campaign, running out 16-point winners.
Bubbles saw off competition from team-mates Seamus Callanan (2-5) and Pádraic Maher in getting the nod from RTÉ.
O’Grady said: “It was a quality performance, superb points for his side and he was on maybe one of Limerick’s best defenders in Seamus Hickey and he beat him one-on-one which was a big psychological win for Tipp.”
Do you agree with the panel’s selections? Let us know in the comments section.
Don’t be too sure… Apparently, there’s a lot of communions and confirmations down in Munster this weekend!
It’s gonna be a cracker!
Come on Leo’s Lions!
Time to stand up and fight
@John Quinn: as a leinster fan id be more worried if munster tried to play rugby, standing and fighting hasn’t done them any good for 13 years.
Is there any way of telling, before you click in on an article, that a subscription is required to read? Makes this website experience tedious
@Paul C: you know when you’re scrolling and each article has a little hastag on it (on my phone anyway) well it seems to be the ones that’s have this highlighted in blue/green/turquoise sort of colour.
@SPQH: I’m noticing now they all say “analysis”
@Paul C: The ones marked analysis in green are paywall articles. You can sign in up the top left with an email address without having to pay a subscription and see most of the articles currently. That’s what’s working for me anyway.
@SPQH: well spotted. Thanks
I think it will be a cracker and not as clear cut as some think. The fans will have a great day
@Phillip Keohane: From an entertainment perspective, i hope you’re right. I doubt it though. Leinster to win in third gear i’d say. Munster have the intensity and attitude alright but they are not at the same technical and cohesion levels as Leinster imo.
@niall kelly: Leinster need to keep the focus on the European Cup which will define their season. However it looks more like the quality of player missing from Munster due to injury makes it hard to see past Leinster. Still, it’s sport so, you never know.
Munster have nothing to lose I’ll think it will be a dog fight . A great game for the fans
Leinster were red hot favourites last year to win the Champions Cup and also lost in the URC. There are no favourites both teams will give everything. I hope Leinster win tomorrow but if Munster win I will be the first to congratulate them.
I’d be surprised that they will travel up.I hope they do,they are needed for the atmosphere, but I don’t think they believe they have a chance. It’s a pity the great games of Munster v Leinster rivalry, ROG pumping it up at the crowd, Johnny in ROg face,that real rivalry where the outcome was in doubt is gone.
Leinster are so dominant that Munster supporters won’t spend the money to see their team lose.They will come up and hope to get more joy outta supporting ROG