WHEN BRIAN GAVIN throws in the ball to begin next Sunday’s All-Ireland senior hurling final between Kilkenny and Tipperary, eyes will glance all over the field to pick out who’s marking who.
There are many different possibilities that could unfold but managers Brian Cody and Michael Ryan will have given plenty of thought to their respective match-ups.
The recent history between the sides tells us that whichever team can gain the advantage in key duels usually comes out on top – and Cody is a master when it comes to getting it spot on when it matters most.
Here, we’ve pinpointed 7 potential man-on-man tussles to keep an eye out for…
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1. Joey Holden (Kilkenny) v Seamus Callanan (Tipperary)
If Joey Holden can keep tabs on Callanan, one of Tipperary’s main scoring threats will be curtailed.
Callanan is averaging ten points a game in championship 2016 but he’ll have his hands full with Holden, who put the shackles on a number of big names last season.
Holden did well against Wexford’s Conor McDonald, Galway’s Joe Canning (twice) and Waterford ace Maurice Shanahan as he captained the Cats to All-Ireland glory.
There’s a school of thought out there suggesting that the Kilkenny full-back line is vulnerable but so far this season, we haven’t seen much evidence to support that theory.
2. Ronan Maher (Tipperary) v Richie Hogan (Kilkenny)
Ronan Maher is preparing for his first All-Ireland senior hurling final and Kilkenny boss Brian Cody is surely considering putting one of his marquee players on him.
Hogan looks ideally-suited to a roving role at centre forward, despite operating so well at midfield in the Waterford semi-final replay.
Hogan’s ability to drift will leave Maher with some difficult decisions to consider. Does he hold his position or is he asked to track Hogan wherever he goes?
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Former Hurler of the Year Hogan has caused untold damage for Tipperary in the past and has the potential to do the same again.
3. Pádraig Walsh (Kilkenny) v Patrick Maher (Tipperary)
Ryan Byrne / INPHO
Ryan Byrne / INPHO / INPHO
Going by numbers, this is one match-up that may not happen but Michael Ryan may well consider it.
In the 2010 All-Ireland decider, Tipp placed Patrick ‘Bonner’ Maher on Tommy Walsh, Pádraig’s older brother, and the move worked a treat.
Maher’s constant hassling, harrying and ability to contest ball nullified the influence of Walsh, who was unable to exert his usual influence on proceedings in an attacking sense.
Pádraig Walsh is one of Kilkenny’s key men and Tipp won’t want to see him getting forward on a frequent basis. Maher could be the man to stop him doing that.
4. Cathal Barrett (Tipperary) v Walter Walsh (Kilkenny)
Ryan Byrne / INPHO
Ryan Byrne / INPHO / INPHO
Walter Walsh has been enjoying an excellent season in the half-forward line for Kilkenny but Brian Cody will have noticed how Tipp’s corner backs struggled against big men in the semi-final against Galway.
Cathal Barrett had his hands full with Conor Cooney and in the opposite corner, Jason Flynn gave Michael Cahill plenty to think about.
Teenager Liam Blanchfield is another option for Cody to consider on Barrett, as the recent bolter is 6ft 2″ tall, but it would be a surprise if Walsh doesn’t operate in one of the corner forward positions at some stage of the game.
On the flipside, Barrett will be anxious to atone for the Galway game with a big performance on Sunday – and he was in Hurler of the Year form during the Munster championship.
Kilkenny’s other big option with Walsh is to place him in the nominal number 10 position – and a physical match-up with Tipp bulwark Pádraic Maher.
5. Conor Fogarty (Kilkenny) v Michael Breen (Tipperary)
Conor Fogarty is expected to revert to a midfield role after playing at centre back in the Waterford replay.
His defensive instincts and ability to provide extra cover around the half-back line are central to the Kilkenny game-plan but Fogarty can also get forward to take a score, as illustrated by that brilliant equaliser in the drawn Waterford clash.
Fogarty also provided an assist for Jonjo Farrell’s Leinster final goal against Galway but Cody may decide he’s better placed in a deeper role and ask him to pick up Tipp’s marauding midfielder Michael Breen.
Fogarty has the ability to stop Breen at source when he bombs forward from midfield and attempts to latch onto breaking ball. Fogarty also has the energy levels to compete with Tipp’s athletic midfielder.
6. James Barry (Tipperary) v Colin Fennelly (Kilkenny)
Ryan Byrne / INPHO
Ryan Byrne / INPHO / INPHO
As Holden and Callanan battle it out at one end of the field, it’s a direct showdown between James Barry and Colin Fennelly on the edge of the Tipp square.
Fennelly can play at centre-forward but he was at his lethal best in the Waterford replay win, bagging two stunning goals when operating close to goal.
Fennelly has enjoyed some good moments in previous meetings with Tipperary and will be anxious to win this one for his injured brother, Michael.
Barry is Tipp’s accidental full-back hero in ways after stepping into the position during the 2014 qualifier victory over Galway. He’s stayed there since and made the position his own.
7. Kieran Joyce (Kilkenny) v Noel McGrath (Tipperary)
Again, this is another one that may, or may not, happen. But if Tipp decide that they want a man to operate a la Waterford’s Austin Gleeson, in a roving number 11 role, then McGrath is tailor-made for it.
When Michael ‘Brick’ Walsh played at centre back for Waterford, he was content to hold his position in big games against Tipp and McGrath drifted off him to often devastating effect.
Joyce is a traditional centre back who doesn’t like to be moved around too much and Tipp may decide to get him thinking by playing McGrath at centre-forward.
Two years ago, Joyce was man-of-the-match in the final replay after tying up Patrick ‘Bonner’ Maher and Tipp may decide not to risk the same match-up again.
How do you see Sunday’s match-ups shaping up? Leave your feedback in the comments section below.
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7 potential match-ups to savour in Sunday's All-Ireland senior hurling final
WHEN BRIAN GAVIN throws in the ball to begin next Sunday’s All-Ireland senior hurling final between Kilkenny and Tipperary, eyes will glance all over the field to pick out who’s marking who.
There are many different possibilities that could unfold but managers Brian Cody and Michael Ryan will have given plenty of thought to their respective match-ups.
The recent history between the sides tells us that whichever team can gain the advantage in key duels usually comes out on top – and Cody is a master when it comes to getting it spot on when it matters most.
Here, we’ve pinpointed 7 potential man-on-man tussles to keep an eye out for…
*********
1. Joey Holden (Kilkenny) v Seamus Callanan (Tipperary)
If Joey Holden can keep tabs on Callanan, one of Tipperary’s main scoring threats will be curtailed.
Callanan is averaging ten points a game in championship 2016 but he’ll have his hands full with Holden, who put the shackles on a number of big names last season.
Holden did well against Wexford’s Conor McDonald, Galway’s Joe Canning (twice) and Waterford ace Maurice Shanahan as he captained the Cats to All-Ireland glory.
There’s a school of thought out there suggesting that the Kilkenny full-back line is vulnerable but so far this season, we haven’t seen much evidence to support that theory.
2. Ronan Maher (Tipperary) v Richie Hogan (Kilkenny)
Ronan Maher is preparing for his first All-Ireland senior hurling final and Kilkenny boss Brian Cody is surely considering putting one of his marquee players on him.
Hogan looks ideally-suited to a roving role at centre forward, despite operating so well at midfield in the Waterford semi-final replay.
Hogan’s ability to drift will leave Maher with some difficult decisions to consider. Does he hold his position or is he asked to track Hogan wherever he goes?
Former Hurler of the Year Hogan has caused untold damage for Tipperary in the past and has the potential to do the same again.
3. Pádraig Walsh (Kilkenny) v Patrick Maher (Tipperary)
Going by numbers, this is one match-up that may not happen but Michael Ryan may well consider it.
In the 2010 All-Ireland decider, Tipp placed Patrick ‘Bonner’ Maher on Tommy Walsh, Pádraig’s older brother, and the move worked a treat.
Maher’s constant hassling, harrying and ability to contest ball nullified the influence of Walsh, who was unable to exert his usual influence on proceedings in an attacking sense.
Pádraig Walsh is one of Kilkenny’s key men and Tipp won’t want to see him getting forward on a frequent basis. Maher could be the man to stop him doing that.
4. Cathal Barrett (Tipperary) v Walter Walsh (Kilkenny)
Walter Walsh has been enjoying an excellent season in the half-forward line for Kilkenny but Brian Cody will have noticed how Tipp’s corner backs struggled against big men in the semi-final against Galway.
Cathal Barrett had his hands full with Conor Cooney and in the opposite corner, Jason Flynn gave Michael Cahill plenty to think about.
Teenager Liam Blanchfield is another option for Cody to consider on Barrett, as the recent bolter is 6ft 2″ tall, but it would be a surprise if Walsh doesn’t operate in one of the corner forward positions at some stage of the game.
On the flipside, Barrett will be anxious to atone for the Galway game with a big performance on Sunday – and he was in Hurler of the Year form during the Munster championship.
Kilkenny’s other big option with Walsh is to place him in the nominal number 10 position – and a physical match-up with Tipp bulwark Pádraic Maher.
5. Conor Fogarty (Kilkenny) v Michael Breen (Tipperary)
Conor Fogarty is expected to revert to a midfield role after playing at centre back in the Waterford replay.
His defensive instincts and ability to provide extra cover around the half-back line are central to the Kilkenny game-plan but Fogarty can also get forward to take a score, as illustrated by that brilliant equaliser in the drawn Waterford clash.
Fogarty also provided an assist for Jonjo Farrell’s Leinster final goal against Galway but Cody may decide he’s better placed in a deeper role and ask him to pick up Tipp’s marauding midfielder Michael Breen.
Fogarty has the ability to stop Breen at source when he bombs forward from midfield and attempts to latch onto breaking ball. Fogarty also has the energy levels to compete with Tipp’s athletic midfielder.
6. James Barry (Tipperary) v Colin Fennelly (Kilkenny)
As Holden and Callanan battle it out at one end of the field, it’s a direct showdown between James Barry and Colin Fennelly on the edge of the Tipp square.
Fennelly can play at centre-forward but he was at his lethal best in the Waterford replay win, bagging two stunning goals when operating close to goal.
Fennelly has enjoyed some good moments in previous meetings with Tipperary and will be anxious to win this one for his injured brother, Michael.
Barry is Tipp’s accidental full-back hero in ways after stepping into the position during the 2014 qualifier victory over Galway. He’s stayed there since and made the position his own.
7. Kieran Joyce (Kilkenny) v Noel McGrath (Tipperary)
Again, this is another one that may, or may not, happen. But if Tipp decide that they want a man to operate a la Waterford’s Austin Gleeson, in a roving number 11 role, then McGrath is tailor-made for it.
When Michael ‘Brick’ Walsh played at centre back for Waterford, he was content to hold his position in big games against Tipp and McGrath drifted off him to often devastating effect.
Joyce is a traditional centre back who doesn’t like to be moved around too much and Tipp may decide to get him thinking by playing McGrath at centre-forward.
Two years ago, Joyce was man-of-the-match in the final replay after tying up Patrick ‘Bonner’ Maher and Tipp may decide not to risk the same match-up again.
How do you see Sunday’s match-ups shaping up? Leave your feedback in the comments section below.
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‘I think it wasn’t a surprise’ – Kilkenny boss Cody happy with Brian Gavin as final referee
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