Dublin and Cork’s hurling masterclass
Cork and Dublin put on an immense display of hurling and the two teams surpassed what we’ve seen in the Championship up to now. The hurling has been superb this year but yesterday was just an extraordinary game.
The range of scores, the skills on view, the atmosphere in the stadium and a game that was in the balance right up until the end. It had everything.
The one blight on what was an unreal game of hurling though was the referee because the sending off was huge. Ryan O’Dwyer was having a brilliant game. He has such a physical presence and he was winning ball over the field so when he went it had a massive impact on the game.
It reminded me of what happened in Cork’s game with Kilkenny when Kilkenny had Henry Shefflin sent off and how Cork capitalised on that.
They play a very good system and they’re set up to take advantage of the spare man so, once O’Dwyer received his second yellow, Dublin faced an uphill battle and there was no way they were going to be able to beat that Cork system.
Referee James Owens yellow cards Ryan O’Dwyer of Dublin early in the game
Image: INPHO/James Crombie
Refereeing in hurling
The authorities need to leave the game of hurling alone. There’s nothing wrong with hurling. The only issue with hurling is that you have former football referees in charge of the hurling referees.
That means hurling referees are being instructed to issue yellow cards for very little and we’d a hurling man sent off yesterday for two innocuous yellows and he never struck once with his hurl.
With respect to James Owens, he was operating to the letter of the law but the law’s wrong and it ruined Dublin’s chances so my advice to those in charge of hurling refereeing is that hurling is fine, we don’t have a problem in our game.
There’s a problem in football with the tackle, with cynical play and not just with the likes of Tyrone but with all teams. Hurling doesn’t have that problem, we’ve a great game that doesn’t need to be tampered with.
In hurling, you should only get sent off for pulling a stroke, hurling people know that and the top players don’t go out to pull strokes, they go out to play the game they love.
Yesterday, Liam Rushe lashed out at his man in frustration and I’m glad he wasn’t sent off but the referee copped out of the decision because he’d already sent one Dublin player off and he didn’t want to send another one of the line.
Anthony Daly leaves the pitch after yesterday’s game
Image: NPHO/Lorraine O’Sullivan
Anthony Daly’s future
Anthony Daly’s post match press conference was one of the best pieces of management I’ve ever seen.
I don’t think I’ve heard or seen a manager so calm when he’d every right to blame everyone and anyone and to just accept the decision the way he did showed real class.
I really thought after the way things went for Dublin last year that he wouldn’t stay on with but, if I could offer him any advice, it’s that he should definitely stay on now because there’s an All-Ireland in this side and he’s the man to get it out of them.
Cork as favourites
Right this minute Cork have to be favourites for the All-Ireland for the simple reason that they’re already there so, if you’re going to back anyone, you might as well back a team that have already made the final.
Of course, if Clare or Limerick turn around and put in a five star display in their game then the odds will probably change again but Cork are there and they know what it’s takes to win. They’ve a tradition of winning and a management team in place who have all won All-Ireland medals. Every single one of them – Kieran Kingston, Ger Cunningham, Seanie McGrath and Jimmy Barry-Murphy – know what it takes to win an All-Ireland final.
You can’t understate the importance of that experience.
After my comments on the journal last night, I’d like to say I feel I went a bit over the top with a number of people regarding the Irish team selection. I felt my comments were judge-mental and rude and for that I’d like to take this chance to
apologize,
To absolutely NOBODY. All you fan boys can keep being salty. Farrell has picked burns as the main kicker who nearly missed a kick in front of the posts on Sunday. Nothing even has to be said for Keith Earls. Absolutely shocking team.
@Dave: Johnny missed touch last week too and on many occasions in the past, it happens. I believe Earls has a proven record at test level. Still one of the fastest in the squad, great in the air and defensively sound. Whereas you’re track record shows something far less desirable
@Dave: t
@Dave: that’s really clever what you did there! I was hooked, so excited about this apology from some random man on the internet, but then you totally flipped it!! So clever. Well done!!
@Dave: you must be feeling a little lonely over on Twitter with your 6 followers, but hopefully you’ll get a response over here to your trolling.
@Dave: Conor MacGregor called, he wants his shtick back
@Dave: come on pal, you haven’t seen your wife and kids in 3 days. Put the phone down and go downstairs
@Sam Murray: pretty sure the wife has left him
@David Nugent: pretty sure a gowl lile him never has a wife to begin with. Who’d have him?
@JarvisOFlaherterahry: ha ha
@Dave: Lol! Brilliant.
Sexton and Murray haven’t given a performece for a long time. Let’s give the new fellas a chance…
@Leonard O’mahony: nonsense, Sexton may have been a little bit off his usual outstanding self lately but hasn’t been a million miles off and Murray was poor early last year but is having one of his best seasons this time around. In saying that I’m delighted other lads are getting a chance in a big game
I’m 95% sure Sexton would of been jogging out Sunday afternoon if it wasn’t for this doctor, I’d say his wife and mum wouldn’t let him play tbh and fair enough.
@hypebeast: you’d be wrong then. I’d imagine the doctors in the Irish camp would uphold their professionalism regardless
I was deflated reading the team today. But on reflection even if we lose this will be a good thing. Hopefully the younger guys get a taste of what its like to play a proper French team. Im sure its heart over head stuff but I think this team have so much to prove and will want to win for Farrell and co especially given the doctors unprofessional comments. Casey and Byrne might come on and give a Stringer and O Gara type performance to win a close game in the dying minutes. In the words of Christopher Reeve “Once you choose hope anythings possible”
While it is never good players’ losing spots due to injury or misfortune, I am somewhat looking forward to seeing why sort of bench Ireland has ahead of the RWC2023. Sexton, Murray, O’Mahony, Earls, Healy all need to be replaced. So while I have sympathy for the injured (not for O’Mahony as he was just stupid), I am glad that these guys are getting a shot. I think the average age of the Irish squad is at least 5 years too old to be considered contenders in 2023.
@Corkonian In Dublin: you say that you “think”, I suggest you find something you’re good at instead.
We’re going to lose anyway so might as well give a few young guys a chance
Plenty of rumours whispering about Sextons field of vision being impaired. It may be time. Just saying.