1. Padraic Walsh (Kilkenny)
“He’s every chance. The number one thing is he’s fierce into hurling. There will be no fear for him.” That was the verdict of Tommy Walsh earlier this week when asked about the prospects of his younger brother Padraig bursting into the Kilkenny starting line-up this year.
Certainly the Tullaroan player has plenty potential. Captain of the UL Fitzgibbon Cup side where he plays at half-back, he was midfield for Kilkenny’s recent Walsh Cup final win over Dublin. His progress will be worth monitoring.
2. Conor Cleary (Clare)
Cleary is a fine footballer who has impressed in the underage ranks for the Banner and he won a county intermediate medal with his native West Clare club St Joseph’s Miltown-Malbay last year. But with St Joseph’s playing only football, he lines out for the Kilmaley club in hurling.
He’s a brilliant hurling prospect as well – centre back on the Clare minor team that reached the 2012 All-Ireland semi-final and filling that position as well at the moment for the NUIG Fitzgibbon Cup team.
3. Stephen Bennett (Waterford)
He starred for the Waterford minors last September as he bagged 0-4 in their famous All-Ireland success. Of late Bennett has been pre-occupied with Ballysaggart, he fired 2-7 in the recent AIB All-Ireland junior final and plays today in the final replay in Mullingar.
After that club campaign concludes, the UL student will link up with the county senior setup. Himself and Austin Gleeson have been fast-tracked into the squad by new manager Derek McGrath.
4. Cathal Barrett (Tipperary)
The young Holycross-Ballycahill defender has been given the nod to make his starting debut for the senior side tonight against Waterford. He lined out for the county U21 side last summer and featured when they lost the Munster final against Clare.
Since then he has caught the eye of manager of Eamonn O’Shea and he has rapidly progressed. Now he will hope to make his mark in the springtime auditions.
5. Padraig Brehony (Galway)
One of the stars of Galway’s All-Ireland minor triumph in 2011, Brehony struck 0-4 in that final success over Dublin. He was quickly brought into the senior setup and featured last year for Anthony Cunningham’s side.
A versatile operator, the DCU Fitzgibbon Cup player is selected at midfield for the home clash with Dublin on Sunday. 2014 could be a year when he makes a push to establish himself.
6. Cian O’Callaghan (Dublin)
Full-back on the Dublin minor teams that contested the 2011 and 2012 All-Ireland minor finals, O’Callaghan displayed his defensive talents. He suffered defeats on both those occasions but has now graduated to Anthony Daly’s senior squad.
The Cuala club player lined out at right corner-back in the recent Walsh Cup final loss to Kilkenny and has kept his place for Sunday’s trip to Salthill for a Division 1A tie.
7. Michael Cahalane (Cork)
It’s not often a student is asked to juggle his studies at school and senior inter-county hurling. But Bandon player Cahalane has been requested to do that after being drafted into the Cork squad by Jimmy Barry-Murphy.
He was part of the Cork minor side in 2013 and was referenced by Barry-Murphy last summer as a player who had caught his eye. His sensational displays in recent weeks for Hamilton High School (Bandon) in helping them reach the school’s first ever Dr Harty Cup semi-final, must have sealed the deal for the Cork boss.
8. Darragh O’Donovan (Limerick)
The Doon youngster shone last year as the Limerick minor side claimed a memorable Munster championship with victory in the final after a replay. He lined out at midfield in a team that only fell short amidst the Hawkeye controversy against Galway at the All-Ireland semi-final stage.
O’Donovan also won a county minor medal with his club last season and was one of three Limerick minors – along with Richie English and Darragh Kennedy – who were enlisted to the Limerick senior setup at the start of this year.
Jaysus Murray. You must have been typing since the weekend! Looks like a great article. Fair play.
Murray I dunno how your not doing TV punditry or backroom analysis with a provincial or AIL set up. Your level of attention to detail is phenomenal and makes for fantastic reading. Keep it up.
@Dara Ó’Mhaoilmhiaigh:
This is the best analysis I have seen anywhere, he should be in TV Punditry or better again a professional coaching setup, the attention to detail is excellent on all phases of play shown. I particularly liked the analysis of the first try driving maul and the attention on detail of how Sexton directs play in a way that cannot come true on real time viewing.
@ktsiwot: He was working with TV3 for the world cup, was he not?
@Shanahan: He was.
Jaysus thats some article. You could print that and have a 200 page book
Wait until the home leg is over before we tell them how we did it…it would take 2wks to read that tho :)
Good man murrary.
This isn’t an article on how Ireland beat New Zealand, It’s a thesis. Looking forward to reading it but will probably take to until the rematch to get through it all.
Great analysis. Keep em coming!
That’s the kind of in depth analysis that is missing – new players, kids, dads etc need more than a refs decision to understand why things happen on the field. Rugby is a far more intricate game than most people realise. Great article, keep it up!
Yawn………….
@Nick Drake: Go to bed.
Murray analyses all of Ireland’s games with the same level of detail, regardless of the opposition or result
Outstanding as ever Murray.
I hope there’s none of the allblacks coaching team reading this.
It was a glorified exhibition match. Get over it. Cringeworthy level of analysis for a game of egg chasing.
You should consider changing your egg supplier. I’m fairly sure a rugby ball got its oval shape from a pig’s bladder
I wonder could a smiling style of article be written about referees decisions? If you were to take an average weekend and pick out a bunch of decisions from them that people may have found dodgy and break down why it is or isn’t so. Maybe you cud do two or three of both good and bad. It’d be good reading for those seriously interested in all facets of rugby and could educate a lot of people. The ref can make or break a game at times, I think good analysis in the media could do some good as well.
Dessie alternative read – we scored more points than them.
Christmas analysis book next year please Murray.
Simply put, the power of 8…
Great stuff, Murray, grma!!!
Love these articles. Dunno how the other hasn’t been snapped up as some teams video analyst. Level of detail here is really superb.
well done . i wish ireland would feel confident they can beat these all blacks they really had no respect for ireland that day.,with the team theyfielded only to bring in big guns at late stage all world except new zewland love to see ireland win again as ab think they have a god giving right to win all games . their times is up like the french rest incl ireland have seen where they are weak . congrats ireland do it again without fear . you have skilled soldiers to beat them again,, but mebe not sat as they will be in a revenge mode i fear . but ireland will have to treat them just like any other world team. ireland are strong and are colnfident now
I love these breakdowns. Superb work Murray!
Great work Murray