IRELAND CAPTAIN MICHAEL Murphy is set for a club versus country dilemma as the Donegal county final is pencilled in for Sunday October 20th, the day after Ireland face Australia in the first International Rules test.
Murphy helped his club Glenswilly to a 1-14 to 0-16 success over Ardara in Saturday’s Donegal county senior football semi-final.
They now face Killybegs, semi-final victors over Malin yesterday, in a decider that has been confirmed by Donegal county board chiefs for October 20th.
Yet Ireland are set to face Australia in the International Rules first test in Kingspan Breffni Park on Saturday October 19th.
The scheduling presents a dilemma for Murphy and even if the Donegal county final is pushed back a week, it would then clash with the second International Rules test in Croke Park on October 26th.
To further complicate matters, Donegal’s club champions are due to play Antrim side St Gall’s in the quarter-final of the Ulster senior club football championship on Sunday November 3rd.
Management
Speaking to TheScore.ie on the issue last week, Ireland manager Paul Earley expressed his hope that county boards would be flexible with fixtures.
“That’s an issue as it is with a lot of players. Some county boards have put up their hands and said they would accommodate.
“It’s difficult because club competitions are being pushed back further and further in the year. We want to make sure we don’t overload them and that they are fresh as well and not over trained. It is challenging.”
I suppose a natural development since Kilkenny’s physicality in the air has evolved the game into more of a physical battle. Hope there’s still a place for a Joe Deane or eoin Kelly type player in the modern game, hurling would be much poorer otherwise
There are not enough hardy lads in Tipp for the kind of game Ryan wants to impose .
I’d like to think you still need to be able to hurl to succeed tho. It’ll be interesting to see how Clare do with their pace and skill based game. I think it would be good for hurling to see them in croke park again. Hopefully Tipp can get the balance of brain and brawn right tho
Just because lads are after getting big and strong it does not mean that we after loosing a type of player.I think lads like TJ,Richie Hogan,JJ Delaney,Joe Canning and Callanan are just as skillful and class as Deane and Kelly.Just look at the player of the year nominees this year…….all three are like Houdini when they have a sliotar in their hands.Its the way the game is being played is changing.I think Kilkenny just brought more intensity rather than physicality,as the game was much more physical just as far back as 20 years ago.And more again 40 and 50yrs ago
For too long now ,Tipp have thrown away Munsters and all-Irelands due to their non physicality….
As Tommy Docherty once said when describing a Ladies team ” their lovely to look at,, but they wont hurt you ”
Maybe its time to bring back Hells Kitchen !!
I’m still scratching my head trying to figure out why maher was centre forward last year. I think right half back is his best position , in midfield he goes in and out of games. He’s more solid than Barrett.
Just as long as he doesn’t throw the baby out with the bath water. EOS was on the cusp of cracking it but his team lacked a bit of edge, not helped by injuries to the like if Mahony, Cahill, Stapleton etc. who add a bit of bite to the team. I would nearly prefer lose than sacrifice EOS’s hurling philosophy in favour of that sweeper system/ Donegal tactic that other teams are employing. Also if Michael Quinlivan can hurl he would be well worth a try.
That’s the worry Johnny, but I hope with the likes of bubbles, Callanan and Noel McGrath you have the bones of a hurling front 6 as opposed to a blunt battering ram. Galway even uppe’d the physicality stakes this year as well. Where’s it all going to end.. in puke football territory maybe? I like you still want to retain our nice brand of hurling identity if possible
Tipp need to find a few more players. No Denis Maher? The question you need to ask as a fan is how many of this squad would start on a Kilkenny first 15? 4-5 at a push, this is the bench mark for Tipp unfortunately.