A sensational opening round of the Munster Senior Hurling championship. Two fixtures, two draws, one hundred and eighteen points scored in both games with drama and plot twists aplenty.
Hawkeye Sidekick reflects on a superb opening fixture block. He identifies what each team will be pleased with. He also identifies what they will focus on to improve performances in the next round of games.
Clare
The positive is the second half turnaround. Clare management and players adapted to a Cork middle third who in the opening half ran riot. Their decision to drop Kelly deep and create space for Peter Duggan and David Reidy inside was excellent.
Shane Barrett red card was a pivotal moment in the contest. Given this, Clare utilized John Conlon superbly well. The Clonlara club man orchestrated and set up all that was good with Clare’s improved distribution from the middle third. A big second half for Conlon given Cork’s dominance in the opening period.
Peter Duggan in the league fixture between the two counties did show glimpses of his aerial power and movement. Duggan was the instrumental player in the Clare full forward line creating headaches for Cork management to solve. Reidy and Galvin impact huge down the stretch. Clare’s ability to stifle Cork’s middle third stood out and will feel disappointed not to have held on for victory.
The negatives were how Cork exposed the Clare central defensive areas in the opening half. Darach Lohan and John Conlon faced several big defensive moments early in the game. The Cork midfield and half-back line were marauding providing superb ball inside for Brian Hayes and Darragh Fitzgibbon to shine. Clare were slow to get into stride. Aidan McCarthy’s frees keeping Clare anyway in touch early.
The full back position looks a vulnerable area for Clare unless Conor Cleary can come back to full fitness. All credit to Darach Lohan for sticking to the assignment but he is a middle third player. Cleary’s physicality and aerial prowess will be required starting with the away trip to Waterford this weekend. Deise’s inside full forward line will fancy testing out the Clare full back line.
2-9 from play will need to improve as the championship continues. David Fitzgerald stifled in open play. Shane O’Donnell absence aside, Mark Rodgers and David Fitzgerald need to take on the scoring mantle. The duo scored 0-3 in total. Clare management will look for improvements this weekend.
Cork
A positive from this contest is that Cork did not lose late. A comfortable twelve point lead at half-time was turned on its head when Shane Barrett was sent off. Cork in past seasons would have accepted their fate. Nonetheless, when Joyce strode up the pitch for one last attack, that bravery was rewarded.
There was so much to admire in this Cork opening half. They create the platform in the half-back and midfield units. Their run game is impressive. Their ability to pick full-forward targets inside is a joy to behold. Brian Hayes had another powerful game at full forward scoring 2-2. Darragh Fitzgibbon when in the half-forward line chipped in with three lovely points.
Scores in the opening half flowed for Cork. Tim O’Mahony and Ethan Twomey provided lovely support. They distributed well to Barrett, Fitzgibbon, and Harnedy. The trio played in the pocket in that opening half. It all changed with the Barrett red card despite nine different Cork scorers. 2-16 from play excellent.
The second half performance will focus minds and will lessen the hype around the county. Control was lost early from the restart.
Clare’s adjustments posed serious issues for Cork in their ability to win primary ball. They had no answer to Peter Duggan inside when improved ball middle third ball from Clare emerged. Conlon became an influential figure.
The lack of depth chart in the Cork full back line will be tested in this championship. What happens if O’Leary, Downey or O’Leary are sidelined. Precious few players secured game minutes in those positions. Clare have raised questions about this full back unit. Previously, they had not conceded any goals in their last three fixtures. An interesting subplot line for the rest of the championship? Twelve points conceded from placed balls will focus the mind on discipline as well.
Tipperary
There was so much to like about this Tipperary performance. Limerick have been Tipperary’s nemesis in championship in recent years. Before the sliothar was thrown, Tipperary players all over Semple Stadium raised the physical challenge to their Limerick counterpart. They were not prepared to take a step back today.
Eoghan Connolly had a super duel with Shane O’Brien. Connolly’s long range frees at the end of the opening half caught the eye. These frees gave Tipperary a three point advantage at the break. Tipperary’s middle third pace caused Limerick issues. The speed of ball and distribution setting up John McGrath with two sensational goals in the second half.
The frustration for Tipperary was that this was a game that they should have won. McCarthy and Tynan with key wides down the stretch to put Limerick under even more pressure. Limerick regrouped and thought they won it late with the Gillane free. Yet, Tipperary’s work rate forced a decisive turnover. This led to McCarthy scoring the equalizer.
Ten different scorers for Tipperary. 2-14 from play was impressive. McCarthy on his debut with 0-8 points. Jake Morris continues to revel at half-forward scoring 0-4. John McGrath and Noel McGrath cameos caught the eye also.
Limerick were there to be taken out. Tipperary did not secure the win and it could be a significant result come the end of the championship round-robin. The work rate and intensity levels in Thurles must match those levels in Cork this weekend. Anything less and Cork will smell blood in the water.
Limerick
John Kiely quickly praised his side’s grit. He admired their determination to get back into the contest. This was after John McGrath’s two-goal effort looked to have setup the hosts for victory.
The composure to continue to pass through the lines despite significant turnover ball issues was admirable. Limerick continued to probe and secured key scores down the stretch to secure a share of the spoils.
Shane O’Brien was a positive for Limerick. The Kilmallock native scored 1-4 from play. His goal was a super strike and provided a target man for Aaron Gillane to impress. Adam English contributed with 1-2 from play but will rue two late point misses. Eleven players scored for Limerick. Achieving 2-17 from play was impressive.
Limerick got away with this fixture. There was a nervousness in the middle third throughout. The half-back line lacked authority and pace issues seen in the wing back positions. O’Donoghue slotted in well at half-back. But, this weakened the midfield. Tipperary enjoyed good spells of dominance in midfield and other teams will have taken note.
Kyle Hayes switch to eleven spoke was interesting. Hayes provided aerial power, work rate to support Hegarty and Morrissey alongside. Both wing forwards will burst into life as the championship progresses. But, there were clear half-forward line cohesion issues at play.
Limerick will be happy with the point. They do not do panic when reviewing performances. Nonetheless, there are clear areas of improvement to close out during the bye week. Walsh noticed the Limerick hand pass and blew with interest. Limerick’s unforced error count came from making poor passing decisions to a player who was under pressure. All to be tightened up.