To say that last weekend was interesting would be an understatement. Fourteen man Dublin deservedly beat a misfiring Limerick at Croke Park.
Tipperary comfortable accounted for Galway at TUS Gaelic Grounds. Hawkeye Sidekick looks ahead to an end of season championship which has created several intriguing story lines.
Dublin
The story line of last weekend. A super performance from management and players from Dublin.
The sheer resiliency to not let Chris Crummey’s dismissal impact their performance. Their middle third movement and work rate increased. The first touch from Dublin players elevated to new levels.
Limerick quite frankly had no response to the middle third intensity and physicality from Dublin.
Conor Burke scoring five points. The Dublin half-forward line scoring twelve points in total. Each Dublin player contributed to this result. Sean Brennan when called upon delivered a save of the season moment from Aaron Gillane.
Dublin’s attack was varied. The speed and movement were obvious early on. Then, the direct ball with John Hetherton a menace inside reaping rewards. Hetherton and Cian O’Sullivan combining for two quick fire goals. Conor McHugh defensive man marking assignment on Cian Lynch outstanding.
The positives last weekend have been rightly called out by the mass sporting media. The question is can Dublin deliver this level of performance again? Their campaign to date was inconsistently frustrating with brief cameos of quality.
Cork will look to penetrate more in the inside full forward line than Limerick ever did last weekend. Cork’s run game from deep will create overlaps. How does Dublin’s middle third quell the influence of the likes of Fitzgibbon, Barrett, Horgan, Hayes and Connolly. Alan Connolly is a big factor in this contest.
Dublin should enter the fixture full of confidence though. It is yet another free hit. Many will point to Cork as red hot favorites. This is a Dublin side who were full of running last week. It indicates a side peaking at the right time. Cork have had their warning shot.
Cork
Last week, Tipperary manager Liam Cahill highlighted a point quickly. He noted that Pat Ryan and Cork would be delighted that Limerick were out of the championship. This is a fair point to a certain extent. But, Cork has a long run ahead to secure Liam McCarthy glory.
How have Cork recovered mentally and physically from that bruising Munster SHC final against Limerick? We saw a completely off color Limerick last weekend which indicated massive effects from that game. A four week period requires careful management.
Cork with a three week break between Tipperary and Limerick Munster SHC round robin games was wide off the mark. A sluggish Cork were dismantled by Limerick. It was fortunate for Cork that this was still round robin. Have lessons been learned?
The strength of Cork is their middle third and full forward line unit. Their ability to create with the run game and to create goals in the full forward line to the core. Can the Cork half-back line create that platform to allow Coleman, O’Mahony, O’Brien and others to roam deep and create.
Dublin will target the Cork full back line and look to bring Hetheron and Hayes into the play. The Cork full back line have waned against Clare and Limerick. Do Dublin have the middle third quality to create the proper game plan to expose this unit? It remains to be seen.
Cork on paper should win this fixture but Dublin have issued their statement of intent last weekend. Cork need to start sharp and put this game to bed early. If not, then Dublin will fancy their chances of sending another Munster side out of the championship.
Kilkenny
Last weekend was music to the ears of anyone connected with Kilkenny. Limerick taken out at the quarter final stage. No-one talking about the side which is a perfect setup for Derek Lyng, management and team.
Kilkenny enter into their All Ireland SHC semi-final over perennial foe Tipperary in good confidence. A dominant Leinster SHC campaign which saw the several players emerge as key scoring threats. The defensive side of the team was teak tough.
This starting lineup from Kilkenny deserves massive respect. Eoin Murphy and back line unit are elite level. Jordan Molloy and Cian Kenny have formed a super midfield partnership yielding several scores. The forward line has evolved with Mossy Keoghan in the form of his life. Billy Ryan and Adrian Mullen also contributing to the score sheet to complement the mercurial TJ Reid.
Fionan Mackessy has provided welcome aerial dominance to the Kilkenny half-forward line. The Donnelly brothers have quietly orchestrated and contributed scores in the forward line.
The negative is on core squad depth. Eoin Cody’s availability is a key talking point heading into this semi-final fixture. Cody has not featured in recent weeks. The bench impact if the questions are asked particularly in attack are unanswered. Drennan and Shine have had fleeting cameos. Tipperary will know that they need to force Kilkenny to use their bench early and often.
Tipperary
Tipperary are the most improved side of the championship this season. Few expected the Premier County to progress from Munster this season. They have though built form through the prelims. They also performed well in the quarter finals.
Tipperary’s mantra is to shot on sight. Fifty-one shots during their most recent win over Galway was a standout statistic. Twenty-three scores from play. Eight points conceded from play. The Tipperary middle third has evolved. Their work rate is on point, and the half-forward line movement has been a joy to watch.
All Tipperary’s starting forward had registered a score before minute twenty-five last weekend. A repeat performance at Croke Park will spell trouble for Kilkenny. The progression from Tipperary has been impressive but questions still remain.
Galway were poor last weekend but still carved out several goal chances. The question you need to ask is if Kilkenny were provided those opportunities, would the outcome have been different? The free count when opposition run at the Tipperary back line has stood out also.
For Tipperary to win Liam McCarthy, Ronan Maher and Eoghan Connolly are going to have to dominate. Maher was excellent last weekend as direct ball from Galway was easily picked off. Kilkenny will work the channels to mitigate Maher’s influence. How do Tipperary look to involve Maher early? Connolly is a sensational long range free taker. His full back play has been solid but has been exposed when asked to defend out wide.
A county who love playing in Croke Park. Tipperary feel it is their divine right to play at Croke Park every year. That attitude and confidence built in recent weeks makes them a dangerous opponent for Kilkenny. Tipperary’s win at Nowlan Park in a game dominated by red cards was a standout win for Liam Cahill’s side.
This Tipperary vs. Kilkenny clash has all the boxes ticked in terms of excitement, competitiveness and high scoring. Let the business game to the SHC campaign beckon. No Clare or Limerick in the last four, any one of the four will be dreaming of Liam McCarthy glory.
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