A final round weekend where Parnell Park and O’Connor Park fixtures held most significance. Hawkeye Sidekick reflects on an interesting weekend.
Galway
A first win against Dublin in the championship in our nation’s capital. A first win over Dublin in championship play since 2017. A keynote win for Michael O’Donoghue and his team.
There was plenty to like from this Galway performance. Cathal Mannion with eight points from free. Brian Concannon with five points from play. David Burke and Tom Monaghan with seven points from play collectively. Conor Whelan with three excellent points after the break.
Galway’s middle third dominated for long period. The opening half dominance not reflected on the scoreboard but the third quarter cameo was impressive. Lee, Brennan prepared to run from deep and their distribution on point.
The concern was discipline. On another day, Galway should have had two players sent off. Darach Fahy lashing out in the opening half. Daithi Burke’s challenge saw David Burke last season dismissed. Fine margins here. Galway management sensed that. They decided to replace Daithi Burke. His absence was a key factor in Galway’s goal concessions late on. The defensive unit is a work in progress.
A Leinster SHC final appearance in two weeks time needs to now see a Galway performance. The All Ireland series depends on their performance against Kilkenny. Galway have scope to improve here and will need it to be competitive against a well drilled Kilkenny outfit.
Dublin
Dublin’s form line looks vulnerable heading into the All Ireland series. Two losses in the last two weekends. This round five loss will be a disappointment.
Eight early wides in the opening quarter for Dublin set the tone. There were clear issues on Dublin’s puck out and turnover ball in the middle third gave Galway scoring opportunities aplenty.
Discipline will be a post-game review point for Dublin. There was a clear red card missed by the match officials in the opening half with the John Fleming incident. Frees conceded at regular intervals. Mannion punished the indiscipline.
The late goal flurry gave respectability for Dublin but there was a gulf between both sides. Galway were far more cohesive in their passing and run game. Dublin should advance from the preliminary All Ireland fixture. However, bigger sharks lie in wait in the All Ireland quarter final stage.
Dublin have disappointed this season. They failed in the 1B promotion playoff. Additionally, they made no progression to the Leinster SHC final. The last two rounds have exposed significant gaps defensively and in attack.
Offaly
Let’s be honest. This was a nervous performance from Offaly even when playing against fourteen.
This fixture exposing inconsistencies in performance particularly in attack where wide counts and poor ball retention increased the pressure levels.
If Antrim were full strength, one wonders if Offaly would have struggled to close out the fixture. Eoghan Cahill and Charlie Mitchell contributed positively. They provided decisive goal assists for Killian Sampson and Brian Duignan (who again topped the score with 1-7).
This was a campaign where Offaly learned huge lessons in performance levels. Some competitive outings and some fixtures where heavy losses were seen. Johnny Kelly and management will take the last two rounds as the barometer for further team evolution into 2026.
Squad depth reinforcements is required. Adam Screeney’s absence was hugely felt but more squad depth quality is required across all positions. The bench impact in this campaign was minimal. The hope is that Offaly continue to deliver in 1A league action early next year!
Antrim
Antrim’s three year stay in Leinster SHC concluded in Tullamore last weekend. This was a defiant performance playing with fourteen players but the sending off was completely self-inflicted.
O’Connor will only know what prompted the red card offense early in this vital fixture. This level of discipline marred Antrim’s performances in this championship campaign.
Injuries and player withdrawals were huge factors. Davy Fitzgerald and management team struggled to create a cohesive game plan with the players at their disposal. Direct style suited the side better but playing through the lines was the norm.
This relegation will hurt. Management and players will need to assess a disappointing campaign and look to move forward. The spate between Fitzgerald and Sambo McNaughton does nothing for Antrim hurling. Cool heads need to prevail and look to progress in 1B league action.
Wexford
A season ending win over a depleted Kilkenny side who had their eyes on the provincial final next. Lee Chin again impressive. 3-56 in the campaign merits an All Star discussion surely?
Wexford unfortunately lacked attacking and defensive consistency in key losses during the round robin. Dublin goal concession after the controversial penalty will disappoint Keith Rossiter no end.
The Galway away trip was a no show. Wexford struggled to create any attacking platform despite two well worked goals in the second half. Turnover ball and unforced errors dominated their cameo in Salthill.
It remains to be seen who from the core Wexford player group will depart stage left? Player turnover is certain but do Wexford have the underage talent to replace marquee players. A season which saw 1A league relegation. A difficult season for Wexford.
Kilkenny
An experimental side lined out to face Wexford. The result was disappointing but management learned plenty on their squad players.
Adrian Mullen at half-back was an interesting experiment. Mullen lack of marking saw Lee Chin revel in open play though.
Kilkenny will be happy with the goal scoring opportunities created. However, this was a performance that lacked cohesion, much like Limerick. The lack of cohesion was due to the extensive lineup changes.
Bigger fixtures loom large in the horizon. The marquee starters will be back for Galway in two weeks time. The squad players who will impress off the bench have been determined. The standout county in the championship and you would be brave not to back Kilkenny for Bob O’Keefe glory.