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Hurling

hurling

Exciting hurling summer edges closer

Tipperary manager Michael Ryan and Kilkenny boss Brian Cody have introduced several newcomers in the 2018 Allianz Hurling League.

Tipperary manager Michael Ryan and Kilkenny boss Brian Cody have introduced several newcomers in the 2018 Allianz Hurling League.

By Cian O’Connell


It is a trip into the unknown for every team competing in the Leinster and Munster Hurling Championships this year. An exciting new format stuffed with matches and intrigue beckons so the Allianz League was always likely to carry significance.

With four matches in five weeks in May and June panel depth will be examined. That is amongst the many reasons why Tipperary and Kilkenny are satisfied entering Sunday’s decider at Nowlan Park. Both counties have used more than 30 players in their first seven matches in the competition.

Some of the most feared and respected figures in the game are included in those lists, but the emergence and development of youngsters has been a central aspect for the 10 teams preparing for the reshaped system.

During the League joint Clare manager stressed the differences which exist planning in 2018 compared to previous campaigns. “Ultimately teams are looking at the National League to definitely develop and grow their panel, but also more importantly factoring in the best possible methods of recovery for players that played and the best possible training of the guys that didn't to get everybody at the pitch for the following Sunday,” O’Connor remarked.

“It is a very quick turnaround in terms of the League and Championship this year.”

There has been no shortage of intriguing knock-out encounters since the group phase concluded, but old foes Tipperary and Kilkenny are the only two still standing.

Tipperary’s Brendan Maher and Kilkenny’s Cillian Buckley both attended a pre-match media event in Dublin on Wednesday. The importance of a strong panel was one of the issues discussed. “Yeah, I definitely think management would have that in mind because, and I was only talking to Cillian there about it, a dead leg might rule you out of a game this year when it is week on week,” Maher says.

“You pick up a dead leg on a Sunday, six or seven days mightn't be enough, eight or nine days might be enough, but it is that tight. Small little injuries will rule you out.

“I definitely think they are thinking there is a possibility where we could lose a few players during the Championship so you need to have lads that have that experience and know that they will be able to come on to perform, to have that belief and confidence to perform.

“That is why this Sunday is great for both teams because both teams have a lot of new faces for them to experience.

“Obviously then for myself and a few lads that have been around for a while we don't have the medal so there is lots of motivation for us. I think it bodes well, it should be a great game, we never have a bad game between the two sides. I don't think Sunday is going to be any different.”

Richie Leahy is viewed as an exciting talent in Kilkenny.

Richie Leahy is viewed as an exciting talent in Kilkenny.

Circumstances also meant that Tipperary had to see how ready some of their emerging talent were for the senior inter-county arena. Maher acknowledges manager Michael Ryan and his selectors face difficult selection decisions in the coming months.

“Yeah, definitely,” Maher replies. I suppose we have had a number of injuries to the regular lads like Seamie Callanan, Bubbles (O’Dwyer), and Noel (McGrath) being out.

“Bubbles is back now, Noel and Seamie aren't back. To a certain extent the lads weren't available so other lads were getting opportunities.

“Mick and the management made it very clear to us, if you perform on the training pitch you will get your opportunity and he has stuck to his word. Every game you see the likes of Willie Connors, who started on Saturday night, he only joined the panel about six weeks ago and he is performing really well in training.

“So he has got his chance and they are being really true to their word. For a player then when you are going training you know if I perform in training I'm going to get my chance so it makes it really healthy and competitive. It is testament to the approach the management have been taking.

“We know now you perform or else someone is going to come in to do it for you. It is a nice, healthy way to have it and with the new structure and everything it is what you need.”

Kilkenny have carried out similar auditions and Buckley feels that it is a necessity in order to be properly prepared and primed for the summer. “We had 35 players, I think Tipperary had 34,” Buckley remarks about the amount of players used in the spring.

“I'd say if you went through all the panels, the amount of players used is way up in anticipation of what's to come this summer. It's always been a panel game, but this season more so than ever. You'd obviously have your 20 players, maybe, used on a match day. 

“I think 25 or 30 players are going to be so important over a run of five weeks where you have four high-intensity Championship games when small minor injuries that would have been sorted out in a week/10 days you had in the period between Championship games back through the years, now will see players ruled out maybe and that's where your panel becomes more important than ever this year.

“That's probably the reason why such a large amount of players have purposefully been exposed to the League games this year.” Sunday’s tussle provides another ideal opportunity to shine ahead of next month.