Anthony Daly: Were Na Piarsaigh spooked into over-complicating things?
OVER COMPLICATING: Na Piarsaigh have some brilliant players but I was struggling to understand their gameplan yesterday for long stretches. Pic: Brendan Moran/Sportsfile
When we talk about hurling now, we can’t have any proper discussion unless it’s balanced by the tactical take of any match we watch. We are all trying to explain and understand what unfolded through match-ups and various styles and game plans. Yet I often wonder would the conversation – and the game itself – be more enjoyable if everything was a little less complex?
Do hurling people sometimes try to make the game more difficult than they need to? Na Piarsaigh have some brilliant players but I was struggling to understand their gameplan yesterday for long stretches. Some of the critics may call me a caveman for this observation but I felt that the Caherdavin men only made any real headway in the match when they finally went back to more off-the-cuff hurling near the end.
I just felt that they weren’t playing their natural game. It was only in the last few minutes that Peter Casey came into the match, when Na Piarsaigh went more direct. Ballygunner were by far the better team and, yet – bizarrely – if Stephen O’Keeffe hadn’t saved from David Dempsey late on, the match could have been headed for extra-time, and God knows where afterwards.
That chance from Dempsey came from another long ball into the square. Na Piarsaigh had another goal chance shortly afterwards which also came from a long high ball. In a tight and taut game, with limited excitement and expansive hurling, the only real time anyone was on the edge of their seats in the match was when Na Piarsaigh went route one late on.
This was a far cry from last year’s Munster semi-final epic. Na Piarsaigh were so over-run in the second half of that match that I wonder if they read too much into that clash 12 months ago and decided to try and take Ballygunner on here at their own game? Yet when you wind up only getting three scores from play, you have to ask, ‘Did you really play your own game?’ Despite their galaxy of Limerick Galacticos, did anyone really stand out for Na Piarsaigh? You have to make the best use of your county men but the fact that Shane Dowling – their goalkeeper – was probably their best player is not a good sign. Mike Casey and William O’Donoghue had their moments but they certainly didn’t have the influence that Na Piarsaigh would have wanted – and needed – them to have.
Ballygunner’s big players just performed better. The O’Mahony’s Barry Coughlan, Dessie Hutchinson and Stephen O’Keeffe will always get the plaudits but Shane O’Sullivan again proved his immense worth to his side yesterday. He was incredibly steady but the Ballygunner defence was magnificent throughout.
The Waterford side can play it any way the opposition want. They will be hot favourites now to win the three in a row against a Clonlara side that – in fairness – are there on merit too. It was a completely different game but the Clonlara-Kiladangan match was far more entertaining and enjoyable.
There were stages in the first half when Clonlara were threatening to build up a huge lead with the wind but Kiladangan showed great composure to hang in. Barry Hogan made a brilliant save from Ian Galvin before the Kiladangan defence blocked another clear-cut goal chance from Colm O’Meara.
Clonlara had another half goal chance too in that first half but their touch was slightly off, which was typical of a team after winning a first county title in 15 years, and then having a four-week layoff. All those misses then were compounded by the concession of a goal from Dan O’Meara.
Just two points down at half-time, Kiladangan had all the momentum and energy in the second half but they surrendered it soon afterwards by, firstly coughing up two cheap frees, and then further collapsing their platform through some poor indiscipline.
After Dan O’Meara flicked Dylan McMahon into the groin, it appeared as if VAR had somehow come into the game. Ciarán O’Regan took his time before making any decision but, during that hiatus, he was clearly talking to someone through his headset. O’Regan had already spoken to both of his linesmen but he seemed to be guided by whatever he was told in his ear. Once he got that clearance, the referee marched O’Meara.
I’d love to know who he was talking to. Was it someone watching the incident back on TV? If it was, fair play to him because O’Regan had the neck to wait for the right direction when the crowd were getting on his back.
It was a blow to Kiladangan but Clonlara still weren’t taking full advantage of the extra man. When the Tipp side were reduced to 13 men shortly afterwards - when Seán Hayes was sent off for a loose pull - it looked like curtains for Kiladangan. But when you’re playing into the wind – even with two extra men – it can be easy to get lulled into a false sense of security.
Even with the extra bodies, Clonlara were struggling to get the ball out past midfield into the breeze. Kiladangan managed to arrest back the control and momentum of the match with some incredible scores. They looked set to record a win against all the odds but the lack of bodies eventually began to tell and Clonlara just hunted them down and reeled them in.
It was almost fitting that when Kiladangan launched their last final desperate attack that the ball ended up in the hand of John Conlon. As well as scoring four points from play, Conlon set up at least another four scores. After winning an All-Star Friday night, it was Roy of the Rovers stuff.
Clonlara will be really up against it in two weeks but winning a maiden Munster club would be some fairytale for the south-east Clare outfit.
