2007 Hurling - A year in review

[ballymanabroad]

Hurling


THE YEAR OF THE CATS HURLING REVIEW


1 Brian Cody

Having led Kilkenny to five All-Ireland titles this decade, he consolidated his position at the top of the managerial mountain and looks certain to remain there for quite some time to come. What odds on Cody still being in charge of Kilkenny in 10 years time?

2 Richie Bennis

He said recently that he would trade all his own success as a player just to see Limerick win a first senior All-Ireland since 1973. Their dramatic rise up the rankings leaves them in buoyant mood as the new season approaches, with none more enthusiastic than Bennis himself.

3 Dan Shanahan

There were seasons when Big Dan thrilled and frustrated in equal measure. Not 2007. He took hold of the championship from the start, scoring 8-12 from play in five games, including 3-3 in the Munster final. However, unfortunately for him and Waterford, there was to be no All-Ireland final appearance. Still it was quite a year for Waterford who won the National League and Munster championship double for the first time since 1963.

4 Tommy Walsh

Apart from winning a third All-Ireland title, he achieved the unique distinction of winning a 5th successive Vodafone All Star award, each in a different position. He has won awards in four different lines, full-back, half-back, midfield and half-forward. Still only aged 24, he could be headed for 10 awards.

5 Dublin

The seniors continued on their erratic course, at times looking as if they were ready to inject real consistency into their game, only to lose it next time out. However, Leinster title wins at minor and U-21 level continued to underpin the improving state of the game in the capital.

FIVE BIG LOSERS

1 Tony Considine

For whatever reason, his one-season reign as Clare manager was overshadowed by controversies which actually increased as the year progressed. It left him needing to make major progress to survive. That didn't happen and he was voted out by a large majority.

2 Davy Fitzgerald

His early clash with Considine left him outside the Clare panel for what would have been his 18th successive championship season. Whatever his future holds, he can never reclaim 2007 which is a big loss for such an outstanding talent with an unyielding devotion to hurling.

3 Sean Og O hAilpin

Unlucky to be suspended after the 'Semplegate Affair'. A player with an exemplary record as a sportsman, he appeared to be trying to stop the melee but got no mercy from the disciplinary body which seemed to operate on the basis that being caught up in the trouble implied guilt.

4 Brendan Cummins

Who would have predicted at the start of the season that he would be dropped in the course of the championship? It was a controversial call by 'Babs' Keating and came back to haunt him in the All-Ireland quarter-final against Wexford where Cummins' big day experience was badly missed.

5 Antrim

They led a strong campaign against the new championship format for 2008 but got little support and will find themselves in an impossible position from now on, having to face Galway in the first round every year and (if they lose there, as is likely) their 'back door' game will be against the first round losers in Munster. Even Kilkenny wouldn't fancy that.

FIVE BIG SURPRISES

1 Limerick

After failing to win any game in Munster since 2001, the law of averages suggested that Limerick would end that miserable sequence, which they duly did in a three match saga with Tipperary. However, few would have anticipated that Limerick would go all the way to the All-Ireland final.

2 Galway

Why were they so flat right through the season? They performed like the Irish rugby team in the World Cup, failing to come anywhere close to their full potential.

3 Goalkeeping switches

Brendan Cummins, Davy Fitzgerald and Liam Donoghue, all of whom started the year as first choice goalkeepers in Tipperary, Clare and Galway respectively lost out.

4 Dublin's League scalps

Dublin beat Galway and Limerick and drew with Kilkenny in the National hurling League. That was quite a spring treble by Dublin but they failed to win a knock-out place when losing to Antrim in a game they expected to win.

5 Mark Foley's missing All Star

Nobody did more to change Limerick's fortunes this year, yet he missed an All Star.

FIVE BIG DISAPPOINTMENTS

1 The All-Ireland final

Limerick needed to make a good start but instead it was Kilkenny who broke from the blocks and had the title secured from early on.

2 The Leinster senior championship

Wexford v Dublin was the only competitive game. The other three were won by an average of 16 points.

3 Galway

Ger Loughnane's arrival as manager was supposed to be the key ingredient in their push for All-Ireland glory. Instead, Galway had their worst season for quite some time, failing to reach either the League or All-Ireland semi-finals.

4 The All-Ireland qualifiers

Too many one-sided games. Of the 12 games played only two (Clare v Galway and Tipperary v Cork) were won by the outsiders.

5 The All-Ireland U-21 final

Dublin arrived in Croke Park with high expectations and even higher reputations but were ripped apart by Galway who won as they pleased.

FIVE LUCKY BREAKS

1 Waterford (Munster semi-final)

Cork were without the suspended 'Semplegate' three, Donal Og Cusack, Diarmuid O'Sullivan and Sean Og O hAilpin for the Munster semi-final but still came within three points of Waterford? Would Cork have won if they were at full strength?

2 Waterford (All-Ireland quarter-final)

Cork were incensed when referee, Brian Gavin awarded a last second free which earned Waterford a draw. Donal Og Cusack was penalised as he tried to gain possession under a mass of bodies. It was a very close call, one which, more often than not, would have resulted in a throw-in rather than a free to either side.

3 Kilkenny

If they were told at the start of the championship that they would not meet Cork, Waterford or Tipperary, they would have been delighted. That's exactly what happened as results elsewhere kept that trio away from Kilkenny.

4 Birr

Their record in the Leinster club championship is quite remarkable, but they would be the first to admit that they were fortunate to meet a Ballyhale Shamrocks teams which was without Kilkenny stars, Henry Shefflin and James 'Cha' Fitzpatrick in this year's final.

5 Antrim, Laois, Offaly

It looked as if they would be in Div 2 of the NHL under the proposed nine-team format for Division One next year but got a reprieve when it was decided to retain the top flights in two groups of six each.

FIVE UNLUCKY BREAKS

1 Cork

Robbed of three stars for the Munster semi-final against Waterford and later robbed of victory by a controversial late call against the same opposition in the All-Ireland quarter-final, Cork could be forgiven for believing the gods had ruled them out for 2007.

2 Dublin

They were beaten by a late point in the Leinster semi-final against Wexford. Had Dublin won, it would have earned them a place in the final for the first time since 1991 and also guaranteed them an All-Ireland quarter-finals outing which would have represented substantial progress.

3 Waterford

Forced to play three crucial games in 14 days, they ran out of momentum against Limerick in the All-Ireland semi-final. It might have been all so different had they been a bit fresher.

4 Offaly

Once again, they found themselves on the same side of the Leinster draw as Kilkenny, which effectively meant that they were headed for the All-Ireland qualifiers in a group which also included Cork and Tipperary.

5 Tipperary

Having conceded a late free to Wexford in the All-Ireland quarter-final, they were unlucky that the referee moved it to right in front of goal which gave Damien Fitzhenry the chance to shoot the winning goal.

FIVE BEST GAMES

1 Cork v Waterford (All-Ireland quarter-final draw)

A superb contest from start to finish, leaving every neutral delighted that it finished level.

2 Cork v Waterford (Munster semi-final)

Even without three suspended stars, Cork tested Waterford all the way in a game that produced a total score of 8-33.

3 Limerick v Tipperary (second game)

Each of the three Munster semi-final clashes between the sides were thrillers in their own way but the second game was especially memorable as it headed for another draw after 90 minutes of captivating action.

4 Kilkenny v Galway (All-Ireland quarter-final)

Kilkenny won by 10 points in the end, which disguises the fact that it was very competitive until the final eight minutes.

5 Tipperary v Cork (All-Ireland qualifier)

One of only two qualifiers not to be won by the favourites, it was quite a contest which Tipperary won by a point.

FIVE WORST GAMES

1 Kilkenny v Wexford (Leinster final)

It was over by half-time when Kilkenny led by 2-11 to 0-6.

2 Cork v Offaly (All-Ireland qualifier)

Cork cantered to a 19-point win, leaving Offaly supporters wistful for the days when their side was consistently competitive.

3 Laois v Offaly (Leinster quarter-final)

There was a time when this clash had all sorts of possibilities. Not anymore, as Offaly's 19-point win testifies.

4 Galway v Antrim (All-Ireland qualifier)

Once Galway opened up, Antrim melted and were eventually beaten by 28 points.

5 Kilkenny v Wexford (NHL semi-final)

Kilkenny led by 2-7 to 1-0 after 20 minutes, en route to an 18-point win.

FIVE THINGS THAT SHOULD NOT HAVE HAPPENED

1 'Semplegate'

Hurlers pride themselves as manly sportspeople, yet Clare and Cork couldn't even take the field for a first round Munster championship game without clashing in the tunnel and on the pitch.

2 Defence of 'Semplegate'

Instead of apologising for the pre-match bust-up, Cork and Clare set about defending their players through every technicality they could find. A message of regret and a promise that it would never happen again would have almost certainly left neither side facing suspensions.

3 The change in the hurling format

A new system was agreed at annual Congress last April yet never got a chance to be implemented. Amazingly, it was changed inside a few months, raising valid questions as to how a decision of full Congress could be changed by Special (reduced) Congress a short time later.

4 The shafting of Antrim

Antrim have fared very badly under the new hurling championship. Shamefully, they didn't even get the support of all Ulster counties in their attempt to prevent it being introduced. The treatment of Antrim raises questions as to whether anybody really cares about weaker counties who are striving to raise standards. Sadly, the weaker counties don't seem to care either - otherwise they would have rescued Antrim.

5 Special treatment for Leinster/Munster winners

From 2008 on, the Leinster and Munster winners will qualify automatically for the All-Ireland semi-finals, thereby reducing the All-Ireland quarter-finals from four to two. Why the change? Didn't the four quarter-final format work well for the past three seasons?

[Offalys Future]

My Best Moments Of The Year

1. Donal Og Cusack Save vs Waterford
The controversy that arose after took centre stage but his last minute save from Eoin Mcgrath was unbelievable, McGrath was not even 12 yards out and while I accept he didn’t hit it his best I thought Og Cusack was brilliant.
Disappointed the way he carried on after he gave away the free - but what a save.

2. Tommy Walsh
At a time when I feel the skill levels of the game have decreased, Walsh was unbelieveable yet again all year. The notion out there that you have to be a certain weight and height to play intercounty is a load of rubbish. You cant beat skill and class and all year Walsh showed plenty of both. Highlight for me was in League vs Galway he came out to the wing and rose a ball while still running at full pace. Pure Class.

3. Damien Fitzhenry Penalty vs Tipp
I don’t really get into the whole Tipp/Offaly rivarly but I was disappointed the way Babs treated Eoin Kelly this year and I was glad Fitzhenry scored that penalty. Balls of steel he showed.

4.Karl Wade
If any of ye have the tape of the u-21 semi final vs Cork this year. You will see a piece of skill that I have never seen on the hurling field before. With about 8 minutes to go i think Wade sprints to a ball at full speed and gathers with one flick of the rest. Hard to explain but if you have the tape watch it.

5. James McGarry
Attending the All-Ireland was great but watching McGarry and his son puck around before the game was very special. Also seen PJ Ryan sacrifice his warm up of the most important game of his life to puck around with Darragh was a nice touch. Put things into perspective and was one of my favourite moments of the year.

[Hyper]

What league game did Tommy Walsh perform that action?!!!!