What a week of Leinster hurling it has been – both on a personal level and of course with regard to the Bord Gáis Energy GAA Hurling U-21 All-Ireland Championship!
It is hard not to start with the Dubs. That was some performance by their 21s against Kilkenny last Wednesday evening in Nowlan Park. Personally I didn’t see that one coming at all!
I called it as I saw it before hand in my prediction – I just could not see beyond a Kilkenny win. For the record, neither could Ger Cunningham, so we are evenly matched in our predications battle as a result!
Kilkenny were so impressive in their victory over Offaly and I suppose Dublin were an unknown entity but perhaps we should have given them more credit than we did. We knew that they had a large contingent of last year’s Under 21 team playing (even keeping starters from last year like Barry O’Rorke on the bench) and they were not short of players that had played senior championship hurling already this year either – that is huge experience to have at this level.
Playing senior footballer Rory O’Carroll from the off, having been named on the bench was certainly a coup – he played centre back and was magnificent. But it wasn’t about one player. They matched Kilkenny stride for stride and were actually never behind in the match; indeed five of their six forwards scored and this is no mean feat when you consider what that Kilkenny defence did to Offaly the last day out.
Not content with an Under 21 provincial final, Dublin backed up this win with a Minor win at the weekend against Wexford – that makes two Leinster finals to come for the Boys in Blue.
Not a bad return at all. Converting those appearances into medals will be another day’s work but the management teams and of course both squads can be very proud of their achievements this year and indeed the Dublin County Board should take a bow for all the work that has gone in to Dublin hurling over the last few years.
It is only a matter of time before this hard work bears fruit at senior level, but first they need to overcome Kilkenny in the Minor Final and of course Wexford in the Under 21 Leinster Final on 14 July in Parnell Park.
A word on Wexford? Did what they had to do against Carlow but the manner in which they let Carlow back into it in the second half will have worried their management. But they are in a Leinster Final and that was the aim.
Finally, I can’t let the moment go without mentioning next Sunday’s Leinster final. It is a hugely historic week for Galway hurling. For me personally, it is genuinely just another game to focus on. We can’t as a panel or as individuals let the occasion and the enormity of it cloud our thinking. It’s a huge game and one that will be some battle. Just hoping Galway people will travel in support because we will need all of it if we are to get a win.
Talk to you all next week. Enjoy the hurling!
Tags: Bord Gáis Energy, Bord Gáis Energy GAA Hurling U21 All Ireland Championship, carlow, Dublin, Galway, Kilkenny, Leinster, Leinster Final, Leinster semi final, Nowlan Park, Parnell Park, Rory O'Carroll, Under 21 Championship, Wexford