A look ahead to the weekend games in the Hurling League
Peter McNamara assesses the second round of fixtures in the Allianz NHL Division 1A this weekend and forecasts positive responses from Cork and Tipperary while Dublin could add another victory.
The Setanta Ireland cameras will be on Leeside again tomorrow night for the meeting of Cork and Clare in the top-tier and the prospective tussle between Luke O’Farrell and Cian Dillon could ensure this clash sizzles for all viewers.
O’Farrell was introduced in place of Paudie O’Sullivan in the 48th minute by Jimmy Barry-Murphy against Kilkenny and the Midleton clubman proved himself to be a nuisance at the edge of the square.
The goal he plundered on the hour mark was an extremely clever piece of skill as the attacker was aware, having taken a cursory glance, of net-minder Eoin Murphy’s positioning.
In fact, and even though it would have flattered the Rebels, O’Farrell could have snatched a victory for the hosts in the last seconds of that encounter.
Therefore, his individual battle with Dillon will be more than an interesting subplot.
Clare’s rearguard found it taxing, at times, to counter Galway’s aerial prowess in attack and if Cork can generate a suitable supply of worthwhile possessions for O’Farrell, the visitors could find themselves in a spot of bother.
It would be folly to discount Clare’s excellent form against Cork in recent seasons.
Yet, the Leesiders have selected a side that has greater balance than they had in situ last Saturday night.
Add in the facts Tony Kelly and David McInerney remain unavailable to Davy Fitzgerald and evidence may suggest a narrow home win is in the offing on Leeside.
Cork.
As was touted in these quarters, Kilkenny dismissed the tag of outsiders to power their way past Cork but Brian Cody’s men are tasked with a far different challenge on Sunday afternoon.
Physically, Dublin can match Kilkenny in terms of individual strength and collective intensity.
Last Sunday in Parnell Park, with Ger Cunningham at the helm for the first time in the league, Dublin were ravenous and dismantled Tipperary by a 12-point margin.
Mick Carton, Shane Durkin and Eamon Dillon, scorer of 1-2 from centre-forward, were particularly brilliant for Cunningham’s side on that occasion.
However, what will be crucial for Dublin, if they are to build on that aforementioned triumph, is to guard against ill-discipline, especially with the virtually unerring Richie Hogan lurking in the shadows to punish any indiscretions.
Having said all of that, it will take a monumental effort to defeat the Cats.
Walter Walsh was exemplary against Cork and really fronted up when Cody required on-field leaders to engineer a path to victory.
This could be one of the most intense matches of the entire series of games in the division.
However, Dublin get an extremely tentative vote.
Dublin.
Tipperary were decisively swept aside by Dublin while Galway, via Jason Flynn’s additional-time free, orchestrated an opening-day success over Clare.
However, the roles of victor and vanquished may be reversed for these two on Sunday in Thurles.
Tipp have a top-class record against Galway and assuming both Brendan Maher and Padraic Maher are re-stationed at wing- and centre-back respectively, Eamon O’Shea’s charges should be more solid defensively.
However, Galway have no problem in illustrating how much winning this tie would mean to their group, according to Anthony Cunningham.
“To go down to Thurles, it’s a venue where we want to put things right to be honest,” he said, clearly referring to their last-quarter collapse to Tipp in the All-Ireland qualifiers at the same venue last summer.
Nevertheless, Galway’s notoriety as an inconsistent entity remains and Tipp may take advantage yet again.
Tipperary.
