Four things to look for in tomorrow’s National Hurling League semi-finals
By Peter McNamara
Here are four things to watch for in tomorrow’s Allianz NHL Division 1 semi finals.
For the last few years on Leeside, Conor Lehane’s name is regularly referred to when natives of the People’s Republic discuss players capable of leaving a truly lasting legacy on the code in the southern capital.
For the most part, Midleton’s go-to attacker has handled the pressures of being so highly thought of among his peers and general public alike.
However, as a young man he also had to learn his trade, of course. Presently, though, Lehane is showing signs of realising his virtually boundless potential at senior inter-county level.
And if there is to be a match-winner within Cork’s artillery tomorrow on Noreside as the Rebels bid to reach the league final for the first time since losing out to Kilkenny in 2012, it will, most likely be Lehane.
Patrick Horgan, deservedly, gains many plaudits for his free-scoring exploits.
Yet, Lehane has registered 2-14 already in the league and is growing into the ball-winning wing-forward Cork so dearly required in a sector bereft of such a prerequisite team element.
And this is primarily because he is now an even more physically imposing figure within the half-forward line.
Dublin will have their hands full with Lehane.
There is a sense Dublin are currently floating in hurling purgatory.
At times, it seems they take one step forward and then two back while at other stages it’s two steps forward and one in reverse.
The league semi-final and potential final-placing represent opportunities for Dublin to really cement their station among the big guns in the top-tier.
All the spade work has been achieved with interest in recent seasons, but the Metropolitans must seize these opportunities on a more consistent basis to eradicate the question marks that hang over them in some quarters.
In Ger Cunningham the Boys in Blue have one of the most tactically astute minds in the game. Yes, Cork did an unexpected number on them in the regular-season encounter at headquarters.
However, the likelihood is we will see a far more aggressive animal at Nowlan Park in contrast to the lackadaisical one that sauntered around Croke Park in the first-half as the Leesiders posted an incredible 0-21.
Previously, people argued Dublin lacked firepower.
Yet, with Danny Sutcliffe, Ryan O’Dwyer and Mark Schutte in their half-forward line, Dublin possess oodles of star quality.
Can they win tomorrow? Absolutely.
It says everything about how far Seamus Callanan has come as an attacking entity within Tipperary’s arsenal that Waterford’s chances of slaying Eamon O’Shea’s side were notably heightened when it was thought his suspension would hold up.
However, due to the fact the Drom & Inch forward won his appeal, Tipp are surely in the box-seat for a place in the decider.
If there was an award for the best hurler in the league, Callanan would be the front-runner, followed closely by team-mate Pádraic Maher.
In fact, if Tipp go on to capture the league and All-Ireland titles Callanan will probably be odds-on to win the GAA/GPA Hurler of the Year award such is his potential to dominate the landscape this term factoring in his exemplary form.
However, that, of course, is a long way down the tracks yet and the Déise’s dogmatic approach to developing in 2015 has been impressive. Much has been said and written regarding Waterford’s capacity to negate opposing offensive threats this season.
Nevertheless, this is an enormous step up in grade for Derek McGrath’s charges, especially with Callanan starting in the Premier County’s full-forward line.
Callanan should drive Tipp to victory.
Should people really be in any way surprised at the inroads Waterford are making under Derek McGrath?
After all, their underage set-up is in rude health and many of the players McGrath is utilising are bound to perform with the exuberance of youth.
Additionally, with a figure of substance such as Dan Shanahan in their background team, the present generation were always going to feed off of his presence, especially as most of them probably watched on from the terraces in the last decade as the hitman raised green flag after green flag in Thurles and Croke Park.
All the same, you can’t help but feel Waterford could be set up to short circuit tomorrow afternoon.
Despite the fact their defensive statistics have been praiseworthy - and well-documented at that - it is difficult to get away from the reality that those numbers were engineered against far inferior opponents, generally, than the one they meet in Kilkenny.
As is previously illustrated, if Seamus Callanan had to sit this one out Waterford’s percentage chances of booking a spot in the final would have been increased.
However, Tipp can implement Gameplan A and that could spell trouble for the evolving Déise outfit.
