With the penultimate stage of the All-Ireland Hurling Championship upon us, Off the Ball's Daithí Boland previews the action as defending champions Galway take on Clare and Cork face Limerick.
Saturday July 28 All Ireland SHC Semi-Final
Galway v Clare, Croke Park, 5pm
“You can forget about this Galway team – they have no guts whatsoever” - Comments made by former Clare and Galway manager Ger Loughnane in 2016 after The Tribesmen lost the Leinster Final to Kilkenny. Galway’s next game would be against Ger’s native county Clare in the All Ireland Quarter Final which saw the men in maroon silence the two time All Ireland winning manager before narrowly losing to Tipp in the semi.
Two years on and the counties meet again with a bigger prize at stake. What has changed since 2016? Well Loughnane is praising rather than criticising Galway now. A league, Leinster and All Ireland title in 2017 all went to Connacht and this season they retained their Leinster crown. Clare’s best achievement has been reaching this stage of the All Ireland - their first since 2013.
Galway have been by far the most impressive team in this championship and look likely to make it back-to-back Liam McCarthys for the first time since 87/88.
Clare’s season began with a below par performance away to Cork but gradually built up momentum with impressive wins over Tipp and Limerick. The Munster Final showed 35 minutes of how good this Clare team can be yet the following thirty five minutes of that game showed how much work they still need to do as Cork went on to win.
Their Quarter Final meeting against Davy Fitz’s Wexford saw The Banner bounce back to make their first visit to Croke Park since September 28th 2013.
Looking at the two teams, if this contest was man for man based on just skill level alone you would find it hard to call. Physically though and when it comes to ball winning ability, Galway are far stronger so Gerry O’Connor and Donal Moloney will need to be smart tactically as to how Clare win this game.
Playing the ball through the lines and the off ball running game which David Reidy does so well could contribute to success but they will need every player to be on song against this Galway side and hope John Conlon can get the better of his battle with Daithi Burke which should be a joy to watch on its own.
Galway have weaknesses which can be exploited - their left flank of defence is a potential target but overall they are still a cut above the rest in the country and if they perform to the best of their ability and play the game on their terms it’s hard not to see them in the final.
Verdict: Galway
Sunday July 29 All Ireland SHC Semi-Final
Cork v Limerick, Croke Park, 2pm
Two sides who haven’t had the best of times on their recent visits to Croke Park come head to head with a chance of playing in an All Ireland Final.
The 2013 All Ireland Semi Final win over Dublin was the last championship win in Croke Park for Cork while Limerick have to go back to 2007 for their last win there.
Back at the start of June these two sides threw up a thriller in Pairc Ui Chaoimh with 54 scores in the Munster Championship which ended in a draw. A proper game of hurling it was, end to end stuff with some fantastic skill level and scoring.
Cork come into this game as Munster champions while Limerick saw off the challenge of Kilkenny in an epic quarter final clash which saw the Treaty men beat the Cats for the first time since 1973
Cork have been in this position before heading into All Ireland semi finals as Munster Champions. In 2014 they were completely outplayed by Tipperary and last season will feel they threw away a great chance of reaching the last two so could that play on their minds or will it drive them on?
These are two teams have plenty of pace, Cork probably being the quickest team in the country so a dry day could see this game being played at one hundred miles an hour stuff.
Both teams have strong full back lines, I like the look of Limerick’s full forwards but with Patrick Horgan and Shane Kingston I would expect Cork to cause more problems there. Will that be where the game is won or lost? No, I feel it will be the battles in midfield and on the 45s as to where this can be won.
Unlike Saturday’s match this game is much harder to call but I’m going to edge with Limerick. Mentally, Limerick teams have been questioned over the years but this season I’ve seen a change and the recent success at underage has seen a number of talented players transition well from U21 to senior level like Cian Lynch, Tom Morrissey and Sean Finn to name just a few.
Verdict: Limerick
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