February 16, 2011
By Staff Reporter
By Mark Jones
If there was a change with the traditional throw-in being abandoned on an experimental basis in favor of a puck-out by the goalkeeper, there was no change in the traditional rivalry between Kilkenny and Cork as the National Hurling League got under way last weekend.
In re-match of last season’s All Ireland final, Kilkenny got some measure of retribution with a 1-13 to 0-12 victory at Nowlan Park and Cork showed their intent by fielding 14 of last September’s winning line-up.
"There was a bit of rustiness out there," admitted Cork manager, Jimmy Barry-Murphy, "but I thought our attitude was first class." Overall, Kilkenny looked sharper and no one player caught the eye more than DJ Carey who helped himself to 1-3.
Starting at full-forward, Carey claimed his team’s first three points and then scored a gem of a goal on the half hour. Latching onto Paddy Mullally’s pass, he left Diarmiud O’Sullivan for dead and bulleted a shot to the net.
Later, Cork closed the gap to three with scores from Mark Landers, Ben O’Connor and Michael O’Connell, but that was as near as they came.
Sign up to The Irish Echo Newsletter
Elsewhere in Division 1B, Wexford ran out convincing 1-13 to 0-9 winners over Laois at Gorey. A goal by Tom Dempsey 15 minutes into the second-half turned the game. Meanwhile, Derry opened up with an encouraging performance in a defeat by Waterford at Ballinascreen. Waterford came through by 2-18 to 2-11, but Derry gave an indication that they may be good enough to stay in the top flight.
Galway got off to an impressive start in Division 1A when they overcame Offaly by 2-15 to 2-11 at Ballinasloe. The winners’ full-back line of Liam Hodgins, Michael Healy and Cathal Moore was outstanding in the face of several slick Offaly attacks.
Both teams made of light of torrential rain to serve up a really competitive game and Ollie Canning, with 1-4 for Galway, and Offaly’s Conor Gath, who compiled 1-3, emerging as top scorers.
Limerick snatched a late win over Antrim at Casement Park thanks to a goal by newcomer Dave Stapleton three minutes from time. It finished 1-19 to 3-11 and Antrim had to be bitterly disappointed with the outcome as their defense lost concentration during the final quarter.
As predicted, Clare launched their campaign with a facile 2-20 to 1-5 win over Kerry at Ballyheigue. Clare were able to field a second-string line-up and still have enough in reserve as the second-half turned into meaningless target practice.
Na Fianna (Dublin) 1-10
Crossmolina (Mayo) 2-3
Hard to fathom really. Both teams contrived to play their best football against a savage wind in this All Ireland club football semi-final at Pearse Park and you would have bet your money on Crossmolina at the break. Level at that stage and with the benefit of the gale to come, the Mayomen were eventually scuppered by one man.
Okay, Na Fianna’s first final in the club’s history might have been a collective effort, but Dessie Farrell was the inspiration. Out of kilter during the first-half, Farrell grabbed the game with both hands after the changeover and Na Fianna never looked back.
His first contribution was a superb solo and a fisted point to give his team a 1-6 to 2-2 lead and then Farrell won, and converted, a couple of vital frees to take the sting out of Crossmolina’s challenge.
"We were dumbfounded at half-time," he admitted, "and a few severe words were spoken." In fact, Na Fianna had been a disaster during the opening half. A fumbling defense gifted Crossmolina two goals the first of which came after only 50 seconds then Stephen McDonald’s free caused some unnecessary consternation and Michael Moyles hit the net.
Although Na Fianna roused themselves with a Des Mackin goal and three frees from Mick Galvin, the Dublin team’s support was silenced once again when Paul McGuinness was given the freedom of Pearse Park to fire home Crossmolina’s second goal.
Once Farrell took charge, the pattern of the contest shifted dramatically in Na Fianna’s favor and incredibly, Crossmolina could only manage a single point with the backing of the wind during the entire second-half.
Crossmaglen Rangers (Armagh) 2-16
UCC (Cork) 3-6
Reigning All Ireland club champions Crossmaglen advanced to meet Na Fianna in the final when a majestic first-half performance was enough to overwhelm University College Cork at Parnell Park.
The battling students put a gloss on the scoreboard with three goals in the closing eight minutes, but by then, the country’s premier club football outfit had secured a third final place in four years.
"We’ve struggled to win a couple of games during this campaign, but our first-half display was as complete as I’ve seen," said a delighted Crossmaglen manager Joe Kernan. Goals by Gavin Cumiskey and Oisin McConville in the opening quarter set the tone and a bewildered UCC found themselves trailing by 2-10 to 0-4 at the changeover.
But UCC won plenty of admirers after the interval when they gave up any ambition of going for points and concentrated on goals. Michael O Croinin provided the first, then cracked home a second himself before Michael Cahill delivered a third with five minutes left.
"I was only looking for respectability at that stage," said the students’ manager, Des Cullinane. "We kind of froze out there and even if we’d been playing to our full potential, we would have found it hard to beat Crossmaglen. They are the best in the country."
St. Joseph’s Doora-Barefield (Clare) 1-14
Cushendall (Antrim) 1-8
The All Ireland club hurling final line-up was completed at Parnell Park last Saturday when the holders, St Joseph’s, held off the challenge of Cushendall in a semi-final replay.
As in the first game, the teams were level at the interval, this time at 1-5 apiece, but with Lorcan Hassett and Seanie McMahon providing the firepower, St Joseph’s pulled clear during the second-half to book their St Patrick’s Day place against Athenry of Galway.
Cushendall’s gutsy challenge wasn’t helped when Ruairi McNaughton was sent off for a second bookable offense near the end.