GAA Notes 10th September 2012

Post date: Sep 11, 2012 8:42:59 PM

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Senior Hurling

Tallow play Dungarvan this coming Saturday in Fraher Field at 4pm in the quarter final of the senior hurling championship. While our form so far this year has not reached the heights of the end of last year, the knockout stages are essentially a new competition and very few people will remember anything of the group phase once the heavyweight action starts. We will no doubt be underdogs against an up and coming Dungarvan side who topped their group in fine style but we would hope for a bit of luck in running and a repeat of the positive first half performance delivered against Fourmilewater a fortnight ago. Your support would as always be greatly appreciated.

Reflections on the All Ireland

In terms of flow and high scoring this game didn't reach the heights of the Tipperary-Kilkenny trilogy but more than made up for it in terms of tension, drama, arm-wrestling and the sense of it being a genuine contest. The fear was of Galway being swallowed by a Kilkenny wave of aggression but once they got their first score, Galway's pace and appetite for the breaking ball was a sight to behold. Even more impressive was their halfback line refusing to engage in a catching contest with Kilkenny half forwards (a contest you are guaranteed to lose) but happy to break and bat everything into the arms of grateful midfielders and covering half forwards. Simple but beautifully effective. A ten point lead at halftime wouldn't have flattered them but a slight dropping of the intensity and discipline before halftime let Kilkenny have renewed hope for the second half.

The great thing about a draw is that you can praise both teams and Kilkenny fought their way back into things by sheer force of will. They continued to rain high balls down on a packed Galway defence with little obvious success but through sheer volume alone they began to win a few more breaks and a few more frees. Anthony Cunningham's tactics borrowed from football are intruiging to observe but the obvious drawback is the ease in which an opposition backline who you give the ball to can transfer it down to your backline in double quick time. It's a pity Galway didn't trust themselves to give a few shorter balls out of defence and get their midfielders counterattacking (granted, more of a risk in hurling than in football) as any long clearance was up to a Kilkenny backline that had a two to one advantage over Galway attackers.

Overall you can't help feeling that any psychological fear of Kilkenny that was ever there for Galway is well and truly gone and so it comes down to which team can recover best and set about their duties without any baggage. It's doubtful that Kilkenny will alter their game in any significant way (why would you?) and so it is up to Galway to see if they can follow their gameplan through to a better conclusion.

Tallow GAA Lotto-supported by Kearney's Restaurant

10/9/12 Numbers Drawn 7,8,9,19 No Winner

Consolation Prizes Fiona Hartigan, Lorraine Mitchell Ian Martin Paul Condon Promoter Donna Buckley

Next Draw 17/9/12 Clancy's Bar Jackpot €3600