GAA Notes 1st October 2012

Post date: Oct 06, 2012 1:21:18 PM

Sponsored by Tallow Area Credit Union

Junior Football

Round two of a local derby tops the agenda this week as Tallow and Shamrocks battle it out once again this Saturday 6th October 2012 at Fraher Field in the replay of the Western junior football semi-final. A keen contest is expected again and we would appreciate all support. Throw-in is at 3:30

All Ireland Reflections

Galway paid the price for introducing a bit of niggle and a few extracurricular activities in their opening skirmishes with the champions last Sunday, especially around the middle where Andy Smith got a yellow card and Iarla Tannien was lucky not to get one. No matter how many times you warn against it, teams seem to think that getting physical with Kilkenny will help your chances. The reality is that, not for the first time, antagonising the beast only makes him madder and as soon as Galway started looking for contact instead of moving the ball at speed they were swallowed whole.

The workrate of the Kilkenny forwards, epitomised by Richie Hogan and Eoin Larkin, was ferocious and they kept tracking back beyond their lines to hook and block like men possessed. I counted at least five Kilkenny points in the first half that came from a Galway man being caught in possession and the ball being turned over. This didn't happen in the drawn match and once they could keep the scoreboard ticking over with points, Galway's goals began to look more and more like isolated raids. Counter-attacking in hurling will only work if you have extra bodies in the midfield and half back line and the Kilkenny forwards didn't allow that to happen.

Overall this is a Kilkenny team that keeps finding ways to renew themselves emotionally and physically. Allied to the careful introduction of a few new players every year, it is a mindset and a standard that shows no sign of slipping anytime soon