All-Ireland Hurling Quarterfinals Roundup

By Dermot Kavanagh

Over the weekend more than 120,000 hurling followers tracked to Croke Park for the championship quarter finals.

Excepting those supporters whose teams suffered defeat, it was a trip well worth the effort, for what was, in reality, a festival of hurling - all were winners, not least the game itself.

It is reckoned by some hurling technocrats that there are 150 individual skills in the game of hurling. If those wise men are to be believed this observer can say that all 150 of them were expertly executed over the weekend by the current cream of the best hurlers, at a pace and level that was, at times breathtaking and for the most part enthralling.

Many years ago Michael Cusack, the founding father of the emerging GAA remarked that rugby, soccer and hockey could not be compared with hurling because, ínter aba', they were not a racy of the soil'.

For many years this observer had wondered what Cusack's words meant. Over the weekend, at Croke Park my curiosity was finally satisfied.

Cork 3-16 Waterford 3-16

Obviously this observer can not categorically say that this match was the best hurling match ever played. However what can be revealed is that it was the best match that this observer has ever seen.

This game had everything that any sports follower of whatever discipline would want.

Two expertly prepared teams, committed to push themselves to the limit of human and hurling endurance in pursuit of victory for themselves, their families, their clubs and their counties.

The game was played at a frantic pace for the entire 73 minutes and one wondered how amateur sportsmen could achieve and maintain it. There was also some memorable goal scoring by both sides.

Surprisingly, in a game that presented 6 goals and 32 points, there was also some brilliant defending on display. McGrath and Brown for Waterford and O Halpin and O Sullivan for Cork were the main players in this regard. From the first point by Molumphy, after only 25 seconds, to Waterford's equaliser in the 73rd minute points flowed freely throughout the games duration, most of which were of a standard befitting an All Ireland winning point.

On a beautiful day of hurling Waterford were quickest to settle. By the 17th minute they led by 1-6 to 0-4, the goal coming from a typical Dan Shanahan catch and strike effort following a huge delivery by Tony Browne.

However, Waterford was not to score for the next 12 minutes while, in the meantime, Cork began to get more into the game and scored 4 unanswerable points to cut the deficit to a single point. Through Ken McGrath's hurculean efforts Waterford plugged the leak and when halftime came the sides were level at 1-7 to 0-10.

Despite their bright start Waterford would have been relatively happy to be level at the break since they were out hurled and outscored by Cork in the final 20 minutes of that half.

There was no let up in the drama when the second half began. With 17 seconds gone, Paul Flynn planted the ball in the Cork net, a score that was as valuable as an act of defiance as it was on the scoreboard.

Points were exchanged as the quality of the hurling reached super human standard.

In the 42nd minute Cork pressure forced Waterford into conceding a penalty which Niall Ronan superbly took. The pace of the game quite naturally began to take its toll, forcing both managers into making substitutions, both in placing and in personnel.

Waterford continued to hold a slender lead, alternating between a one point or two point margin until the 61st minute when a Kieran Murphy goal put Cork in front for the first time in the game. 

Prendergast immediately equalised with a majestic point having fielded Hennessy's puck out.

As the tension in the stands and terrace became almost unbearable John Gardiner and Dan Shanahan exchange points. 

With only five minutes of normal time remaining Cork made what looked like the crucial move for victory. Niall Ronan following up on a Tom Kenny shot that was saved by Clinton Hennessy pounced to plant the ball in the Waterford net.  Before

Waterford could mount a reprisal Cork went four points in front with a Kevin Hartnett point.

This Waterford team however have become battle-hardened over the last few years and refused to accept the defeat that appeared to be staring them in the face. 

They laid siege to the Cork goal and were rewarded with a Stephen Molumphy goal in the 68th minute.  The momentum of the game was now decidedly with Waterford but some poor shooting denied them the levelling point.  They persisted though and following Donal Og Cusack's brilliant save from Eoin McGrath's goal-bound effort in the 72nd minute following which the Cork goalkeeper was correctly penalised, Eoin Kelly slotted over the resulting 20-metre free to bring the sides level for the ninth and final time of an unforgettable game.

Both sides will feel that they left the game behind them.  Waterford's inability to profit from their good start was crucial. 

Equally, Waterford will feel that they probably should have scored a goal in that final attack that led to the levelling point. 

However, one suspects that following Hartnett's point in the 67th minute that gave Cork a four point lead, Waterford would have gladly accepted a draw. 

Cork will be concerned by their slow start to both halves. They will also be concerned that they failed to sustain their hard won four-point lead in the final minutes.  All other hurling followers are greatly relieved that they didn't.  Roll on the replay!

Wexford 3-10 Tipperary 1-14

Readers may recall that this observer regarded Tipperary's win over Cork in the last of the qualifying games as being partly down to their own ability, but largely due to Cork's arrogance.

Permit me now to report that Wexford's win over Tipperary last Saturday can be similarly described. 

Tipperary let it be known that they were very happy with drawing Wexford in this quarter-final, as they regarded Wexford as by far the weakest of the eight qualifiers. 

They also entered this game as the bookie's favourites and have now paid the cost. 

Manager Babs Keating, a man with a highly credible hurling reputation also fell into the trap of believing that all his men had to do was to turn up.

He entered the game with at least five of his best players on the bench. How he must now rue that decision, particularly the failure to start Eoin Kelly and the refusal to introduce Borrisoleigh's Philip Maher, the county's best full-back into the panel.  It is now difficult to imagine Keating retaining his post after this debacle.

To Wexford's credit they entered the game with a surprising degree of confidence given the outcome of their most recent visit to Croke Park.

Such was the level of their determination that, were it not for poor finishing near goal, they could have scored three goals within the first quarter. 

Curiously when Wexford's first goal did arrive it came courtesy of a mix up between the Tipperary goalie and his full-back. 

That Tipperary followed that score with a goal from Corbett only served to convince them that they could win as they pleased. 

Behind by 1-8 to 1-5 at halftime Wexford began the second half as if sensing that Tipperary were not the unbeatable force that the pundits rated them.

Within minutes of the restart they had gone in front following a goal and a point from Lambert. As before, Tipperary responded sufficiently to take a three-point lead as the game entered the final quarter.

Due to over-elaboration and faulty shooting Tipperary were unable to increase their lead, thereby always leaving them exposed to a sucker punch.

Thus it was that, in the 69th minute, while Tipperary were leading by two points, Lambert was outside to the right of the Tipperary goal. 

However following some Tipperary dissent the referee moved the ball in front of the posts and on the 21 metre line the danger became a reality as Wexford folk hero and captain Damien Fitzhenry having made the long journey from his own goal blasted the resulting free to the net for the lead.

Tipperary were now without any plan to save the game except when Kelly's 80 metre free drifted wide. Wexford, now firing on all cylinders, increased their lead to two points when Quigley fired over a long-range point for the games final score

Wexford now have to overcome the psychological hurdle of Kilkenny as much as the latter's hurling ability if they are to make their first final appearance in 11 years. John Meyler and his management have much to do.

This result must nearly rank as one of Tipperary's darkest hours in Croke Park.

They exit the championship largely through their own inability to maintain the approach that derailed Cork last time out.

There will be much hurling debate in the county over the winter months as they try to comprehend this defeat.