Munster Express Online

Brian Flannery at Semple Stadium

I was stationed high up in the commentary box on radio duty with WLRfm for the first game at Semple Stadium last Sunday, with the ClareFM guys were lined up to take over our spot immediately after the first game.
I ambled down to the very front row in the old stand directly behind where the Kilkenny management team had taken up position. It’s a different viewing experience at ground level. Not necessarily better but different.
The difference in demeanour and animation between both management teams couldn’t be overstated.
Brian Cody has all the appearance of an austere grandfather. Remote and detached. The man in black. Tall, lean but certainly an older gentleman. It was cold in Thurles. Black woolly hat with matching black gloves.
he great man stood alone in the designated white box. James McGarry, Derek Lyng and Mick Dempsey sat on a wooden bench behind and slightly to his left. As the game progressed it was becoming obvious that the Cats were taking a good licking from the Banner.

“It could be a hurling
summer like no other.”

The three accomplices on the bench remained motionless. Glances were exchanged but no words. I’m sure they must have considered approaching the boss with a change or two but thought the better of it.
Perhaps there’s an etiquette involved here or maybe from experience the lads ventured it wasn’t a good time to be trifling the bainisteoir with advice.
Goalkeeper Eoin Murphy, by this stage, was doing his best Bruce Grobbelaar impression. Brian Cody casually consulted with his aides de camps and Mick Dempsey was summoned to the defensive front with instructions.
Reinforcements were dispatched to the troubled area but as so often occurs by the time they arrived the battle front have already moved. The second half saw a change in formation. The three lads ditched the wooden bench and stood in silence for the entire second half.
Perhaps this was an exercise in self-flagellation. Penny for their thoughts. I imagined one of those thought bubbles you see in comics.
“Jesus that is some score by Colm Galvin, he is really good”.” By the way why is there no one marking him? “Must count the number of Clare jerseys, there is no way there is just fifteen of them out there, Davy the chancer probably sent twenty out after half-time. I wonder is it chicken again for the post-match dinner, I’d love a kebab, just for a change, and ice-cream.”
The man in black continues to survey the scene. He seems emotionless to the carnage in front of him. Sullen but calm. Kind of like how I’d imagine a John Wayne character in a war movie; certain in his assertion that sometimes you need to lose a battle to win the war.
Brian Cody though is the kind of guy you’d trust with the codes to a nuclear launch pad. I feel he’d do the right thing unbridled by situational pressure or outside influences.
If Davy Fitz on the other hand was manning the Big Red Button I’d truly worry for the continuation of mankind.
Davy and Donal Óg are the unlikeliest of a duo. More bad cop bad cop than good cop bad cop. The two lads also frequently appeared in my line of sight. First it was Davy alone occupying the white manager’s box at pitch-side. Donal Óg isn’t one for taking a back seat as he soon joined his new #bff (best friend forever) at the front.
Every free or non-free was contested with venom by the dynamic duo. Arms were raised to heaven. Incredulity was personified by their every motion. The linesman and fourth official were engaged as the primary outlet for their ire.
The more genial Clare selector Louis Mulqueen had to intervene occasionally to spare the officialdom from excessive gesticulation. It’s box office entertainment for sure and love them or loath them they certainly move the dial and we’re all better for their presence on the line.
Sideline tickets also gives you some close-up viewing of the proceedings. Referee Fergal Horgan let quite a lot go and Richie Hogan, for one, was fortunate of this.
The Danesfort clubman former hurler of the year had little influence on the game from a positive point of view and on a number of occasions appeared more interested in engaging his marker rather than the ball.

Colm Galvin, David Reidy and Podge Collins are willow of the wisp type hurlers weaving patterns of play that had their opponents in a dizzy haze. Darach Honan, John Conlon and Aaron Cunningham provided the stature balance in attack. The Banner is back but as Davy says “Sure it’s only April, so it is”.
The boys in white and blue on the other hand continue their history making march to a second successive League Final.
After a forgettable opening half our guys hit the front and once Stephen Bennett’s penalty hit the net they never looked back. The difference a goal can make is immense, so to have two more green flags raised thereafter was most satisfying.
Michael Walsh deservedly received the plaudits for a massively influential performance. The Stradbally man’s ability to win possession and take the right option at the right time again and again is what makes him the ultimate jenga piece on the team.
Tadhg de Búrca was outstanding in his man marking role while Darragh Fives operated as the sweeper superbly.
The fact that Stephen O’Keeffe was rarely troubled speaks volumes for those playing in front of the Ballygunner man. While Walsh was man of the match Patrick Curran wasn’t too far behind. His instinctive goal and delicious over the shoulder point are skills I’m sure were honed in Dungarvan over many a long summers evening.
With both Brian O’Halloran and Tom Devine impacting from the bench and Pauric Mahony and Shan returning to full fitness the future may well be now for this Waterford team.
This was a good Limerick team that was made look very ordinary by a dominant Waterford display. The fun is just beginning. Cancel all summer holidays. It could be a summer like no other. History waits for no one.