Kerins lauds Galway's heads-up hurling

NOT MANY Galway people showed up in the crowd of 22,171 but Alan Kerins was in Croke Park on Sunday for a historic Leinster hurling final.

The 35-year-old last featured in maroon in last year’s defeat of Cork. Having given many seasons to the small-ball cause, while also picking up All-Ireland medals for football at club (2006) and county (2001) level, he is well placed to comment on the madness that transpired in Sunday’s first half at Croke Park. The scoreboard at half-time read an astonishing: Galway 2-12 to Kilkenny’s 0-4.

“Nobody predicted that. I thought they would compete because the Dubs were so poor against Clare the night before. Kilkenny weren’t as good as many thought they were.

“Not even the team itself would have predicted obliterating Kilkenny in the first half. Because that’s what it was, obliteration.

“It just shows you, when you match their work-rate and physicality and intensity, face up to them, it can be done.”

Kerins saw the roots of the shock result. Galway won it by dominating the skies.

“They had a great game plan, competing very well in the air. It stopped Kilkenny winning ball at source. They had three, four men in and around the breaks. They were first to every ball and Kilkenny were very flat, in fairness. Maybe a little complacent – the first time I have ever seen them that way.”

Kilkenny got stuck in a rut.

“People are saying Galway did a Kilkenny to Kilkenny but you must give them credit for their physicality, their levels of fitness. The execution of the game plan. When they did get the ball they used it very cleverly, playing it into the spaces, they played it wide and they ran at them.”

Ultimately, Kerins put the result down to industry and heads-up hurling.

Galway’s giant leap can be put down to manager Anthony Cunningham promoting so many under-21s into the panel.

“The under-21s won the All-Ireland last year quite convincingly and they played similarly. They have brought that game plan and level of intensity. It’s working so far.”

And it has been since they swept past Dublin in the league’s relegation play-off.

Despite conceding a combined total of 7-26 against Westmeath and Offaly, Kerins has been encouraged by recent displays. “They found something in that relegation game in Portlaoise.”

This century there have been a stream of quality underage sides coming out of the west and winning national titles. They won under-21 All-Irelands in 2005, 2007 and last year. Minor All-Irelands were captured in 2000, 2004, 2005, 2009 and last year. But the transfer of this talent up to senior ranks has yet to be fully seen. Until now. Maybe.

“There are always so many gifted hurlers in Galway. It is just about getting everyone singing from the same hymn sheet.

“I thought Joe (Canning) looked very sharp, very fit, and Johnny Coen was outstanding. Cyril Donnellan was man of the match the last day (against Offaly) and he was very close again. Five points from play against Kilkenny is phenomenal.

“All the backs were excellent, I know they (Kilkenny) got two goals in the second half but as a unit they were brilliant. The new guys did well, like Niall Donoghue.

“Damien Hayes did a great job in the third-man role, really causing them problems. Kilkenny tried to counter it by bringing Aidan Fogarty on but they were putting balls in on top of Henry (Shefflin) with two men on him. They didn’t know what to do for the first time.”

Last year Dublin caught Kilkenny in the league final, scoring points for fun down the straight. Kilkenny’s reaction was to go and win every game until the Liam MacCarthy was banked.

“The worst thing is that Kilkenny are still in it. They are going to come back with a point to prove. You shudder to think what they’ll do. God help whoever gets the backlash.

“But maybe there won’t be one, you don’t know. Maybe the legs are giving way or the hunger. I doubt it, though.

“If you can do it once, why not do it again? That must be the Galway mindset.

“Galway now have the confidence of knowing they can beat them. They have the players and all the attributes to compete.”

The Leinster final has opened everything up. Galway can prepare for an All-Ireland semi-final on August 12th.

They haven’t experienced this luxury since 2005.

“For a strong hurling county like Galway that is an awfully long time. It will be the first time they have hurled in August since 2005 as well. Hopefully they will be there is September as well.”