September Road: More than one reason why Dublin hurling is looking up

Maybe a big clue as to why Dublin hurling is on such a high came in Limerick, as well as Croke Park, yesterday.

In the 2013 Féile na nGael Division One final Ballyboden St Enda's defeated Douglas
of Cork, 4-2 to 0-4, at the Gaelic Grounds to keep the Christy Ring Trophy in the Capital (Castleknock-based
St Brigid's took the crown last year).

But the Ballyboden side didn’t just win at the weekend – they steamrolled their way to the title.

In their clashes against the best young hurling sides that Limerick, Clare, Waterford and Cork had to offer, the Dublin club side won all their matches – scoring 16-40 (88pts) along the way, and conceding just 2-18 (24pts).

We’ll surely be watching and reading about some of those players in a few years time.

1961

The last time Dublin won the Leinster senior hurling title, Galway were playing in the Munster championship. The same month (July) as Dublin took the crown by defeating Wexford in an 11-goal thriller (7-5 to 4-8) the Irish Government submitted the first application to join the European Economic Community. The Dubs were eventually undone in the All-Ireland decider by a single point by a Tipperary side that would go on to win four All-Irelands in five seasons. That, Dublin hurling fans can rest assured, won't be happening this summer.

QUOTE OF THE WEEKEND

These guys are honourable men who went to fight today. They came out on the wrong side of the fight, but these are men of honour. These will be men of honour in the future . . ."
Tipperary manager Eamon O'Shea

BREAKING THE KERRY-CORK FOOTBALL MONOPOLY

Much of the discussion in the build-up to yesterday's Kerry-Cork battle revolved around the predictable nature of the senior football championship in Munster.

The senior fare, however, does not tell the full story.

It’ll come as no surprise to learn that, from 1956 to 2010, Cork and Kerry shared every Munster minor football title, apart from two – when Tipperary briefly interrupted in 1984 and 1995.

However, yesterday, in Killarney, Kerry defeated Tipperary in the Munster minor football championship for the first time in four attempts – denying the visitors three provincial titles in a row.

Since losing the decider to the Kingdom in 2010 (after Tipp had beaten Cork in Cork) the Premier County’s record against the two traditional giants before yesterday was: six games, six wins.

The streak began in amazing fashion when the home side came back from 10 points down at half-time to defeat Kerry thanks to a sixth-minute-of-injury-time winner at Semple Stadium.

With the seniors carving up the province between them, perhaps there is still hope on the horizon for the province.

Munster MFC Tipp v Cork/Kerry
2011
Tipp 2-12 Kerry 3-8 Thurles
Tipp 3-11 Cork 1-9 Killarney
2012
Tipp 2-9 Kerry 0-8 Tralee
Tipp 1-10 Cork 0-9 Cork
Tipp 2-14 Kerry 1-14 Limerick
2013
Tipp 0-11 Cork 0-8 Thurles
Kerry 0-15 Tipp 0-10 Killarney

AGAINST THE ODDS

2013 All-Ireland SHC

11/8 Kilkenny
3/1 Dublin
6/1 Cork
6/1 Limerick
7/1 Galway
9/1 Clare
30/1 Waterford
200/1 Wexford

2013 All-Ireland SFC

15/8 Dublin
4/1 Kerry
4/1 Donegal
4/1 Mayo
10/1 Cork
18/1 Tyrone
33/1 Derry
50/1 Kildare

HURLING LESSONS FOR TIPP FANS

It wasn't enough that Tipperary supporters had to witness their team limp out of the senior hurling championship at the hands of their fiercest rivals in enemy territory.

On returning to their cars many found a flyer stuck to the windscreen advertising “The Kilkenny Way”.

Would you like to “learn how to block, tackle, hook, lift, strike and solo run?” the flyer appeared to taunt the defeated visitors.

Of course, "The Kilkenny Way" is a popular tourist activity in the Marble City, but, well, for the departing Tipp fans ... salt meet wounds.

TWITTER TWADDLE

Aaron Kernan @AaronKernan
Amazing evening @ Nowlan Pk. Super atmosphere to the last minute. Kilkenny fans love for #KingHenry is incredible.

Dara O Briain @daraobriain
I don't really "get" rugby, which on mornings like today is a pity. But I "get" Hurling and this Tipp-Kilkenny match is why. #gaa #tension

Emlyn Mulligan @emlynmulligan
Was in the Hyde yesterday at Roscommon Tyrone game..Roscommon could have easily won it..missed some great chances in the last 10mins! #gaa

Ricky Gervais @rickygervais
Well done Andy Murray.
There'll be dancing in the streets of Dublin tonight.