Kelly in goals for Mullinahone this year. Paul Curran still togging at full back
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Whoever mentioned Wayne Sherlock above, that’s a good shout. Always liked watching him play. Very good stickman. Longevity (or lack of) probably goes against him in these little discussions, but he certainly merits consideration.
That’s brilliant to hear. Went to a good few Tipp 21s games with my cousins in those years. Never saw anything like him.
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Mullane from 2008 onwards on a declining Waterford team was every bit as dominant as Kelly on those Tipp teams in the early/mid 2000s.
Both dominated despite little supporting cast. Kelly was a better stickman but Mullane had a turn of pace and dynamism which was great to watch in full flow.
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My Dad was raving about him from when he was about 15. He also maintained that in pure hurling terms, Paul was nearly as good (if not as good) as him, but Eoin was the all-round package.
Some man for the over-the-shoulder points. ICONIC
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He was some man on the big day as well in fairness to him. I’ve probably just a hierarchy of these things in my head. Super player, very consistent.
For sure he does. Gifted. And a gentleman to boot.
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The over-the-shoulder stuff is what I remember. Just couldn’t be defended once he got the ball in his hand.
Lads with that kind of low centre of gravity, when they get in front of you, it’s very hard stop them. Bubbles had it too. Tom Delaney on the Minors last year looked like he might tick that box as well.
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EK once said he used scope those over the shoulder points by orientating his shot via the posts at the other end.
Real bright, as I said.
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Bubbles was a big loss off the county scene. Hopefully a few more like him come along. A natch.
It’s a pity to see a hurling brain like that in with Davy 
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I’d love if they could get this young Delaney lad going. He opted out of the 20s this year. But there was a few games last year where he was just outstanding. Just lovely off-the-cuff skillful hurling.
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Interesting to read that, because they’d sometimes look fairly low percentage, but I rarely recall him hitting bad wides. He had it down to a fine art and knew what was possible from what you describe there.
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I don’t think he would clean him in the same way he rarely cleaned Ollie Canning. He would win the battle 7 times out of 10.
On Gillane, he is faster and has a better paw than EK. He is also after working on his right hand side which was previously average (2019 semi final).
As a pure hurler, EK is streets ahead but they are about the same standard player. Gillane is equally brilliant.
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He’s not going to make it unfortunately. A big talent.
Adam Screeney is the most exciting player coming through. Niland a quarter step below.
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I’ve noticed it an awful lot in the last 5 years at club level that lads in and around the 40 mark are more skilful than the young lads coming through and could still easily start if they committed fully. @peddlerscross would say it’s been exasperated by changes to the underage grades since 2017.
I thought this was a new phenomenon but then I remembered that the Buffers Alley team that won the All-Ireland club in 1989 apparently had a load of auld lads (40+) in the team. The likes of Tony Doran, Fr. Martin Casey, Mick Butler etc.
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Gillane and Kyle hayes are the 2 standout hurlers in Ireland currently imo. Eoin Kelly will be talked about in 500 years time however. Same as some of the KK team. I think Gillane is top top class but nowhere near Kelly ffs. Kelly was playing for the hurling equivalent of Wexford when he was keeping Tipp in games circa 18 years ago. Pity for him they won all Ireland’s when his peak had passed.
He could rise a ball on the touchline back to goal and you wouldn’t even have to look… white flag incoming. He was a genius .
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That’s cos every young lad has a job description now before he takes the field. Everything is based on a "system " Whether that’s a good or a bad thing is probably a separate discussion
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