People reference Dodge and Flanagan as rare once offs from the West, and they are to a certain extent. But Seamie Flanagan was very nearly missed. A sub on recent underage sides, his inclusion on the Senior Panel over the winter surprised many and dare I say it under previous management regimes his token inclusion would have come to an end before Leagues end. He was given a chance and there you go.
Dodge was missed for all intents and purposes. He was a sub on County 21s and was playing with Limerick Intermediates where his displays couldnât go unnoticed.
In recent times weâve missed Barry Lynch of Feohanagh, a far better defender and hurler than Tom Condon in my opinion. John Riordan of Templeglantine was called into the panel in 2015, 2 years too late, and was never given a chance despite apparently impressing in training. Stephen Cahill of Tournafulla was in last year and in my opinion should have been persevered with for another year, but in fairness he was given plenty of chances. Young OâMeara is the latest from back West and certainly has the physical attributes needed but again will need to be stuck with.
Basically the West is not awash with senior inter county standard players but I feel we still miss a few. Itâs crazy to think the rest of the County and the County Board dismiss half the county without a second thought, everyone should be breaking their holes to help put it right back there. I mean Tour, Templeglantine, Killeedy, Feenagh Kilmeedy, Monagea, Knockaderry, Croagh Kilfinny, Feohanagh Castlemahon, Granagh/Ballingarry are areas where there is little or no football of note played really, these are all Hurling crazy areas that the county should be targeting with a plan big time
Dodge started one game of the three in-a-row u21 sides - and was taken off after twenty mins. Tore it up for the intermediates and for his club and theyâd no choice but to call him in. The only good thing Pad Joe Whelehan did.
Flanagan was hardly seen with the u21âs last year. Got his chance against Cork in a bloody Munster League match in Mallow last December. Played well, management stuck with him, kept his place, built his confidence and hasnât looked back since. Could have easily disappeared off the radar. Saw him for his club a couple of times in recent years and he looked like a lad frustrated and sick and tired of hurling. Kudos to Kiely for going with him when there wasnât a clamour for his involvement.
Thatâs not entirely true, Flanagan was a big name at underage. He was class in 2014 for the minors and would have been one of the big names in 2015 especially after he starred for Feohanagh in that junior final against Na Piarsaigh, there was a lot of talk about him and he actually had a disappointing season.
Feohanagh have some lovely hurlers, which is why they are Premier Intermediate, I suppose. Lynch, Fitzgibbon, Butler, Sean Flanagan all played 21s for Limerick in the recent seasons, the latter two both have All-Ireland medals.
So does Mark OâCallaghan from Knockaderry, Liam OâSullivan scored the last minute point to beat Cork in minor in maybe 2012.
Newcastlewest have the 3 Hurleys who were around intercounty panels underage, nice hurlers. Brendan OâConnor from Croagh is obviously now playing for Adare. G/B had Condron who won an All-Ireland in 2015 and Cagney in 2017. The Ahernes from Killeedy & Cian Magnier Flynn too.
Most of these arenât good enough to play senior intercounty, a few probably would be decent panellists. But they are very good club players.
Youâre 100% correct on Hegarty, not only is he a difficult man to catch when he breaks stride but he often takes the ball at full pelt and is gone from his man within three or four steps.
As regards his point taking, heâs one of those guys whoâs more likely to score a screamer from distance than a handy tap over, still tends to miss some handy ones, seems better when he doesnât have time to think.
Still improving though, heâs a great bit of stuff
In fairness the benefit of the Munster U25 competition was that he got a good few games under his belt and was very impressive. It was used as a vehicle for the U21 lads that werenât on the first 15 and Flanagan was the one that really stood out. Limerick only used U21âs on the panel. Jaysus there was a lively corner forward as well from Kileedy or Athlaca but my brain is fucked from trying to remember if John Danaher NCW played inter county with Limerick,.
Itâs not as if the clubs are doing fuck all back there, most of them are breaking their holes in fairness. Iâd know through relations, friends and being involved myself with different clubs and playing against different clubs that theyâre doing their best. There are a few clubs who I wonât name that should be fucking ashamed of themselves alright with the pick and geographical spread they have. But Tour, Templeglantine, Killeedy, Monagea, Feenagh/Kilmeedy⌠these are tiny tiny rural places with small populations, there is fuck all business or work opportunities in those areas for people to move into or for locals to remain living there, theyâre genuinely doing what they can or perhaps what they believe is their best. Maybe a bit of guidance from County Development Coaches and a targeted plan could improve those areas but it really is a numbers game. For the size of the places some of them have lovely Junior A teams.
SMI in Newcastle West should also be targeted as a Harty Cup School, perfectly set up for it.
There is a similar story everywhere especially in Primary schools. There is a plethora of decent club/intercounty players going to Mary I. Local clubs should be busting their bollix off to get these kids back teaching in their own areas to promote hurling, Clubs need to infiltrate the BOM of these schools and get it done.
Our recent record v cork with this crop of players is fairly decent in senior championship I think weâve played three times both winning once and the draw this year. Was Quaid outfield and Graeme making his debut in a game during the strike? In the league I remember the dow scoring an equaliser down in cork a few years back, we beat them in a 1/4 last year and after that i donât many of this crop have played league games against them. Under 21 we beat them in 2011 and last year. Was there any games in between? In the minor we beat them in 2012 and 2013 both in cork and Iâm pretty sure we beat them in 2014. They beat us in 15 once and we beat them the second time I think. Have we played them since?
