Paul McGrath?
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Paul McGrath. Corner back on a few of their teams
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From this weekās Westside Column. A serious hurling scribe and probably dead right on the over-coaching of players nowadays at club level.
One of the few hurling games played last weekend was the U19 county semi-final between Holycross and Kickhams at Clonoulty on Saturday. It ended in an eleven-point win for the Mid side, the game over at half time when the gap was a whopping sixteen points.
Yes, there was a big wind but thatās only part of the explanation. Kickhams effectively self- destructed with their tactics in the first half. An obsession with short puck-outs and short passing saw them cough up score after score and yet they persisted with the same failing method until the game was effectively over by half time.
Holycross didnāt even have to work particularly hard for their scores; they were handed to them on the proverbial plate. Robbie Ryan took maximum advantage for the winners, hitting nine points in the half, seven from play. An own-goal then underlined just how much of a horror show this was from the West side. It was hari kari hurling.
This short puck-out, short-passing game has become the scourge of club hurling. Youāre accused of being some kind of old-fashioned dinosaur if you dare criticise it but it really needs to be called out for what it is.
In order to execute this game, you need exceptional players. The passes have to be pin-point accurate and going to the hand every time. The receiver has to be comfortable on the ball. He has to be athletic, able to travel and break the tackle. He needs runners then to lay off and carry the play forward, football-style. What club team, U19 or otherwise, is equipped for that? Heck, even the Tipperary seniors struggle when trying to execute such a method.
Modernity how are you! Styles change but some hurling fundamentals never alter. Remember the old timers advising to let the ball do the work? You donāt play around with the ball in front of your own posts; get it out of the danger zone. Always try to play the game in the oppositionās half where even if you lose possession thereās no immediate danger to your posts. Do the simple things well; donāt over-elaborate.
Anyway, Holycross, with around ten of their players from the county-winning minor side, had the job done at half time. Kickhams, now more direct, won the second half and left their followers bemoaning what might have been with a better approach. Sensibly Holycross didnāt fall into the same trap.
The pity was that this is a useful Kickhams side with some fine individual players but they were never suffocated by the system. It was hurlingās version of Pat Spillaneās puke football.
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Nasty article
Itās his own club heās criticizing which is brave but Westside is past the point of caring for his popularity.
I think heās nailed it in a general sense that 95% of club backs arenāt in the slightest bit comfortable with what they are being asked to do - i.e. collect puck out, carry out to the 45 breaking a tackle, then try to pick a pin point 30 yard stick pass to a runner around the middle.
Same tactics caught Drom out in the semi.
They probably worked fine in the good weather, but fairly fell to pieces with a wet ball and heavy pitch
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Basically admitting that the youth of Tipp arenāt up to the modern gameās requirements.
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And cutting their throats when they try it and get it wrong. Nasty stuff
That Eoin Brislane nr 20?
Tipperary is a very unforgiving place when it comes to hurling.
Yes from l-r.
Benny Dunne, Paul McGrath, Eoin Brislane, Paddy OāBrien, John OāBrien, Ken Dunne.
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I remember Brislane playing Tony Forristal in I think 95? He was about one foot taller and two stone heavier than anyone else on the pitch and caused absolute wreck.
A talented and effective player on his day but with his history of ill discipline on the pitch he couldnāt be trusted.
I know, Iāve hurled against Toome. Then again, that was barely hurling when it came to what they were doing.
who was the ref in question for this game? was the āgive respect, get respectā observed during and after the game?
Paddy Ivors was the ref. Not sure he got a lot of ārespectā during and after from one individual.
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Another referee?
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I wasnt there but apparently not a good example shown.
Thereās something in the water in that neck of the woods. Not nice people by and large
Seems to be the case 