Without warning the 2011 hurling season was kick started in some style at Semple Stadium last Saturday. This wasn’t Tipperary v Kilkenny in a rematch of last year’s All Ireland instead this was De La Salle v Clarinbridge and two club teams reaching the peak of their powers.
The classic status immediately awarded to this game will be of little consolation to the Waterford champions who were cruelly denied in a remarkable conclusion that tied in appropriately with a rollercoaster game. No one could begrudge Clarinbridge their place in the March 17 decider however, with their stylish brand of hurling eventually winning out over De La Salle’s powerful outfit. Then we had the Kerins brothers rolling back the years to when their places on the Galway senior team was assured. Those days have passed but they displayed all their experience throughout the 80 minutes on Saturday evening. David Forde also utilised his inter county expertise to marshal the defence well from centre back. Barry Daly’s energy at midfield during normal time and Eoin Forde’s five point haul were other key factors.
An All Ireland medal again eludes John Mullane who supplied 11 points and used up everything he had for the De La Salle cause. At crucial stages they held the upper hand and recovered well from Mark Kerins’ two goals from placed balls. Heading into injury time in normal time and injury time in extra time they were ahead but still couldn’t get over the finish line. The half back trio of Phelan, Moran and Daniels all made their mark on the contest at different stages. In attack aside from Mullane, Jake Dillon made a thunderous start while Eoin Madigan’s towering presence and contribution of 1-3 left many wondering why he didn’t make the starting line up.
In Alan Kerins however Clarinbridge had a match winner that De La Salle couldn’t get a handle on. The former dual star began the game at full forward but as the game rolled on he drifted to the half forward line and eventually midfield. He scored six points from play in total, with five of those coming in the second half and extra time, but crafted many others. In a game of 53 scores, 38 of those from play, the Kerins factor edged the issue in favour of the maroon and white and brushed aside their 5/2 odds before the game.
The action at Wexford Park the following day didn’t even attempt to match the Saturday night Semple fever. Conditions played their part to spoil proceedings as they did all across the country. Waterford survived in the face of a gritty display from the home side smarting from their opening day woes. Maurice Shanahan, returning from suspension, made the match winning contribution of three late points to confirm that he will be in the mix come championship. Richie Foley struggled from placed balls including a penalty miss and since the Abbeyside man is unfamiliar with the responsibility of free taking it would be unreasonable to expect that he would continue his scoring sprees of recent weeks. In any case Shanahan was in reserve and the Lismore man is likely to take over the frees in the weeks to come.
Wexford changed half of the team that faced Galway and with the Oulart the Ballagh players back they were not going to roll over without a fight. Free taking also emerged as a problem for the Model county however and they will need an improvement in their scoring overall in the games to come. Davy will be pleased that again his young charges didn’t flinch. Stephen O’Keeffe made a solid league debut in goal, Pauric Mahony continues to impress at wing forward while Tomás Ryan improved on his Dublin display with two points to his name.
An unbeaten run of five games in 2011 continues but Dublin and Wexford only provider an early teaser for the bigger league challenges to come. Even Davy Fitzgerald will recognise that despite earning three points from four so far, the acid test of Tipperary in Thurles waits in round three and only then can a true assessment of his young side be made.
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