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That is the question. A weekend of contrasting styles. Tradition versus tactics perhaps? Whatever the answer, we now know the All Ireland semi-final pairings. Time to nail your colours to the upright, Cork, Galway, Tipperary or Waterford?
The weekend’s two matches at the spectacular setting that is Pairc Uí Chaoimh Nua demonstrated the different approaches to hurling and predictably provoked a passionate debate come storm of discussion. Hurling folks are nothing if not passionate. On Saturday Clare and Tipperary served up an entertaining tussle, if not the classic some hoped for. It had plenty for the neutral and had Ger Loughnane hailing Clare for playing a more orthodox formation. Wexford and Waterford on Sunday were more cagey, entirely understandable considering the men involved in coaching both teams.
Some of the pundits would have had you believe Sunday's game between Wexford and the Deise was a snore fest, rather than an intriguing tactical battle. Perhaps like Ulster football the tactical game of hurling is an acquired taste with short puc outs, packed defences and goals a premium commodity. Both Davy Fitzgerald and Derek McGrath came out with impassioned defences of their approach to the game. The point missed is that a manager’s job is to adopt the approach he thinks will deliver a result. It may not always be popular but if it is successful, and to be fair to the men concerned it has delivered success.
More’s the pity is that we won't see the magnificent new Pairc Uí Chaoimh again in this summer’s championship. What a fantastic setting it is, and the Cork county board deserve full credit for building it. There’s no doubt the GAA fans in Cork and wider Munster will come in their droves. The modern stadium had Ulster Gaels thinking excitedly what might be when Casement Nua is opened in the next few years. Supporters at last week’s Ulster Final were given a flavour with a Casement Park fly through. There is no doubt these stadia present games in the best possible light and are built with player performance and supporter enjoyment in mind.
Mondays draw pitted Tipperary and Galway together in the hurling semi final in a rematch of this year’s league final which the Tribesmen won very convincingly. It is their third consecutive meeting at the All Ireland semi final stage. Following their defeat in the league final, the Tipperary hurlers tackle count was flagged as a significant contributory factor in Galway’s success. And again against Cork they were outworked and out tackled. People talk about workrate - tackles and turnovers are the real measure of how hard a team is working. Brian McDonnell has highlighted in his column for the Tipperary Star how a seriously improved tackle rate gives Tipp a fighting chance against Galway in two weeks time.
“The Premier men won the turnover-in-the-tackle battle 25-18 and added a further 54 tackles, three hooks and nine blocks bringing the team's combined hook-block-tackle count to a very credible 91 (Clare 65) - against Cork, for instance, Tipperary lost the turnover-in-the-tackle battle 18-21 and the hook-block-tackle count 66-77. In the contest with the Rebels Tipperary allowed Kieran Kingston’s men to enjoy almost four possessions on average before Tipperary got in a tackle. Against Clare, however, that figure was down to almost two."
The dark horses for hurling this season are undoubtedly Waterford. The big question on the back of the weekend’s quarter final is will the red card shown to talisman Tadgh de Burca derail their campaign? As the championship reaches its conclusion and September calls, we want to see the best players on the pitch. Squeaky time for the Deise faithful?