THE GAELIC GROUNDS in Limerick this Sunday may provide the first step on a path to redemption for both Kilkenny and Galway, with both sides meeting in the first of the day’s National League semi finals.
The defending league champions faltered in the championship; and after pushing the Cats all the way in 2012, Galway surrendered their Leinster crown to Dublin and were overpowered by the youthful exuberance of Clare in the quarter finals.
The shifting landscape in inter-county hurling is one that excites Cats veteran Jackie Tyrell, “I think the real prize for winning at the weekend is not alone the league final but it’s another tough, quality game.”
Tipperary or Clare await the winners in next month’s decider, “a big carrot” as far as Tyrell is concerned.
“Tough games, you just can’t beat, to find out about individuals,” he says.
After a disappointing 2013, Tyrell says there is a renewed “freshness” and “a bit of a swagger” in the panel. “The new guys in, even the younger guys who have been there a few years, the Paul Murphys, Colin Fennellys, Paraic Walshes, they bring a great abandonment, they don’t care if they are marking Joe Canning or Eoin Cadogan, they just go out and hurl.”
Despite the influx of new blood to the panel, Tyrell remains confident of his own standing in the team as he edges closer to his twelfth Championship with the Cats, “If they pick me, they pick me, if they don’t there’s not much I can do about it. It is just the maturity that comes. I would be very content with myself and once I can look in the mirror and say I have put my best foot forward, I am happy with this.”
At 31, Tyrell is adapting to a new position with the county – one he’s occupied for his club, James Stephens – centre-half back, “If you’re opened up at centre-back and someone gets a run on you, the way teams are now and with the forwards that exist, it’s more than likely going to be a goal every time”. With that responsibility, Tyrell says fitness and the ability to “be more of a hurler” are key to him keeping the no.6 on his back as the season progresses.
Both Kilkenny and Galway had big 2012s, with 2013 being a case of after the Lord Mayor’s show, something Tyrell puts down to a lack of cohesion in the Cats’ panel. With that seemingly rectified, the six-time All Ireland winner says motivation won’t be an issue for Brian Cody’s men on Sunday, “We’ll be going out and giving it everything we have and leave Galway to do whatever Galway got to do.”
