1. Personnel changes pay off
THERE WAS NOT a whole lot wrong with Kilkenny’s individual showings in the drawn game as they amassed 3-22 and contributed to a riveting game. Yet Brian Cody’s philosophy of trusting training ground form continued as he ripped up his teamsheet before the replay. In came Kieran Joyce, Padraig Walsh and John Power. Out went Joey Holden, Brian Hogan and Walter Walsh.
The three personnel changes paid a rich dividend. Walsh and Power maintained fine family traditions with fearless displays. Walsh’s aerial ability in defence was masterful and Power got in for the critical second goal that pushed Kilkenny too far ahead of Tipperary. While Joyce produced a man-of-the-match showing as he quelled the influence of Bonner Maher at the heart of the Kilkenny defence.
2. Henry gets the 10th medal that he craved
The class of Henry Shefflin is indisputable but it was the character in overcoming debilitating injuries that enabled him to get back into a position to feature in an All-Ireland final. When introduced in the drawn game he was a peripheral influence but today he came on and made his contribution in the replay win.
Shefflin laid on the assist for Colin Fennelly’s insurance point and his introduction prompted a huge guttural roar from the Kilkenny support that powered the team on to close out the game. 2014 may not have been a season where Shefflin was one of the key architects in Kilkenny’s progress but his substitute cameos saw him make an input and helped land the historic 10th All-Ireland medal that he craved.
3. Bouncing back from 2013
Kilkenny’s fortitude has been shown once more in 2014. They endured a difficult campaign last year as they were taken out in Leinster by Dublin and taken out in the All-Ireland series by Cork. It was a strange occurrence that they were not involved in the Croke Park showdowns of August and September.
But Kilkenny dusted themselves down and hit the training ground in November. They worked hard and resolved to achieve once more in 2014. National League, Leinster and All-Ireland crowns are testament to how they have bounced back in style.
4. Kilkenny’s defensive magnificence
Amidst the fire and brimstone of Kilkenny’s All-Ireland semi-final against Limerick, their defensive magnificence stood out as they repelled their opponents in a monsoon. The drawn All-Ireland final was a different game, played with abandon as scores were totted up for fun and Kilkenny shipped 1-28.
They were far more impressive today at the back as they blunted Tipperary’s attacking threat. The sextet of Murphy, Delaney, Tyrrell, Walsh, Joyce and Buckley were all outstanding. Three of Tipperary’s forwards were held scoreless and in total Tipperary’s attacking unit only registered 2-4 from play, a notable drop from the dizzying heights they reached two weeks ago.
5. Goals help Kilkenny kill Tipperary
Kilkenny had seen a couple of second-half goalscoring chances go amiss when Darren Gleeson and James Barry denied Colin Fennelly and John Power respectively. But they made amends at a most opportune time of the game with the Carrickshock duo of Richie and John Power pouncing.
Richie’s 59th minute strike was clinical as he buried the ball past Darren Gleeson and John’s alertness to flick home four minutes later essentially put Kilkenny out of sight, despite Seamus Callanan inspiring a late Tipperary rally. The timing of their goals helped Kilkenny kill off Tipperary.
