Month: August 2020

JJ’s Hook 2014

JJ Delaney prevents an almost certain goal in an All Ireland Final..

1. Delaney immediately commits to chasing the attacking Tipperary forward Seamus Callinan at full speed

2. Patiently waits for the moment at which Callinan will strike – Delaney may have only one chance and Callinan might feint a strike before the actual shot or shorten the grip on the hurley to reduce his chance of being hooked.

3. Correctly anticipates the height at which Callinan strikes. Many forwards have taken to batting the ball in this situation to avoid being hooked although hurling purists may disapprove of this approach.

Hooking is a relatively simple skill – at close quarters it requires a certain amount of bravery, but when called upon to be used in high speed pursuit against one of the best forwards of the modern era there is a little more intelligence at play.

Hurling’s Hotbed ?

Is South Kilkenny the ‘Hotbed’ of Hurling talent in Ireland ? Or for those who believe that there is no such thing as ‘talent’ – only competence achieved through the decision to choose an activity, followed by thousands of hours of dedicated application, repetition and focus. Is the environment in which a Player finds themselves – ie. proximity to like-minded individuals the most critical factor?.

People who aspire to a high level of achievement in a sport or any other discipline will tend to seek out or gravitate toward like minded individuals. You might be the most passionate hurler in Roscommon or Donegal but if there are few others in the region with the same level of interest and subsequent skills development, you are not going to progress past a certain level.

Lets take a look at the evidence in terms of All Ireland winners medals. With some notable exceptions over the decades from Clubs such as James Stephens, Tullaroan and Johnstown, it is the region south of the Marble City that has produced the majority of the best known names in Kilkenny Hurling lore.

A driving factor in this is the particular Hurling Obsession that may be inherent in certain families. Sometimes all that is required for hurling to thrive is a handful of ultra dedicated siblings from one or 2 families who remain in the region and thus form the core of a more successful group of club players.

PlayerAll Ireland MedalsHurling Club
Henry Shefflin10Shamrocks
Eddie Keher6Rower Inistioge
DJ Carey5Young Irelands
TJ Reid7Shamrocks
Eddie Brennan8Graigue Ballycallan
Noel Skehan9Bennettsbridge
Noel Hickey8Dunamaggin
Richie Power8Carrickshock
Frank Cummins8Knocktopher
Michael Fennelly8Shamrocks
Richie Hogan7Danesfort
Ollie Walsh4Thomastown
James McGarry6Bennettsbridge
James Cha Fitzpatrick5Shamrocks
Colin Fennelly4Shamrocks
Liam Fennelly3Shamrocks
Ger Fennelly3Shamrocks
Christy Heffernan4Glenmore
Paul Murphy4Glenmore
Eoin Murphy4Glenmore
Jim Treacy4Bennettsbridge
Paddy Moran4Bennettsbridge
Dick Walsh7Mooncoin
Dick Doyle7Mooncoin
Ned Doyle6Mooncoin
Mick Doyle5Mooncoin
Jimmy Kelly6Mooncoin
Dick Doherty5Mooncoin
John Power4Callan
Keiran Joyce4Rower Inistioge
Jimmy Walsh4Tullogher

Kilkenny v Waterford

All Ireland Final 2008. Demolition Day. Kilkenny 3-30 Waterford 1-13.

Kilkenny’s Hurling Machine of 2006-2015 probably peaked on this day and their first half performance in particular was the most ruthless and perfect an All Ireland Final display that most Hurling pundits can recall.

Chasing their first 3 in a row since 1913, Kilkenny were in no mood to allow the neutrals favourite’s to stand in their way. A rather ill judged early attempt by the Deise to ‘out muscle’ Kilkenny was quickly quashed, and in true Kilkenny fashion, 2 goals by Eddie Brennan in as many minutes dealt a killer psychological blow.

By halftime Kilkenny had 2-16 versus 0-5 on the scoreboard meaning that Waterford would require the equivalent of 6 goals or 18 points without reply to go in front – an almost impossible task. I remember spotting Frank Cummins and a fan in conversation at the Hogan Stand Bar at half time shaking their heads in bewilderment at the latest standard Kilkenny had set. An emphatic way to take the lead in the Hurling Championship Honours over Cork.

Frank Cummins

Frank Cummins article from the 1986 Kilkenny GAA Yearbook. Winner of 8 All Ireland Senior Hurling medals including 7 in the same position at Midfield. Frank Cummins played for Ballyhale / Knocktopher before moving to Blackrock in Cork for work purposes.

A powerful athlete, consistent performer for almost 15 years, and close contender for greatest ever Kilkenny midfielder along with Michael Fennelly.

DJ Carey 2002

DJ Carey collects his fourth All Ireland Medal with a commanding display, scoring 1-6 in the process as Kilkenny defeat Clare by 2-20 to 0-19. The video headline here is incorrect – Carey followed up with a 5th AI winners medal againt Cork the following year.

In one much lauded passage of play he wins possession, performs a neat roll lift, creates space and then outwits Ollie Baker with an ingenious ‘feint and swerve’ before soloing a little and landing a point over the black spot ‘off the hurl’ from 50m in one clean controlled movement.

Pat Henderson

Article on Pat Henderson from 1977. Pat Henderson played Centre Back and has been mentioned numerous times when the subject of all time greatest Kilkenny Backs is discussed. He won 5 All Ireland medals as a player with Kilkenny. Like Brian Cody, He then turned his hand to management guiding Kilkenny to All Ireland victory in 1979 against Galway aided by Eddie Keher. He was the manager for one of Kilkenny’s best loved teams – the All Ireland double and League double winning team of 1982-1983

Noel Skehan

Article on Noel Skehan from the 1984 Gaelsport Annual. Before the emergence of the Great Kilkenny Teams led by Brian Cody , Skehan held the record for the most All Ireland winning Medals.

Playing in the full back line on the 1982 and 1983 winning teams just in front of Noel Skehan was Brian Cody, who would go on to become the most successful Hurling manager in history.