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HURLING CHAMPIONSHIP

Dublin Hurlers have been handed an excellent draw for the next Championship while Kilkenny and Offaly meet in the first round on the other side of the draw. Dublin play the winners of the preliminary round first. It is expected Laois will come out of this easily. Dublin will be pushed to defeat the Laois men but a victory will strike the right tone for our next game against Wexford. This once mighty county has been struggling over the last couple of seasons and Dublin should have beaten them 2 years ago. We have a real fine chance then to make a Leinster Final next year and enjoy the benefits of the back door for its last year.

For 1999's Championship report scroll to bottom.

Jun 18th - Dublin v Kilkenny

PREVIEW

The Cats roll into town on Sunday looking to banish memories of their last time in headquarters. That was a defeat at the hands of Cork in last years All-Ireland Final. Despite losing both of the last 2 finals however Croke Park is a happy hunting ground for the black and amber. They've won the last 2 Leinster titles here and added three semi finals and a quarter final in the last 3 years. make no mistake about it this team under Brian Cody isd an exceptionally experienced and talented side.

Dublin and Kilkenny approach this match from diametrically opposing positions. Dublin haven't landed a Leinster title since 1961 and victory would be enough to ensure a memorable year. Even a solid performance would be seen as somewhat of a success. For Kilkenny on the other hand a defeat would be their largest disaster in 40 years.

This is not where the differences end. Dublin come into this game with 280 minutes of championship hulring behind them, Kilkenny can only boast of freindly games including a good win over Clare while Dublin were battling against a Laois lead in the Noresiders back yard of Nowlan park. Such a difference in preparation is still difficult to judge. Wexford had the benefit of a testing prelim stage but still folded early against the Dublin footballers. Equally it's of course possible that Dublin will not have rested sufficiently from the Laois thrillers. In Dublin's favour they have weathered the games well with few injury concerns and only one enforced absentee - Niall Butler.

In truth however the extra games should have finetuned the Dubs, settled the team and instilled some self belief. the availability of 5 subs will improve our chances of keeping the tempo raised throughout the game which is crucial against a team like Kilkenny who we can be assured will not panic till the game is over.

Kilkenny have 5 changes since their last championship game so this team is not as settled as one would normally fear. However it has been effective in the league. They beat both Cork and Tipperary - the Munster finalists. Their full forward line was devastating. DJ, Carter and young Brennan all have an eye for goal and if pressure will break the Dubs it'll be here in the full back line. On the other hand we have a great chance of distrupting supply, the Kilkenny midfield will suffer from Comerford's absence and here teh Blues could capitalise.

The Cats have an awesome record in Leinster. They have some of the finaes players in the land and it is difficult to see us matching them in any more than about 3 or 4 positions. However they have been lucky. Dublin should really have taken their scalp 3 years ago and Laois too had the Black and amber on the rack a couple of years back. Kilkenny hava great habit though of surviving these scares. The head says Kilkenny the heart Dublin.

May 7th - Dublin 1.16 Carlow 2.12

This was a disappointing opener for Dublin and could have been an absolute disaster. The fact that it wasn't displays the fickle nature of Gaelic Games where a one point win is as good as a 20 point drubbing. Carlow were undeserving losers keeping level with Dublin till half time and then showing huge courage in clawing back a 5 point deficit in the second period. It was Gordon Glynn's 66th minute score that saves Dublin's championship dreams. Tomas McGrane scored 7 and was Dublin's man of the match.

May 21st - Dublin 1.20 Westmeath 0.7

A much better performance by Dublin winning thier first 2 in a trot since 1961 when they made the All-Ireland final (lost by a point). After 5 minutes an excellent McGrane scored Dublin's goal and already Dublin were clear. By half time the score was 1.09 to 0.3 and a Westmeath comeback was not on the agenda. Dublin's defence was tight while Ennis and Sweeney proved capable of taking their chances up front. In the end the game set up the winner takes all clash against Laois.

May 28th - Dublin v Laois

The match we were waiting for proved worth the journey to the Marble City - the thrilling climax reminding me of the match versus the Laois footballers last year. The writing was on the wall at half time as Dublin trailed by 6 ( Laois 0-12 Dublin 0-06). Laois had the measure of our forwards and were clearing all the high ball being delivered. Meanwhile their attack was more direct and effective. The poor Dublin support was subdued and fingering their car keys.

But as so often before the second half was a different story. Dublin outscored Laois 7 points to one in the first 15 mins and were level. Suddenly the attack was potent again. The high ball into the square was gone, now the build up was more intelligent and ball was being driven into the corners where a lively Ger Ennis was booking his replay place. Any frees were being driven over cleanly by McGrane and suddenly Laois had lost their range finder as a previously impeccible Cuddy began to miss.

With 15 minutes to go Dublin were in front when the game shifted again. Laois steadied and got back in front briefly as the game became a tit for tat battle of nerves. Dublin would level and go behind time and time again. Into injury time Dublin got the last score of the game and the sides would meet again. Phew!

The replay next Monday in Tullamore is a bonus game for both sides and the eventual winner will benefit in their clash against the mighty Cats. Dublin i think will have the edge now as i believe Laois have blown their chance. My concern now is about the level of support Dublin can expect at the next game. Yesterday we were hugely out numbered while the next match is part of a double header with the Laois Westmeath Football game. It'll be a cauldron for the Dublin lads and by no means a neutral venue. I fear that even the Westmeath fans in what will be a packed Tullamore ground could be against us. If we showed character yesterday we'll need more of the same next week..

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June 5th - Dublin 2-15 Laois 1-14

Meath beaten by offaly, Down by Antrim. The seismic shocks are coming quick and fast in football. Is Hurling to have a dose of giant killing? If so please let it by Kilkenny toppled by a minnow on the 18th June. For Dublin's great battling qualities which saw them beat Laois at the second asking surely deserve some glory..some day.

These 2 games were memorable occasions. Swaying and swinging this way and that, little was to separate these 2 underachievers in the end. Dublin it was who finally got the win and as often it was goals which confirmed it. Laois failed to beat McLoughlin in the net until the last quarter. Dublin latched onto 2 half chance in the replay and buried them. That was the difference. In the drawn game too while Laois often outhurled Dublin, the Dubs threatened the keeper with regularity. Had the Laois full back line not been as dependable there would have been no need for a replay. Ditto if the Laois freetaker had been more reliable.

This was a rollercoaster game. Laois started well firing over great points and soon leading by 0-6 to 0-3. the huge Laois contingent had arrived early and were cheering their team on. They were to suffer 2 body blows immediately thereafter however. They lost Peacock, sent off for a foul on Duignan while the resultant free came off the upright and was finished to the net by Shane Martin.

Now with 14 men Laois matched the Dubs point for point until as the seconds ticked for half time Duignan pounced on another McGrane rebounder and Dublin led 2-06 to 0-9. This was half the lead Laois enjoyed the week before but the Dubs were just as confident as the midlanders had been then.

But Laois were not going to give up. they quickly got the upper hand after the restart and went from 4 points down to 2 points up. This was a massive spell for Laois and Dublin were looking dead on their feet. Had the game swung finally and decisively? No way. Dublin regrouped after being reduced to 14. Possibly laois took their foot off the pedal. Either way Dublin Pushed forward and never let up till the whistle sounded.

6 points rained down on the Laois goal and suddenly the apparent losers were on their way to a Croke park date with Kilkenny. Laois were going home rueing the missed opportunity.

So the Cats are begining to stir. Dublin have played 4 , all but 1 very close encounters. All showing improvement. Kilkenny's dominance is well documented in Leinster - at senior level brilliant, at minor unstoppable. It's a mountain to climb but the summit is attainable.

Jul 9th - Leinster Final

1999 CHAMPIONSHIP REPORT

Dublin 1:12 Wexford 1:13 Nolan Park May 30th 1999.

Dublin’s Hurling decade (or millennium) came to an early and bitterly disappointing close yesterday in Kilkenny. It was a decade we will generally wish to forget and put behind us. The fact is that Dublin could have won this match and should have at least drawn it. Lethargy cost the Dubs dear as only in the last 10 minutes did the team seem to want to win this game and by then it was fractionally too late to put the finishing touches to an unlikely come-back. Wexford were no great shakes and a far cry from their championship winning form of 1996. When Shane Ryans shot from 50 yards at the end of normal time went inches wide the writing was on the wall. The referee could have played for a draw but didn’t and the game was over. Dublin were left contemplating what could have been had the revival just begun that bit earlier.

This match was a poor quality contest in general though the close finish and some bright individual performances did lend an entertaining edge to proceedings. For Wexford Fenlon was superb scoring 5 excellent points in the first half – one from a sideline. O’Gorman and Dempsey warrant mention while Larry Murphy was tigerish and while off the scoresheet set up many Wexford attacks.

Dublin were not without stars either. Tomas McGrane was lively throughout also managing 5 points – all from frees. Liam Walsh showed his customary excellence at wing back while our full back line caused Wexford many problems, Finnegan and Duignan were top class. Sweeney in mid field well earned his place too. Dublin led very early on after Walsh chipped in for a point but for the next passage of play it would be all Wexford. In 15 minutes they outscored us 1:4 to no score and they would stay at least 6 points clear until the 65th minute. Fenlon popped up on the 2nd minute followed by Dempsey. Then came an early blow. McGrane was pushed off the ball and while Dublin claims for a free were falling on deaf ears the ball was worked down to Murphy who flicked it in to Jordan. The resultant goal – it could have been a free for Dublin instead - caused Dublin heads to drop - and this only after 8 minutes. Fenlons sideline point was next before Dempsey scored a cracking point. McGrane was to prove Dublins only score taker for the rest of the first half tagging on 3 frees. Wexford took another 5 however and Dublin finished a disastrous half 1-9 to 4 points adrift.

It was clear by half time that Dublin did not think they could beat Wexford but if they had known then that the Champions of 96 would only score a further 4 points in the second half maybe they would have had a sharper restart. As it was it wasn’t till the 60th minute with time running out that Dublin began hurling.

Within 5 minutes of the throw in Sweeney and McCann had conspired to narrow the gap to 6 points again. This was not really due to any massive increase in Dublin tempo but more Wexfords declining interest in this match. They awoke briefly again for a productive spell scoring 4 more points (their entire second period score) in 7 minutes from the 45th to the 52nd. Wexford were not to score again. They didn’t need to however as Dublin were9 points down with 18 minutes to go and there was as yet no real sign of a come-back. With 10 minutes to go the margin was still the same.

Only now did Dublin act like they were in a match. Sweeney, McGrane (twice) and Butler all scored before O’Carroll found the net with a minute to go. The lead was down to 2 points. The lead was halved going in to extra time by Flynn but time had run out. Dublin had lost by the tightest and most agonising margin of all. Dublin should have won this encounter. Had a bare 2 of our 17 wides or 3 goal chances been taken this day would have been a great day for Dublin hurling. Instead it was bleak. The only positive to be gained from the experience is that Dublin must now know that they can beat the big names in hurling – a belief they lacked yesterday. Michael O’Grady confirmed this after the match. Why were Dublin so negative? Firstly the 21 point defeat last year at the hands of Kilkenny was a disaster. There was much hype after the league victory over Cork and people really thought Dublin could beat the cats. Reality bit hard in Parnell Park and recovery has been slow. O’Grady has a point about the media. Certainly they helped hype Dublin last year and then dropped them completely this year – so did the fans as evidenced by the small Dublin turnout in the 13,500 attendance. Such a difference of treatment can help convince teams that they really are no-hopers. Even so it is the job of management to instill self belief in teams regardless of media opinion. If management couldn’t do this there would never be any surprises in Gaelic games. The second reason was the loss of the Kilkenny contingent. With Morrissey and Brennan on yesterday I cannot see how we could have lost – they’re worth at least a point to the Dublin team. Their return to Noreside didn’t just deprive Dublin of 2 fine players but also cost the whole team self belief. Dublin can do well without them but the common perception is that Dublins chances depended on them. This myth must be dispelled.