GAELIC SPORTS WORLD Issue 33 – September 4, 2015 | Page 33

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KILKENNY SPIRIT
To defeat Kilkenny in an All Ireland has been very difficult as both Tipperary and Galway have found to their
cost over recent years. Kilkenny manager Brian Cody over
the past 16 years of his imperious reign has forged an iron
spirit in the team and it’s a spirit that is not easily broken.
They display that spirit in the level of intensity they bring to
their play and this brand of intensity is at the highest level
in hurling. They also show that spirit in that they are never
beaten till the final whistle is blown, a hallmark of Kilkenny
teams over the years and something that Galway must contend with in the final moments.
BALANCE
The Cats are the best balanced team in the country in that
they have a very good half back, midfield, half and full forward lines. Up until JJ Delaney’s retirement, they had the
best full back in the country but his replacement Joey Holden is untested in an All Ireland final and with Joe Canning
to mark, the new full back cannot make mistakes. There are
injury doubts related to stalwart Jackie Tyrell, though don’t
be surprise if he starts and puts in a tremendous 70 min-

utes. Paul Murphy in the other corner is solid and will have to
be lively to handle either Mannion or Flynn. At midfield in
Conor Fogarty and Michael Fennelly they have the best pairing in the country. In the half-forward line, the lethal TJ Reid
and last year’s Hurler of the Year, Richie Hogan, have been in
supreme form and expect this duo to once again be pulling the
strings. Galway will need to marshal them both and this will
not be easy as they are very crafty and clever players. New on
the inside forward line Ger Aylward has been in great form
and will be a handful for the Galway full backs. Eoin Larkin
has a finger injury and may not start in the other corner but if
he does, he is also a big danger as he usually turns up for a final
and with very important scores. Then there is the possibility of
Richie Power returning from injury at full forward for his first
game of the year. He will not be match fit, but he will be fresh
and eager and Tipp will remember him from last year’s final as
he is lethal in front of goal.
To win Galway must play their best possible game with no
leaks in defense and keep concentration to the very end. To
retain their title Kilkenny, well, must be Kilkenny. They will be
primed to win.
But, it is an All Ireland Final and Kilkenny will be primed and
Galway must be better.

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