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Head to head
 By
David Thorpe
The All-Ireland hurling final will be a clash of opposites in every way.
Limerick the newcomers who have burst upon the scene playing a style
of hurling that harks back to another era, instinctive, free flowing and
above all attacking have scorched through hurling’s heartlands like
a breath of fresh summer air this year and will be the neutrals fav-ourite
to triumph on Sunday.
Kilkenny have won three of the last five All-Ireland hurling titles.
Their play typifies the new hurling controlled, efficient and effective.
They are long odds-on with the bookies to triumph.
The contrast in styles is also evident when looking at the managers. Brian
Cody is the seasoned veteran manager. He goes about his business just
as his team do with the minimum of fuss. Brian hides from the limelight,
his teams do the talking for him and play in the same controlled and measured
way their manager conducts himself.
Richie Bennis is in his first season as Limerick boss. The hurling year
has been lit up with his humour and quotability. Everyone who has met
Bennis knows him as a character talkative, instinctive and funny. Limerick
also play like their manager with an easy swagger that never hides the
determination to succeed.
The Patrickswell native was part of the last team from the Treaty County
to lift the Liam McCarthy Cup but he is quick to differentiate between
the eras.
He said: “One of the things I have noticed as the manager of a team
going into the final is that there are a lot more calls on the players’
time now.
“The media want them always and other people as well. Someone said
to me the other day that the hype must start to affect the players. Well
to be honest, coping with that hype is part of what makes a successful
sportsman.
“The commitment hurlers from all counties give now in terms of
fitness is incredible it’s a different world from when I played.”
He praises Kilkenny as a team with no flaws: “I can’t pick
out an area in which it could be said they are vulnerable. The bookies
have them at 2/1 on and us at 7/2. They have been wrong all year and maybe
they will be wrong on Sunday.”
Brian Cody is one of hurling’s legends. As renowned as a player
as he is as a manager he’s a man of few words.
He said: “You don’t get to where Limerick are unless you are
a fantastic team. They showed their strengths aga-inst Waterford.
“I admire the hunger my players have for the game. They live for
hurling. It will be a fantastic occasion and a fantastic match. There
won’t be much in it at the end and it will be a great advertisement
for hurling.” |
