Search Results for 'Liam Sheedy'

On Saturday night in Thurles a thrilling touch of the Irish sporting summer will be available as the All Ireland hurling championship is now in the long desired do-or-die phase. Whoever loses from here on in will be a mere afterthought in the tale of 2008 so there shouldn’t be any shortage of intensity or incentive.

Standing in Paric Lactain in Freshford last January watching a young, fit Antrim side lower Kilkenny's colours in the Walsh Cup didn't leave anyone too upset, most people acknowledged that our warriors had just returned from what is now their annual team holiday and that it would take a few training sessions to shake off the cobwebs. Being honest, Kilkenny fans knew that this bunch of Kilkenny players would bust a gut later in the year to land the 3-in-a-row but I don't think anyone could have envisaged exactly what lay ahead for Kilkenny hurling.

The national hurling league swung into action last Sunday without All-Ireland champions Kilkenny, heavy snow that fell early on Sunday morning put a stop to their involvement. I'm sure everyone connected to the set-up would have been disappointed not to make it to Pearse Stadium in Galway but player safety has to be paramount in those situations. The snow and icy conditions seemed to have caught everyone off guard. I'm sure if they had anticipated this scenario they might have elected to make the trip on Saturday afternoon.

Kilkenny notched up their 14th National Hurling League title after a ding-dong battle with the old enemy Tipperary at Thurles last Sunday. I thought that hurling at intercounty level was becoming a bit boring and predictable but Sunday's epic encounter has given me great hope for the coming championship. It's great to beat Tipperary any time but to beat them in their own backyard on final day is extra special.

It has been one hell of a roller coaster ride for Kilkenny fans since 1998. Lucky enough we've had more ups than downs during that period. It's a staggering statistic that during that time it was only twice that the Black and Amber didn’t feature.

When the fixtures were officially announced last autumn for this year’s National Hurling League most Kilkenny hurling enthusiasts would have been quick to blank off March 22 in their diaries. For this was the date allotted for the 'clash of the champions', last year's national hurling league winners Tipperary against All-Ireland champions Kilkenny.

I think it’s fair to say that there has been a lot of doom and gloom over this past year due to the state of the nation’s economy. For many folk sport has become their one saving grace in these tough times. As weekends go the one just past you could say was just what the doctor had ordered.

Two restorative victories mean hope is coursing through Galway’s system again, but with challenges arriving thick and fast there is little time to reflect on the positive recent tidings. Wins over Munster opposition usually satisfy, and the manner in which Galway eked out results against Limerick and Waterford certainly augurs well. Nonetheless a frenetic spring schedule ensures Galway must be primed for another battle this Sunday when Tipperary enter Salthill for a match that ought to be revealing.

Kilkenny hurlers head to Semple Stadium on Sunday — their mission — to relieve the home county Tipperary of the National League Cup. These two sides have avoided each other well on final days over the last decade. Only once during that period, back in '03, have they squared up to each other for a national title decider. It might only have been the second most important competition that day but it was a game Kilkenny fans will savour for a long time. It was a thrilling encounter that saw the Cats come from 10 points down to win by the most slender of margins.

Last Sunday’s Munster championship clash between old foes Tipperary and Cork was definitely a game of two halves if ever I saw one.