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Older, wiser, stronger Tipp will take some stopping says Frank Cummins
NO MATTER which way you toss the names of Ring, Cummins, Skehan and Doyle up in the air, and no matter which way the cards fall, the one common denominator that separates all three from the rest of the hurling mortals is that they can put their hand into their back pocket and produce eight gold Celtic crosses, booty from the winning of All-Ireland senior titles.
Of course I am aware that the great champion of Cork has passed to his Eternal Reward, but notwithstanding, with Frank Cummins and John Doyle, they are men apart.
Recently we got to meet Cummins, the Flood Hall native, who is long since domiciled in Cork.
Our meeting place was in a familiar stomping ground for the Cork resident, Eamonn Langton's hostelry. The pre-final fund-raising dinner was in full swing.
Frank Cummins was in company that he was so familiar with. Richie Power, Murty Kennedy, Josie Hart (Galway) and more were there. He would have won some of his All Ireland medals with Richie and Murty.
Everyone who passed by their table stopped for a word with the Kilkenny hero of so many battles, from so many memorable days in the sun.
The lead question had the repetition of a Novena to a favourite Saint.
"What do you think Frank?" The subject didn't need mentioning.
Need to be careful
"We would need to be awfully careful," were his opening words. "Tipp will know that they are the only team around that can mount a serious challenge to our lads. I know that we got the break last year with Henry's goal – another referee wouldn't have given the penalty.
"I am also aware that we got a second goal when Martin Comerford took the pass from Eoin Larkin and slotted it home. We still would have won without Henry's goal, but it was too close for my liking. Tipp have great hurlers, and while they were a little naive last year through inexperience, they are a whole year older and smarter now.
"They got a hammering from Cork in the first round of the Munster championship, but I feel that the defeat, and the size of it, has worked wonders for them. They are a far different team now. They beat Waterford as they pleased. I think that it is only a 50/50 game, no more, no less, and that it will come down to a fluky break."
Where would he see the real battle ground being sighted?
"Everybody is talking about the Kilkenny half-back line. There is no doubt that it is formidable. The Brian Hogan hand injury that is a blow to the team. He is a big loss, but Brian Cody has other great talents available. We know whoever comes in will slot in there as if he was there all his life.
"All the talk is about Henry. If he is playing, and I sincerely hope that he is, we will have a great chance of breaking down the Tipp half-back line. Brendan Cummins pucked out a lot of short ball to his defenders, who did well to get it over the Waterford half-backs. If Tipp persist with that ploy, and the ball is pucked from their full-back line, I can see our half-backs dropping back under the ball.
Stormed back
"Now where the winning battle could take place is between the two 50-yard lines. That is where I think we could have a distinct advantage. Young Fitzpatrick (Cha) has stormed back to his brilliant best. Mick's lad (Michael Fennelly) is a colossus of a man. He is a giant with great skill, and vision.
"He must have a 10-foot stride. I love the way he runs in straight lines; none of this tearing out to the sideline and trying to come back. I think our two midfielders will have a big bearing on the result."
What about our full line of defence against the Tipp full forwards?
"Its great to see young Hickey (Noel) back to his brilliant best. I know I said that Tipp will be a different team than last year. But we will also. We didn't have young Hickey, and with him at his best, that is a terrific bonus. We couldn't call on Fitzpatrick, because his whole season was influenced by injuries. The same thing could be said about Cha, because he was not the same man after suffering a bout of the mumps. But he's flying this year.
"The Tipp lads will be smarting from last year, and they will want to redress the setback. They were very confident last year of winning, but you can bet what you have, that they will be bombing from the first whistle".
But will they win Frank?
Never saw
the likes
"I'll answer you this way. They can win. They could win. They might win but this is a great Kilkenny team, the likes of which nobody has seen ever from any county. I know it is a difficult call to say that one team is better than another from a different era. But I have never seen anything like this bunch of fellas.
"And they are so modest, with none of them going around with their head stuck in the clouds. Maybe I'm being a little biased, but I think that our lads will come out on the right side of a narrow victory. It won't be easy, or soft.
"Tipp will be like a volcano, bursting with energy, but I think our lads will quench their fire eventually."
So says one of the greatest midfielders of all time, who met no master and had no equals.
"And we'll all die happy men," he slipped in under the radar before departing.
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Weather for Kilkenny
Wednesday 08 February 2012
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