A CRISP winter’s day in Ardmore last Sunday, and a very fine turnout of fans for the first competitive game of 2009 for the senior hurlers who engaged UCC in the first round of the Waterford Crystal tournament. The right result too(1-17 to 213), and one that sets up a mouthwatering local derby with Tipperary next Wednesday evening - -under lights at the St. Mollerans club grounds in Carrickbeg.
Clearly the purpose of last Sunday’s exercise was to give as many fringe players as possible a run out, and this the manager did with only two members of the team that lined out against Kilkenny in the All-Ireland final - -Aidan Kearney and Jamie Nagle - -named in the starting fifteen.
Both, incidentally, played very well with Nagle my choice for the “man of the match’’ accolade.
As a pointer however to what might be in store for either team in the longer term it could be categorised a “non event’’. The pace of the game was pedestrian throughout, and while the commitment of most of the players was wholehearted we really weren’t given any serious insight as to what we can expect when the more serious end of the business is arrived at.
I was taken however by the fine hurling of young Noel Connors of Passage at left full back, while John and Patrick Hurney didn’t do their chances of a permanent call up any harm whatever. Both got on the score sheet with Patrick whipping over three of the finest quality points you are likely to see scored this whole season. Add in Gary’s first half goal and second half point and it was quite a day for the Hurney clan.
Good also to see Jamie Nagle in such fine form in the middle of the field, but to be absolutely honest there were few other eye catching performances of the kind that would bring smiles to the faces of Davy Fitz and his fellow selectors.
I expect that the experimentation will continue for as long as our direct involvement in this Crystal tourney is maintained, and the probability too is that the early rounds of the National League will be used as a platform to try and unearth fresh new talent.
However the game against Tipp a week from now will be much more informative regarding what level of talent is on the periphery of the team, and its unlikely that Fitzy will start with as many missing regulars as was the case last Sunday. Should be an interesting outing - -to say the very least.
One final word on last Sunday. There was a really fine attendance and everyone could only have been impressed with the excellence of the match arrangements on the part of the host club. The pitch too was in exceptional order for this time of year, and not for the first time Ardmore and their officials came up trumps.
Let all involved take what is a very well deserved bow.
