GAA Digest: Kilkenny easily handles Dublin

Tipperary Wins, Down Wins, Home Advantage, Mayo Wins

KILKENNY proved their undoubted class once again as they hammered a fancied Dublin side by 18 points in the Leinster SHC semifinal on Saturday night – and for once even their demanding manager Brian Cody was happy with his Cats.

“We played well today and it was a good performance in the first half,” said the normally modest and understated Cody.

“We played against a strong breeze, but went in at halftime with a bit of a lead.

“The two goals obviously in the first half were crucial scores and they were good goals as well. But the attitude of the players is very good and we are happy today, certainly.”

Galway are next up for Kilkenny in the Leinster final. “Everybody would prefer to go the direct route, but a Leinster final will be a big challenge for us,” he added.

“It’s against Galway and there’s going to be absolutely nothing in that game. Galway had a very big win the last day against Offaly but the challenge is there ahead of us and that’s what we are looking forward to now.”

Dublin manager Daly took no prisoners after the Kilkenny defeat. “If we gathered up 20 at the Red Cow Roundabout and came down this morning it could hardly have been worse,” he said.

“We couldn’t rise the ball. It must have been something between the ears, a psychological block of whatever it is. We never got of the blocks. Kilkenny showed how to do it again, you step up to the plate on the big day and you be an adult about it and be a man about it.

“We didn’t seem to do it at all. Being beaten by Kilkenny is not a shock to the system, but it’s just the way we played on the day.”

Dublin captain John McCaffrey also struggled to come to terms with his team’s poor performance against the All-Ireland title holders.

“We are absolutely devastated,” said McCaffrey. “It is hard to put the finger on what went wrong. I suppose the best thing about the qualifiers is that we now have a change to put things right in two weeks time.”

McCaffrey has vowed to pick up the pieces when his team resumes action in the All-Ireland qualifiers against Clare on Saturday, July 6.

“We’ll get nothing easy off Clare down in Ennis, they were unlucky against Waterford and I’m sure will fancy their chances against us,” he said.

Tipperary Wins

TIPPERARY boss Declan Ryan refused to look beyond the victory as his team celebrated Sunday’s impressive comeback against Cork when they snatched a 1-22 to 0-24 win in Pairc Ui Chaoimh.
Not even the second half dismissal of John O’Brien for a second bookable offense could deny Tipp a Munster hurling final date with Waterford.

Ryan however was reluctant to talk about the July 15 provincial decider.

“We’re delighted to be in a Munster final again. It’s a huge achievement to get into the Munster final. We’re just delighted to get out of Cork today,” said Ryan.

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Nster.com