Clash of the Titans.

This Sunday at Croke Park Dublin, 30 men, all amateurs, will take up battle to be crowned All Ireland hurling champions of 2011.  Tipperary, my home county and current champions, take on the hurling behemoth that is Kilkenny in a repeat of the last two finals that have seen the honours shared at one title apiece.  Kilkenny are the most successful county in hurling’s history and we jealously covet our neighbours’ honours, their seemingly endless conveyor belt that produces fantastic hurlers year after year.  When a great player retires another, equally great, steps in to the breach.  It is only recently with our successes at minor and under 21 level that Tipp have started to acquire the same kind of continuity, culminating in our narrow defeat in 2009 and the catharsis of last years victory.  The Premier County were back.

Hurling, the fastest field game on the planet, is ostensibly a man marking game, with every player marked in every position by an opposition player.  It is these individual battles all over the pitch, that are so intriguing and on which results invariably hang.  Coaches will regularly switch players to different positions during a game to strengthen or exploit weaknesses.  A good team applies these basic tenets, probing for an advantage, grinding out little victories all over the pitch, sneaking and sniping their way to the greater victory.  A great team, throws this rule book out the window.

Kilkenny hunt in packs, swarming over the opposition, loping like wolves hungry for ball, harrying their opposition into mistakes, and when winning possession, magically thin out on the field, for the inevitable score.  At times it seems Kilkenny have 20 men on the pitch, denying space while simultaneously creating it, flooding inexorably towards goal.  Kilkenny defend as a unit and attack as a unit.

Tipperary, on the other hand, play in a more orthodox manner, until the ball gets to the forwards.  Like Barcelona with Messi, Villa and Pedro, Tipp use Corbett, O Brien and Kelly as diversions, never in their normal positions they roam all over the pitch presenting defenders with a dilemma, do they follow, leaving gaps behind them, or stay put leaving themselves open to be attacked at pace?

In the Munster Final, Waterford’s defenders stayed put, and conceded 7 goals, Dublin adopted a different tactic in the All Ireland semi final, dropping back an extra defender to nullify this threat, but left themselves short in attack allowing Tipp to pick off scores at will.  We won but it wasn’t the massacre most pundits had predicted.

Still, I can’t see Kilkenny changing their tactics on Sunday.  They are far too good for that and that’s what makes the final so compelling, both teams know that a change of approach will be seen as weakness, a weakness to be pounced upon.  Kilkenny will launch themselves at us with every fibre of their being, propelled by history and their perceived right, fear of failure and judgement by their peers, hoping to get their nose in front and stay there.  Tipp will wait and absorb, relying on their backs and their midfield, waiting for any chink that will allow their forward goal machine to pounce.

That is why I urge you, no matter where you live, head to an Irish bar this Sunday to witness a sporting occasion unlike any other.  Think of a Champions League final between AC Milan of the early 90’s versus the current Barcelona team.  Think of 70’s Brazil against 50’s Brazil.  Think of Ali against Frazier.  Think of 70’s Holland against 70’s Ajax.  Now multiply it by 10 and you’re halfway there.

This will be a clash of titans, with skill, power, hunger, glorious victory and unthinkable defeat.  For the losing county there will be no hiding place.

I leave you with these words after Tipperary’s victory over Kilkenny in the 1916 All Ireland..

Kilkenny Captain > We were the better hurlers!!

Tipp Captain > Aye, but we were the better men

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