5 young hurlers showing what they’re made of in Walsh Cup and Munster League

Niall McIntyre

Off and running.

The pre-season competitions aren’t to everybody’s liking. Players are forced to play in the bitter conditions of a typical January weekend.

Games are called off at short notice, many teams only field their second string, and you’d have to wonder, is a start in a game on the first weekend in January actually a chance for a player to stake a claim for themselves for later on in the year?

It’s debatable.

But our players don’t complain and they get on with their business. They’re powerless to change it so they just give it a lash anyway. They made the best of the situation and some of them stood out, shouting out loud to their respective managers.

1. John Walsh (Kilkenny)

The Mullinavat club man has suffered an injury hell since he won man-of-the-match in the All-Ireland minor final in 2014. The lively corner forward scored 2-5 from play that day to down Limerick in GAA HQ.

He went one better on Sunday, scoring 2-6 as the Cats dispatched of Kildare in the side’s first ever competitive meeting in the Walsh Cup in Freshford.

Walsh Cup SH ft Kilkenny 3-18, Kildare 0-8. John Walsh scored 2-6;@KKPeopleSport

— John Knox (@johnknoxkk) January 7, 2018

Walsh is pacy, skilful and a deadly finisher. It’s good to see him back fully fit after the Cruciate Ligament injury he suffered in 2015, and if he shows form like this in the later rounds of this competition, and the Allianz Hurling Leagues, Brian Cody won’t ignore him.

Next up is Offaly on Sunday in the Walsh Cup semi-final for the Cats.

2. Seamus Flanagan (Limerick)

The former Limerick minor star has got off to a flier in the Munster League. The tall, athletic full forward scored a goal and a couple of points on his Treaty senior debut last weekend against Cork.

His radar was on again on Sunday as the ball-winning full forward managed 2-2 from open play in Limerick’s comprehensive defeat of Kerry.

He’s a valuable asset for John Kiely’s Shannonsiders. His combination of strength and speed, along with the ability to win his own possession and then take a score ticks all the boxes for a full forward.

3. Aaron Gillane (Limerick)

Gillane is a real star. A classy operator on the half forward line, the under-21 Hurler of the year in 2017 makes picking off points look like the easiest thing in the world.

With a style similar to John McGrath of Tipperary, the Patrickswell club man is languid and relaxed in possession, yet deceptively quick on the turn.

Always roaming. Never still. His movement takes him all over the forward line, and he regularly pops up in acres of space to slot a simple point. That’s no coincidence.

This man knows what he’s doing. Limerick know what he’s capable of.

Man-of-the-match last weekend against Cork with a tally of 1-9, he contributed well in Sunday’s Kerry destruction, too.

4. Niall Deasy (Clare)

Things are changing out west. The Banner seem to be placing more emphasis on size, strength and the ability of their forwards to win their own ball in the early rounds of the Munster League.

It’s a welcome change, given their struggles in these areas in recent years.

The Ballyea half forward, Deasy, along with fellow half forward Cathal Malone and the rangy full forward Peter Duggan are clear examples of this.

Deasy has settled in well for Donal Maloney and Gerry O’Connor. With a keen eye for a score and that bustling competitiveness to compete in the air, he brings something new to the Banner attack.

Scored 1-2 against Cork on Sunday. Contributed handsomely to the destroyal of Kerry the week before. Showing what he’s made of.

5. Cian Hendricken (Dublin)

It was only a matter of time that the Naomh Mearnóg corner back would get a run with the Dublin seniors. Tipped for big things after an impressive minor career, the physical corner back broke into the Dublin under-21 set-up in his first year out of the grade.

He’s a solid operator. Has pace, strength and plenty of skill. A torn cruciate in July 2016 kept him out of the fray last year, but two games in two days this weekend shows this man is back to full fitness.