The out ball.
When the backs are under pressure to clear their lines, when the opposition are in their face, hassling, harrying and hooking and they don’t have the time to look up and pick the perfect pass.
Sometimes defenders have no other option but to lump it down the field and hope for the best. Often, that’s not such a bad option at all and it’s certainly one that every team needs.
Worth their weight in gold are the big men who’ll contest for any type of ball that comes their way. They may be undervalued at times due to the dogged nature of their work but they’re appreciated by management and teammates.
They may not be the easiest on the eye but this is a results a business and that’s what matters at the end of the day.
Hurling tactics have evolved over the years. Back in the day, the big full forward was the first man on every team sheet. Nowadays, with short passing and building from the back a huge part, they’re fewer and further between.
Every team had one.
- Big Dan Shanahan (Waterford)
- Brian Corcoran (Cork)
- Ray Cummins (Cork)
- Joe McKenna (Limerick)
- Tony Doran (Wexford)
- Christy Heffernan (Kilkenny)
- Cormac Bonner (Tipperary)
Nowadays, that’s not the case and we could only pick out four who fit the bill in the modern game.
They do still exist.
Peter Duggan (Clare)
The big, burly Clooney-Quin full forward has been one of the most effective players of this National Hurling League campaign so far.
6 ft 4 in and well over 15 stone, he has plenty of weight to throw around and he does exactly that. He’ll take any kind of ball. Lump it down on top of him and he’ll make do, send it out in front of him and he’ll make a go of it too.
He’s been so important for Clare this year because he offers them something they didn’t previously have. That size, stature and aerial ability to win clean possession. Then, with a selfless pop pass he brings his less physically imposing teammates into the game.
It would be terribly unfair, unjust and uninformed to sum this man up as just a rough edged mullacker, though. For God’s sake he scored 0-21 against Limerick last weekend. Entrusted with the free-taking duties by Clare management, that shows the quality of this man’s hurling.
Seamus Hickey struggled with him last weekend, conceding free after free and losing the aerial battle. Watch him next time out for his strange approach to contesting high balls. On two occasions last weekend, he plucked skyscrapers with his right hand, throwing his marker with the move.
Joe Bergin (Offaly)
The Séir Kieran club man has been on the scene for ages now, so it’s hard to believe he’s only 30. An absolute tank of a man, he made his debut for the Faithful County in 2006.
He’s been leading the inside line ever since and while it hasn’t been a fruitful period for Offaly hurling, Bergin has always showed well.
So strong and physical. He must be a nightmare for any full back and he’s still plying that trade for Kevin Martin’s men.
Seamus Callanan (Tipperary)
Not your typical big full forward in that he’s one of the quickest and most skilful forwards in the game. The Drom and Inch club man has it all from pace to power to size to skill.
Conor McDonald (Wexford)
He hasn’t hit the heights expected of him in recent seasons but he’s still a weapon on the inside line for the Yellow Bellies. The Naomh Eanna club man is decent in the air and he’s a willing runner for any Wexford clearances. Just needs to get back to where he was a few years ago.
Shane Dowling (Limerick)
Strong as an ox. Prolific as they come.
Counties like Galway are always rotating their inside men, and while Johnny Glynn ends up there at times, he’s more often out in the half forward line. The same goes for Walter Walsh with Kilkenny.
Cork’s Patrick Horgan isn’t the most physically imposing full forward.
Waterford’s target man would be Maurice Shanahan, but he’s more of an impact sub now and their tactics don’t see them hit the full forward that regularly anyway.
