There’s no rest for the wicked.
Dublin played against Tipperary in a challenge match on Saturday in Dr. Morris Park, Thurles.
This was their starting fifteen that lined out to face the Premier county.
Here's a quick match report from our Senior Hurlers' challenge match against @TipperaryGAA in Thurles yesterday 👇https://t.co/CqDU7Aq1P6
— Dublin GAA (@DubGAAOfficial) January 7, 2018
Alan Nolan Paddy Smyth, Bill O’Carroll, Cian Hendricken; Shane Barrett, Darren Kelly, Chris Crummey; Johnny McCaffrey, Tom Connolly; Danny Sutcliffe, Fergal Whitely, Daire Gray; Alan Moore, Paul Winters, John Hetherton.
Pat Gilroy’s outfit suffered a disappointing defeat to Michael Ryan’s charges. 17 points separated the sides as a Noel McGrath inspired Tipperary took them for a runaround in Thurles.
They hadn’t long to lick their wounds. They were playing Antrim on Sunday in the Walsh Cup in Parnell Park.
You might have thought Gilroy would field a different, or at least, a slightly changed 15 to play their second game in two days.
Instead, 13 of the fifteen players mentioned above started on Sunday at 2.00.
The two players highlighted, Kilmacud Crokes forward Fergal Whitely and St. Vincent’s attacker, the big John Hetherton were the only two players who weren’t in Sunday’s starting fifteen.
They were replaced by Paul Crummey and Robert Mahon.
Here are the @DubGAAOfficial and @AontroimGAA teams for today’s #WalshCup game. pic.twitter.com/GMSTKH7xSo
— We Are Dublin GAA (@WeAreDub) January 7, 2018
It’s certainly an unusual move by Gilroy. It’s an unusual move to organised a challenge game the day before a Walsh Cup game. It’s an unusual move to play, effectively, the same starting fifteen of players for both games.
It could be seen as a bid to get these players flying fit with the Allianz League soon approaching.
The players who may not have hit top form in the Tipperary trimming will certainly have been glad to get another crack at impressing Gilroy and his management team, which includes former Galway boss Anthony Cunningham.
Players love games and they know this team means business now.
The move did seem to pay off as the Dubs took Antrim for four goals, with two coming in the first and two in the second half.
WALSH CUP THIRD ROUND HT:
Dublin 2-09
Antrim 0-09#WalshCup #DublinGAA #DublinHurling pic.twitter.com/09rMysvHqo— We Are Dublin GAA (@WeAreDub) January 7, 2018
Corner forwards Alan Moore and Robbie Mahon did the lions share of the damage, with Moore accounting for a brace of goals and a point of play, while the number 15 raised six white flags, with three coming from open play.
Another positive aspect for the Capital city’s hurling following is the return of Danny Sutcliffe. The St. Jude’s man is back in the fold now for the first time since the 2015 season.
Any man who’s played two games over one weekend will know just how tired they’ll all feel tonight.
They now advance to the semi finals of the Walsh Cup competition.
