Croker in July…
The provincial series at senior level may not be quite what it once was in either football or hurling, but trying telling that to a teenager appearing in this Sunday’s minor Leinster hurling final.
Dublin take on Kilkenny looking to atone for last year’s final disappointment, while for the reigning All-Ireland champions they are looking to take a massive step towards the county’s 55th provincial title.
Ahead of the curtain raiser at Croke Park at 2pm, we’ve taken a look at three key battles that could decide where this year’s Leinster trophy will be residing on Sunday evening.
Kilkenny’s defence vs Dublin’s attack
In just two games Dublin have racked up an impressive 3-34 as they romped to wins over Offaly and Westmeath on their way to Sunday’s final.
Almost half of that was secured in their last outing, with the Na Fianna duo of Donal Burke and Matthew Oliver contributing 1-13 of their championship total so far.
Kilkenny sides normally pride themselves on their defensive efforts, and their stats are slightly skewed by having played extra time in the eventual win over Wexford.
Nonetheless management must be concerned that their side has conceded 1-29 in their march to Sunday’s showpiece and perhaps lack the solidity of the Kilkenny team from 2014, despite Tommy Walsh and Cathal Mc Grath manning two of the three full-back slots
They may only have conceded 0-11 against Laois, but Pat Hoban and his selectors will know that Dublin pose a much stiffer test in the wide expanse of Croke Park.
Dublin’s Eoghan Conroy had a subdued day against Westmeath the last time out, but we’d expect he will be much busier if he is once again trusted at the edge of the square for Dublin against Walsh.
Dublin may also opt to change their attack, and we’d be surprised if Eoghan Dunne isn’t tried from the start this weekend after impressing in his 30 minute cameo in the win over Westmeath when replacing Gavin King who suffered an off-day.
Dublin have the forwards to test Kilkenny if given the chance with a big onus on Walsh and Darragh Joyce to make sure that the defence is not carved apart like Westmeath’s in the semi final.
Darragh Joyce vs Mark Maguire
If Kilkenny are to win their third Leinster minor hurling title in a row then it may very come down to who shades this personal duel.
Joyce was last year’s All-Ireland winning captain and physically resembles an U21 hurler more than a minor, while Maguire is being talked up as a possible breakout star in this year’s championship.
Joyce’s experience and ability to claim breaking ball as well as wonderful distribution is a potent weapon, and Kilkenny will be hoping that his direct opponent will have to do some defending of his own against Joyce who has scored 0-2 in the championship this year so far.
Maguire reminds us of a blue version of Richie Hogan, knitting play together while also being able to pop up with scores when needed.
If he can get Joyce backpedalling, or even take him away from the central area to allow Oliver and Burke storm through, then his job will be done.
Experience vs youth
We mentioned in our preview ahead of Dublin’s last game with Westmeath how much their squad has changed from last year’s run to the provincial final.
There are some survivors of course, but none of the players who have soldiered at this grade can compare to the medal haul of their opponents.
The old cliche of ‘never knowing with minors on any given day’ is just slightly less true when you’re dealing with a squad that saw four of last year’s All-Ireland winning side start the semi final win over Wexford last month, and had four more of the squad stationed on the bench.
Kilkenny players are born and almost reared in Croke Park. Granted, none of the teenagers in blue will find the stadium daunting, but Kilkenny have won on the biggest occasion.
Medals can make boys into men and with the likes of Tommy Walsh, Cathal McGrath and Darragh Joyce at the back and Daniel O’Connor and Andy Gaffney up front, Kilkenny may just edge the personal battles in key areas.
Dublin will be motivated not to lose yet another provincial final to the Cats, but that may not prove enough without the quality to back it up.
