One of the all-time best
Tiernan McCann may be the bête noire for GAA writers right now, but according to one of the country’s finest hurlers, it’s not just Gaelic football that has an issue with players feigning injury.
Former Tipperary hurler Eoin Kelly will be more than an interested spectator this Sunday when his native county face Galway in the All-Ireland hurling semi final, and he suggests a sin-bin rather than a black card would eliminate a lot of negativity in both hurling and football.
We caught up with the Mullinahone man to discuss Sunday’s game, who he feels will be the crucial players on both sides and how he’s coping with life outside the whitewash for the first summer in 16 years.
What are you own memories of facing Galway in the championship?
“We always feared them for the simple reason that you don’t know what Galway were going to turn up with.
“When they’re good they have the potential to hit three or four goals and twenty plus points and they have done that before.
“When they are really physically and mentally tuned in for  a game they can be a massive obstacle.
“In 2001 they beat Kilkenny in an All-Ireland semi final, and in a couple of quarter-finals – 2005 stands out – when we played them they beat us by six, after we were five or six up and then followed it up with a massive performance against Kilkenny in the semi.
“When they’re good they’re good, and when they are below par they can become a poorish team.”
What have you seen in Tipperary that suggest they are good enough to win the All-Ireland?Â
“In the same way with Galway I think there is a strong mentality with Tipp this season and I would have seen that in the first round against Limerick. They were very professional and after 15 minutes dominated until half-time and drove on after a shaky patch to win comprehensively.
“I’ve been impressed by Tipperary and how focused they seem, and the two All-Ireland’s last year should stand to them. Croke Park holds no fear for any of them.”
Who are the match-winners?
“Trying to curtail the attacking options on both sides will occupy a lot of the management’s time this week. With Galway, Jason Flynn and Cathal Mannion means that Joe (Canning) is not on his own for an All-Ireland semi final and we all know what he said about Galway being a one-man team.
“For Tipperary ‘Bubbles’ and Seamus (Callanan) are very difficult to try and keep quiet for an entire game. It’s the same with Richie Hogan and TJ Reid. You just try and keep them as quiet as possible.
“I think if Cathal Mannion scores four or five on Sunday I think Galway will be close and it should be as high scoring game, but we need something to get hurling interest back into things. Hopefully that happens on Sunday.
Why has the Championship been a poor one so far?
“The public had high expectations of Wexford and Limerick and Clare, and maybe even Dublin. But all four teams disappointed this season.
“I’d love to see Kilkenny and Tipperary in the final obviously, but I think other people are crying out for a non-traditional final just to keep the hurling alive.
“I think that from that side of things it has been disappointing and then some of the other games have been one-sided for the top three or four teams.”
What did you think of Richie Hogan’s comments that he ‘hates’ the championship structure?
“As a player for the preparation and time you put in, it’s all year round, it’s not just a big day in August or September. Players love to play games and would love to play in a full Croke Park two or three times a month but that’s not going to happen.
“I’m probably a traditionalist but I’d hate to see the Munster Championship done away with. I can see where he’s coming from and he wants more games. And he’s probably saying that because Kilkenny were knocked out of the league early and so they had no league semi or final.
“Kilkenny maybe missed out on two big days and in case they would five or six big days out rather than just two or three. Maybe his comment is an innocent comment made after the league.
Is faking injury an issue in hurling?
“Hurling is on a smaller scale of counties and a lot of the lads know each other.
There has been a few times in the championship in the the last few years when a guy will play for the free and he might fake an injury to get a guy to get a yellow card.
It’s rare but I hope it doesn’t creep into the hurling the same way it seems to have for football.
How would you combat faking injury or prevent incidents like that happening again?Â
Maybe a sin-bin or something. Give him 10 minutes away. With the black card towards the end of a game guys are running down the clock and with five minutes to go you’re bringing on a fresh guy. But if a team is down to 14 men for the last few minutes after faking an injury a team might suffer more.
How are you finding retirement?
“The last few days that Tipp have been playing I’ve been doing a bit of media work and I like that and you’re away from supporters.
“I’d find it hard if I was among the fans and they were cutting or slating the players because from being out there you know what its like after taking a few hits and after 66-67 mins and your tongue is hanging out.
“It’s demanding out there on the pitch and at least in the press box you can enjoy the game, see the good and bad things and I’m not vocal at a game.
“I’m enjoying the Tipp games and when they’re winning that’s a bonus.
How do you find being away from the discipline and training of elite inter-county?
“If you saw me on the street you’d be saying that I’m after indulging a bit too much, but I’ve had a back injury the last year or two and that’s hurt my training and I’m under a bit of pressure. I’d like to be able to train with my club but I’m only doing very light work at the moment since Christmas.
Finally, a verdict for Sunday?
“I fancy Tipperary. They are a team that have unfinished business from last year but expect that after coming through a tough battle on Sunday they will be better for it.”
