GAA Winners & Losers: Lee Chin, Cavan Football and Davy’s Private Box
Good Week/Bad Week across this week’s GAA spectrum.
Good Week
Lee Chin
The Wexford maestro is quickly gaining traction as one of the best hurlers in the country, if not for his soundness of skill but for his determination, drive and sheer athleticism on the field.
He was outstanding against Kilkenny on Saturday evening and may have plonked himself into the discussion for player of the year—should Wexford progress well into the Championship he’ll certainly be under consideration. Davy Fitzgerald has Wexford ticking like a well oiled machine and Chin is the engine behind it all. His pluck out of the air and out of the hand of the Kilkenny back epitomised everything about Wexford’s dominace over Kilkenny in Wexford Park.
Galway Football
It mightn’t have been pretty by the end, but Galway beat Mayo for the second year in a row in a Connacht semi-final and sealed a berth in the final against Leitrim or Roscommon.
Galway stormed out of the gate, but their momentum was killed in its tracks by an early Kevin McLoughlin 1–1 for Mayo. The 26th minute red card for Keith Higgins, however, dealt a huge blow to Mayo and Galway picked nine points in the first half, going in one point leaders over their rivals.
Sean Armstrong was terrific for Galway, scoring six points. However the Tribesmen only managed one point during a 24 minute period in the second half, helped by Mayo’s wayward shooting near the end, escaping with a one point victory. Galway needed a replay to overcome Roscommon last year, it might be just as tight this year.
Cavan Football
Cavan were a few inches from drawing against Monaghan in Ulster, showing fantastic fight in a game which they led in its entirety until Conor McManus’ superb late goal finally lifted Monaghan into the lead.
Cavan went down to the other end and after a melee for the ball, were denied by the post with a shot from Ryan Connolly. It was heartbreaking for Cavan, who probably deserved some share of the game which was live in front of RTÉ cameras — bringing some much needed relevancy to the two counties.
Davy’s Box
It delivered on the day, keeping the suspended manager hidden from plain view as Wexford beat Kilkenny in astonishing fashion on Saturday evening. God know’s the antics and language that was going on in Davy’s private quarters, we only hope the walls had some sort of padding for when Kilkenny scored that third goal.
Carlow Hurling
The 5–23 to 4–15 scoreline from Croke Park in yesterday's Christy Ring Cup final left many wondering why the match wasn’t available anywhere on television, but that’s an argument for another day. Carlow were absolutely magnificent — James Doyle especially, who notched four goals, including three before half time.
Carlow now go into a play-off against Laois for a place in the All-Ireland qualifiers. Should they overcome Laois, they’ll potentially have a David versus Goliath matchup against Kilkenny or Tipperary.
Bad Week
Kilkenny Hurling
Are Kilkenny and Brian Cody done? They were poor against Wexford — sloppy, missing chances you would expect them to score and showing no signs of a Plan B against the fight of the Yellowbellies. They’re tactic of hitting it long into Colin Fennelly was fruitful, bearing a goal and two penalties, but other big names like Richie Hogan were anonymous, while the likes of Ger Aylward and Pádraig Walsh (see below) hit seven wides combined.
Bar maybe TJ Reid and Killian Buckley in the backs, Kilkenny were defeated all over the field. They were forced to bring on backup goalkeeper Richie Reid as a forward in the second half, something that would have been unheard of five years ago.
Kilkenny’s season is still salvageable, but the conveyor belt of All-Stars that make up their devastating All-Ireland winning teams may be slowing down.
Ger Aylward & Pádraig Walsh
It was an especially bad day for the above two, returning from injury and getting hauled off before the half time bell. Pádraig Walsh had #3 on his back but played higher up the pitch, looking sluggish and not fit for the task at hand, hitting three wides. Aylward was wayward with his shots too, missing four chances. In their defence, they were getting on much more ball than many of the other forwards who shied away from battle.
Keith Higgins
A ridiculous rush of blood to the head has consigned Mayo to the qualifiers for the second year in a row. Higgins’ low blow in the 26th minute dealt Mayo a massive blow, having to go 14-men against a dogged defensive Galway.
Mayo lost by a point and you’d have to imagine if they had a full compliment on the field the result would have been much different.
Tipperary Football
You could argue Cork should be here and not Tipperary, but the Tipp footballers would’ve been sickened leaving Páirc Ui Rinn on Saturday without victory.
It was a horrendous game until late on when a Conor Sweeney goal put Tipperary into the lead, but Cork went straight down the field and Luke Connolly palmed home the winner. It was a devastating loss for Tipp in a game they’ll look back and know they should’ve won.
Injury to Michael Quinlivan is a huge setback, too.
Cork Football
You’re not getting away with it, Rebels. In two Munster Championship games against Waterford and Tipp, Cork have won by a combined two points.
Kerry, meanwhile overcame a dogged Clare by 11 points with 14-men. Unless Cork see the green and yellow of Kerry and return to their form of old, or Kerry will make light work of Cork on the 2nd of July.
