AN INCISIVE RUN down the left wing, the launchpad for an attack that yields a crucial late goal, and suddenly the complexion of a hurling season is completely changed. If they cross paths before throw-in today in Thurles, Liam Cahill and Pat Ryan can relate to the similarity in those dramatic recent finales their teams have experienced. A fortnight ago it was Jake Morris driving forward for Tipperary in Walsh Park, with a hat-trip to Mark Kehoe’s ball winning skills beforehand, and after Morris saw his shot blocked, substitute Seanie Kenneally bundled the ball to the net.
Last weekend it was Cork’s Shane Kingston, aided by the alert Patrick Collins, scything through the Limerick rearguard,from the left wing, and drawing the foul that paved the way for Patrick Horgan to hammer home his penalty strike. Those goals were the precursor to a final point for each team, a critical one in Tipperary’s case as Gearoid O’Connor nailed the free that dragged Waterford level, an insurance one in Cork’s case as Brian Hayes flighted over a shot after Horgan arrowed a free in his direction. But in both cases it was the goal that changed everything.
Hurling hopes for 2024 were in danger of going up in smoke, yet Tipperary and Cork both somehow found a way to rescue themselves. In opposition Davy Fitzgerald and John Kiely bemoaned the inability of their teams to quash the attack before any momentum was built up. But for Cahill and Ryan, there was a mixture of relief and pride in the re.