Clare plan may not work again??

kilkennycat2004

Good article by Jim O'Sullivan in the examiner comparing Clare 2004 plan to Galway 1986. Was at that game in Thurles. We had won league final against Galway a few weeks earlier. Morale of story hopefully is same plan wont work twice. heres the article

THERE was a sense of history repeating itself for Pat Henderson and many
Kilkenny fans in Croke Park last Sunday.

As Clare deployed Alan Markham in a sweeper role, Henderson recalled the
All-Ireland SHC semi-final when Galway manager Cyril Farrell produced a
similar tactical masterstroke against his Cats' side 18 years ago.

After the ball was thrown in, full-forward Pierce Piggott (a current
selector) moved to the centre of the field, while one of the chosen
midfielders - Tony Kilkenny - operated in front of the half-backs.

The Connacht side won with ease (4-12 to 0-13) and it gave them their
first victory over Kilkenny in 33 years. However, the trick failed to
work in the decider as the Johnny Crowley- managed Cork countered
Farrell's strategy and captured the Liam McCarthy Cup.

"It was a similar ploy in some ways,'' he agreed yesterday.

"Clare played a defensive situation, whereas in that game Galway played
an attacking one by bringing the forward out to play in the middle of
the field. When they tried the same tactic against Cork in the final, it
completely backfired.

"It depends on the day how something like that works out, but it worked
very well for Clare last Sunday for half-an-hour.

"It will be interesting to see what Kilkenny do to counteract it.''

Henderson says the best response to such a tactic is to use the extra
man, not in defence, but further outfield.

"They may not put him the whole way up. He might go to centre field with
the idea of trying to put pressure on Clare from there. They may also
bring Tommy Walsh back into the forwards. That is a possibility.''

Flukey

I am sure Clare will have plenty of ideas for Sunday and let's hope they win.
Here is a little reminder of that second penalty with a photo I took last Sunday.

Big Ears

I would love hurling to become a tactical game and not all teams playing a 3-3-2-3-3 formation .

A good set of selectors and manager are invaluble when it comes to tactics .

Flukey

It is tactical. Like in any field sport players don't stick rigidly to their positions. Watch any of the good teams play and they have plenty of good work off the ball, getting players into position and in to support the player in possession. Hurling is the fastest field game in the world, so no player is ever in their allotted position for very long.

Flukey

Oh well, come on the Decies!