Hurling Nation: Dubs inch closer; Clare need big guns

The madness in Nowlan Park last week as Offaly won the U20 title was a joy. Tomorrow, the Faithful County push onwards when they play Laois in their second successive Joe McDonagh Cup final.

The progress in Laois has been quiet but impressive. Willie Maher has managed what few others have. He has all in there pulling together.

Laois have beaten Offaly twice this year, in the Walsh Cup and in the first round of the Joe McDonagh. Both sides deserve to progress. We’ll narrowly give our vote to the O’Moore County.

The Leinster final next, where Kilkenny are looking for five in a row, and Dublin are hoping to sustain this summer’s progress.

Can Dublin win? If big events decide games, Dublin have got better at the biggest of events – goals.

In the 2022 Leinster Championship, Dublin scored zero goals in their games against Wexford, Galway and Kilkenny. Last summer, they scraped a goal against Wexford and two against Galway.

This year, they’ve scored two goals in each game against the big teams in Leinster. The goals are coming at good times too.

Brian Hayes has brought speed to midfield. His partnership with Conor Burke is the most effective Dublin have had for a long while. Chris Crummey’s return gives experience and scoring potential to the half-back line.

Up front, Donal Burke has class and Danny Sutcliffe’s career is seeing a late revival. His aerial play has been exceptional.

For the Cats, five Leinsters isn’t a landmark achievement. But losing to Dublin weeks after drawing with Carlow could be a landmark disaster.

Dublin have to shackle Eoin Cody without leaving another forward free to do the damage. And they need to hold their nerve if they nose ahead, as they didn’t do in their Parnell Park meeting a few weeks back.

There is a sense around Dublin that this could be their year. Injuries to John Donnelly and Mikey Carey have hardened that feeling.

But there’s no romance in Kilkenny. The Stripey Men love crushing Dublin optimism any time they sniff it.

Micheál Donoghue’s men are smart enough to avoid being crushed. But a win might be beyond them.

Sunday brings the Munster final and another instalment of the epic Clare-Limerick saga, a rivalry as enduring and constant as the flow of the River Shannon that divides both counties.

There are two things the Clare warriors desperately want – a Munster hurling title and Limerick’s scalp. This is the third year in a row that they get the chance to grab both in the one afternoon. And Banner blood runs faster at the thought of it.

But, yes, big events change games. Just a few weeks ago, Clare were nine points ahead in the 52nd minute. Limerick’s scoring had dried up.

But the big events came. Three goals in seven minutes. Diarmaid Byrnes’ 65 dropped to the net. Gearóid Hegarty switched to the corner, Clare never dealt with that. Hegarty supplied assists for both the Donnacha Ó Dalaigh and Aaron Gillane goals.

Luck, decisions, brilliance or belief? Whatever the cause, the big events have fallen on Limerick’s side.

They do have injuries to contend with. Peter Casey and Seamus Flanagan are gone. There are question marks over Darragh O’Donovan and Sean Finn. Still, their panel looks as different as it ever has and no team likes adversity more.

If this were a boxing match, the Treaty would win on points. The Banner need the haymakers.

They need something like a Shane O’Donnell hat-trick. An afternoon where Peter Duggan catches everything. Tony Kelly starting and being the best version of Tony Kelly. Maybe they need all those things.

After saying all that, Hurling Nation thinks it’s Limerick to roll on.

And finally, congratulations to Kildare, Donegal and Fermanagh on their wins last weekend.

Keep your faith and keep it going. Hurling needs you.

Dónal Óg Cusack was speaking on RTÉ Radio 1’s Morning Ireland.

Listen to the RTÉ GAA Podcast on the RTÉ Radio Player, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Watch the Leinster Hurling final, Kilkenny v Dublin, on Saturday from 5pm on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player. Follow a live blog on rte.ie/sport and the RTÉ News app and listen to commentary on RTÉ Radio 1

Watch the Munster Hurling final, Limerick v Clare, on Sunday from 3.15pm on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player. Follow a live blog on rte.ie/sport and the RTÉ News app and listen to commentary on RTÉ Radio 1