It’s no secret we are in Croker twice this weekend.
The curtain raiser is on Saturday for James Stephens Intermediate All Ireland against Clonduff.
See also: James Stephens reaching Croker “means everything,” says legend Fan Larkin
Then on Sunday the eagerly anticipated rematch of Shamrocks and Ballygunner.
Now when we spoke to manager Pat Hoban about the second-half performance against Kilmacud Croke’s he indicated it wouldn’t be good enough to beat the Waterford side. Shamrocks came into some criticism allowing a 14-point lead slip to just one. Supporters and neutrals alike also lamented their first-half performance against Nass, where Dean Mason was forced into some super stops.
𝗥𝗘𝗦𝗨𝗟𝗧
— Leinster GAA (@gaaleinster) December 4, 2022
From the AIB Leinster GAA Senior Club Hurling Championship Final
And it’s Shamrocks who come out on top in a thriller at Croke Park
Kilmacud Crokes 2-19
Shamrocks 2-22#LeinsterClub22 | @KCrokesGAAClub @BallyhaleGAA | @AIB_GAA pic.twitter.com/7TWmSBDvxK
The close calls stretch back to last year’s contests like with Mount Leinster Rangers, St. Thomas, and St. Ryanghs. Ultimately Ballygunner defeated them in the final with a famous/infamous strike by a Harry Ruddle. As always the ties have been great entertainment for fans of hurling in general, however, Joey Holden outlines how Shamrocks may have learned their lesson, particularly from the Leinster final.
“The first half flattered us a little bit and gave us a false sense of security. We scored the three points after half time, maybe we just switched off. It is a lesson though, that if you switch off against these teams that gave so much to get where they are, they will punish you.”
“Hurling is a game that can change so quickly, it can happen so fast and it’s very hard to stem the flow once it starts. To see if it’s a wake-up call, the only way we can prove that is in the next game. So we will see if it is a wake-up call against Ballygunner.”
You can hear the full interview with Joey in our pre-match build-up to the game on Sunday from 2 o’clock on Scoreline.
