GAA: JJ Delaney previews Kilkenny v Waterford and Tipperary v Dublin in hurling draw
Thursday 6 July 2017 16:33, UK
Sky Sports' JJ Delaney previews an intriguing second-round draw of the hurling championship, which has drawn All-Ireland champions Tipperary against Dublin and Waterford versus Kilkenny.
Now we're really getting down to the business end of things! The Leinster final is out of the way, and there are two more crucial qualifiers to come on Saturday, and then the Munster final on Sunday.
Tipperary have a chance to keep their comeback ongoing by beating Dublin - and Kilkenny versus Waterford will be a cracker, coverage starts at 6pm on Sky Sports 3, with updates via @SkySportsGAA.
The landscape will certainly be a lot clearer over the next few days.
Time to do a quick stock take...
All-Ireland qualifiers
On Saturday night, Tipperary really struggled to put Westmeath away. If they are to find their form - like everyone keeps expecting them to - they will have to find it quickly. Time is running out and they seem to have slipped a little bit over the past few months. It's hard to know why, with all the talent that they have.
Dublin will come into this weekend's game on a high after beating Laois - but you'd imagine Tipp will have enough for them.
Waterford put up a serious score over Offaly. It will do their confidence the world of good and they will be a tricky draw for Kilkenny next Saturday, with a bit of wind in their sails again.
Dublin were very poor against Galway but they put up a better showing against a Laois side who were short of two of their best players, Ross King and Picky Maher. Despite this showing, they will be up against it in the next qualifier. They have some fine young players coming through but there is a dearth of experience as well which could cost them.
As for Kilkenny, they did enough to see off a brave Limerick side and no-one will have wanted to draw them at all. John Kiely's Limerick side put it up to the Kilkenny lads but their wide count hurt them, it was way too high - 13 in the first half alone.
It was Kilkenny's ninth-ever championship victory over Limerick but they did struggle to completely put Limerick away. I thought Paul Murphy, Mick Fennelly and Paraic Walsh were brilliant throughout. Fennelly is a machine, I don't know how he reached the level he did after being out for so long with the Achilles injury.
Joe Lyng and Wally Walsh really came into the game as well, Wally had a quiet enough start to the game but then exploded and never looked back. He showed real leadership.
Perhaps the most pleasing thing is that they found a way to win without Colin Fennelly or Richie Hogan being in top form. TJ Reid scored eight points but maybe the next day, Colin and Richie will provide the goods.
Mixed emotions for Limerick
Limerick can look back with pride but they will have regrets too. They did enough to leave themselves in a position to win the game but their final ball and shot selection was poor. They were unable to find a way through a good Kilkenny defence but they could have picked off points from further out and, like the Clare game, they will rue all the wides they hit.
Their 2017 championship campaign is now over but they definitely have the basis of a good team to come through.
I thought Richie McCarthy had a fine game, Shane Dowling really showed leadership and the two Caseys did very well also.
Players like Kyle Hayes will have a fine future and if their manager, John Kiely, can keep them going in the right direction, I think they can build again for next year.
Waterford will feel it's their time to win. It's a huge game for them. I can't wait. It's all on the line again.
As for this weekend, Kilkenny will have no fear of playing Waterford but I would say it's vice versa.
Kilkenny have a few gears to find yet but Waterford are back on the horse and after shooting 1-35, I think they will take Kilkenny on.
They'll play a sweeper but they'll also pull their forwards out and go at Kilkenny - they will feel their time has come.
They will feel it's their time to win. It's a huge game for them. I can't wait. It's all on the line again.
