7 days ago
Mark Landers: 'If we're in trouble Sunday we're looking to Conor Lehane - we know he will do it'
The Dalo Hurling Show pitched up for an All-Ireland final preview at Sarsfields Hurling Club Wednesday night, where they trust and believe their beloved Pat Ryan will be returning with Liam MacCarthy on Monday.
For Anthony's regular guest TJ Ryan, the saving grace in this new-look yet traditional final is that 'one of them is going to lose'.
That renowned traffic controller of attacking patterns Eamon O'Shea made his way from Galway to discuss the 'flight paths' to goal both teams will take Sunday.
Though amid all the debate about inside forwards, Eamon expects 'a real ding dong challenge with less goals than people expect'.
Eamon is thrilled about the resurgence in Tipp goalpoacher John McGrath, and how he has defied those who said his 'legs were gone'.
'I saw him working through injury, working through form, he didn't give up, he kept believing.
'That's a real strong sense of a person. Just someone that is an example for all hurlers.
'People telling you this and that. But he stayed calm. He is the epitome of calmness. And I'm thrilled for him.'
Mark Landers echoed those sentiments about Cork veteran Conor Lehane, again set to play a huge part from the Cork bench.
'He hung in there. He's a vital cog. Great credit for what Conor has done to stay in the game. He's made himself really relevant to this panel.
'If we are in trouble Sunday, we're looking to Conor and we know he will do it.' O'Shea agreed: 'You couldn't not love hurling watching Conor Lehane.'
Will Seamie Harnedy be among those subs too if he is passed fit. Landers thinks so. 'Maybe Pat might think we'd be better have our strongest 15 finishing.'
The 1999 captain fancies Rob Downey will be making the winning speech this Sunday.
'Tipp are our greatest rivals there is no doubt But Cork have a maturity about them, they look able to carry the favourites' tag.
'I think there is still an upside in the team. They are still improving.
'And I feel they have an extra gear in them. And there is no way they will underestimate Tipp.' TJ says it's a mad game and mad things happen but he fancies Cork. Dalo thinks Cork will find a way.
The rational side of Professor O'Shea was almost swayed.
'I understand why people will go for Cork but I have an emotional part of my brain and I find it hard to consider anything but a Tipperary win.'
Whoever wins, at whoever's club the celebrations begin in earnest, Eamon knows these weekends are to be treasured 'This is not just a match. These are lifetime experiences for our people and our communities. This is something that goes deep. This actually matters in some way we can trace back. There is something different about this All-Ireland hurling experience.'
Irish Examiner subscribers can watch or listen to Dalo's All-Ireland Final preview now from Thursday lunchtime on
