Delaney: 'Crisis is a word thrown around too regularly'
JJ Delaney making a famous hook in the 2014 All Ireland Hurling Final replay.
By Cian O'Connell
Former Kilkenny player JJ Delaney thinks Dublin should adopt a physical approach in Saturday's All Ireland Hurling Round 1 qualifier at Pairc Ui Rinn.
Seven time All star Delaney, an analyst for Sky Sports, believes that Ger Cunningham's team are in 'better form' than Cork. "It's do or die, I don’t think both teams wanted this draw to be honest with you," Delaney commented.
"They’d rather have an easier draw and get through to the next qualifier and set your stall out after that.
"Dublin are in better form beating Wexford and the opening half against Kilkenny. In the second half they kind of fell apart and didn’t score for 10 or 15 minutes. It's not the first time Kilkenny have done that.
"It was very physical to be fair, and to if they bring that physicality against Cork again they might reap dividends from it. Kilkenny are so used to it and every team tries that against them, and they were probably expecting it more than anything.
"If they can get up to those levels of intensity and physicality against Cork, especially in the opening 20 minutes in Páirc Uí Rinn."
Delaney, though, feels that home advantage will assist Cork. "I know they are in a bad place at the moment but I can see them coming out and supporting them, especially because it’s a home game on a Saturday night.
Former Kilkenny star JJ Delaney.
"Dublin will have to nullify that crowd as well if they are going on to win the game too."
Thirty four year old Delaney reckons that Cork hurling isn't in crisis highlighting their Championship success over Clare last year. "Crisis is a word thrown around too regularly at the moment," Delaney said.
"Anyone they spoke to was crisis talk, but they can use that as motivation as well, and they have to get their own house in order, a few little tweaks here and there.
"They did beat Clare in the championship last year so they have potential match-winners when they are on the ball. It’s about getting these people when they don’t have the ball, that’s what they have to do really.
"They’ve been poor in the league, I thought they were very good against Kilkenny at Páirc Uí Rinn and unlucky to lose and they won the crunch the game against Galway when they had to win it.
"Against Tipperary I just thought the team that lined lined out was just very negative. It was just down to keep Tipp from scoring goals. The sweeper is here for the last couple of years and a lot of teams are playing with it at the moment."
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