Kilkenny legend Eddie Keher names who could be tasked with curbing Clare dangerman Shane O'Donnell
O’Donnell has won an All Star in each of the last two seasons and has a third all but wrapped up already as well being a leading contender for Hurler of Year having been in peak form throughout the Championship.
Kilkenny will have their work cut out to keep tabs on Shane O’Donnell in Saturday’s first All-Ireland semi-final, says Eddie Keher.
O’Donnell has won an All Star in each of the last two seasons and has a third all but wrapped up already as well being a leading contender for Hurler of Year having been in peak form throughout the Championship.
Kilkenny legend Keher says that the 30-year-old is “beautiful to watch”.
“His first touch, his skill level, his footwork is unbelievable,” said Keher. “He’s a player who should be out there and let the world see what his skill is.
“Tony Kelly is back in great form again, super hurler. John Conlon as well has been a great servant to Clare and is still producing it.”
O’Donnell often alternates between the centre-forward and full-forward positions and, in current form, is extremely difficult to tie down.
"That will be a task,” said Keher. “I presume Kilkenny will have to work out something to minimise his impact but that is some job. He is some hurler.
“From an opposition point of view you'd have to admire him but it will be a big job to shut him down. I'm not sure what plan Kilkenny will have but they will need one to curb his activities on the field.”
Kilkenny defender Mikey Butler has got the better of Tony Kelly in each of the last two All-Ireland semi-finals that the counties have contested though Kelly is set to be playing more centrally this time having been stationed at midfield in the recent win over Wexford and Keher reckons Butler may end up tagging O’Donnell instead.
"I have no idea what will happen but I'm not sure if they’ll leave Mikey Butler out to centrefield to mark him [Kelly]. He could be marking Shane O’Donnell.
“It’s very hard in the present game, thinking back to my era or the not-too-distant past, the game has changed so much you don’t know where anyone is playing at the moment.
“It’s very hard to follow. For me as a spectator, I find it very hard to see. The full-forward line are back in the full-back line clearing balls – it’s very hard to track everyone.
"Going back to Shane, he’s such a good hurler, it’s going to be very difficult. But I think Mikey Butler might be the man for him.”
Keher was the long-time leading scorer in Championship history before being overtaken by fellow countryman Henry Shefflin in 2010 though it’s now come down to a duel between another Cat, TJ Reid, and Cork’s Patrick Horgan, who are currently tied at 34-597 and 29-612 (699 points) respectively.
But Keher doesn’t believe that either of them will be giving it much thought ahead of the weekend semi-finals.
"Not really. It’s great. They are two fantastic hurlers, everyone admires both of them. Patrick Horgan particularly has been soldering on with Cork for so many years without success.
“I know we all want to win in All-Ireland if we can - the hurling world would love to see Patrick Horgan win an All-Ireland. He's a super hurler. I think people will go in their droves to see both TJ and Patrick.
"The scoring thing, I think that is something for the future, to look back on. I don't think either of them pay any attention to it while the Championship is on.”
Eddie Keher was speaking at the launch of the Circet All-Ireland GAA Golf Challenge, which takes place at Killarney GC on October 17-18.
Get the latest sports headlines straight to your inbox by signing up for free email alerts.
Related
Share this page
Guest Posts by Easy Branches
