OCCASIONALLY, a team can want something too much; their obsession eventually compromising performance . . . and Ballyhale Shamrocks could be in danger of doing just that judging by their often publically stated desire to gain revenge on champions Portumna for last year’s mauling in the All-Ireland Club hurling semi-final.

Sure, the Ballyhale players and mentors alike have been careful to pay due tribute to Portumna for the team’s spectacular performance in Thurles in February, 2009, but, all the time, you get the impression that the Kilkenny men believe that they were caught napping and didn’t do themselves justice. They are itching to set the record straight and now have the opportunity of doing so in Croke Park on St. Patrick’s Day.

Kilkenny teams, especially over the past few years, don’t like getting beaten and Ballyhale are symbolic of that attitude. They came to Thurles last year expecting to topple the title holders but, instead, were buried under an early avalanche of opposition goals. Henry Shefflin, James ‘Cha’ Fitzpatrick, Michael Fennelly and the Reid brothers had no answer on the day and it has clearly frustrated them ever since.

But the jury remains out on whether the Shamrocks are any better than 12 months ago. True, they retained the county title with some degree of ease, but were subsequently pushed all the way – even to extra time – by Oulart-the-Ballagh at Wexford Park in the Leinster semi-final before achieving a comfortable victory over final debutants Tullamore. It set Ballyhale up for a return to Thurles and a heavyweight collision against another team of former All-Ireland champions in Newtownshandrum.

The Kilkenny men looked good early on, but they only carried the day by two points in the end and the sight of Cathal Naughton often careering through their defence will have encouraged Portumna. That is the their Achilles heel – their lack of pace in defence – and thought central defenders, Eamon Walsh and Aidan Cummins, have switched roles from last year, that rearguard still looks vulnerable when run
at.

For all that, Ballyhale will be primed for a really high intensity performance. This is the game they have been waiting for and they will certainly lack nothing in motivation. Yet, the stark reality is that – at least, on all known form – Portumna still possess the better balanced team and, furthermore, they will be every bit as driven as their challengers in Croke Park. The prospect of becoming the first team ever to win three consecutive All-Ireland titles guarantees that alone.

The champions haven’t been beaten in championship hurling since their shock loss to Loughrea in the 2006 county final and that is some consistency by any standards. There are no obvious signs of any wear and tear or big match fatigue in their ranks and though the team’s age profile is on the increase, Portumna have such an innate confidence about themselves these days that they represent the complete package in club competition.

It’s difficult to see the Ballyhale rearguard coping adequately with Portumna’s twin assassins, Joe Canning and Damien Hayes, while Andy Smith, Kevin Hayes, Martin Dolphin and Ciaran Ryan will take some watching too not forgetting that the re-availability of Niall Hayes increases their options up front. Leo Smith and Eoin Lynch have been a really consistent midfield alliance over the years, while Micheál Ryan is currently playing the hurling of his life at centre back.

That defence also contains the brilliant Ollie Canning, whose stickwork remains as sharp as ever, and the long serving Eugene McEntee, a full back of immense mental strength who doesn’t get flustered easily. Throw in, goalkeeper Ivan Canning, Aidan O’Donnell, despite corner back not being his most favoured position, the ultra-reliable Gareth Heagney and the physically imposing Peter Smith, Portumna are no slouches at the back either.

It is also to the team’s benefit that they are a Croke Park team with the venue’s open expanses suiting their high tempo, fast moving style. Not since Clarinbridge in the 2008 quarter-final have Johnny Kelly’s squad diced with defeat and, if anything, they are possibly better than ever notwithstanding a relatively low key effort against Dunloy last month at Parnell Park. In 2008 and ’09, they probably peaked for the All-Ireland semi-finals, but one senses, this time around, their best has yet to come.

Ballyhale, undoubtedly, will be formidable opponents and are bound to be charged up to the last, but that could yet prove counter-productive on the day. Portumna want the three-in-a-row badly and it would be the day to beat all days. The champions have it every way and while a similarly explosive start to last year’s semi-final is unlikely, the greatest club team I have ever seen look more than well equipped to make hurling history on St. Patrick’s Day.

For more, read this week's Connacht Tribune.