By John Martin
ALL Cushendall eyes will be on Semple Stadium this weekend as the Ulster champions finally find out who they will be playing in the All Ireland semi-final in February 2009.
The clash of Limerick champions Adare and Waterford's De La Salle will ensure that a new name is on the O'Neill Cup, with neither side having yet reached the heights of provincial ecstasy.
The last Limerick side to win were Kilmallock in 1994, while Mount Sion were the last Waterford side to lift the title in 2002, before going on to lose the All Ireland semi-final to Dunloy.
It was also against Munster opposition that Cushendall came closest to reaching an All Ireland decider, taking Clare's St Joseph's Doora-Barefield to a replay in the semi-final of 1999-2000.
But before the Antrim champions start cashing in on the omens, the management team of James McNaughton, Fergus McAllister and Aidan McAteer will keep a close eye on Sunday's developments at Semple.
Cushendall got back to training last Wednesday and will be taking just one week's break over Christmas, and although they are rank outsiders of the six teams still left in the All Ireland race, with Munster's big guns falling by the wayside this year, it must represent their best chance of lining out on St Patrick's Day at Croke Park for the first time in their nine attempts.
According to the bookies however, the winners of the Cushendall-Munster champions semi-final needn't bother turning up with Ballyhale Shamrocks and Portumna already being billed in some quarters as the 'real' final, despite the Leinster competition not yet being finished. It would be a major surprise if Henry Shefflin and co don't emerge as Leinster champions on Sunday against Birr.
But who are Cushendall most likely to meet? De La Salle are slight favourites, although Adare – managed by former Clare All Ireland winner Ger 'Sparrow' O'Loughlin – will have noticed the reliance on their three county stars Kevin Moran, Brian Phelan, and particularly captain John Mullane.
It's already been a rollercoaster season for the Waterford side. They won their first ever senior county championship three weeks ago, and within a week had booked their place in a Munster final after a two-point win over Sarsfields of Cork.
They are a young side with not too many of the starting 15 over the 25 years mark. As well as their county players, Moran (centre half back), Phelan (midfield) and Mullane (full forward), they have a number of capable players. Crucially at this time of year, their full back line of Alan Kelly, Ian Flynn and Michael Doherty have been rock solid throughout the Waterford championship and against the Cork side.
Another crucial area in winter hurling is free-taking and De La Salle have the in-form Phelan for the long range efforts, and James Quirke for the frees closer to the posts. Mullane is likely to make his way out to the half forward line at some stage, and it wasn't until he moved away from the square that he began to find some space against Sarsfields, eventually finishing with five points from play. Aside from Mullane, Paidí Nevin has been the pick of the Waterford forwards.
Adare, despite winning their third Limerick title in three years, are also playing in their first Munster final. Like De La Salle, Adare's run has been backboned by their county stars with Mark Foley, Wayne McNamara, Donncha Sheehan and Conor Fitzgerald, while the form of Timmy Houlihan may well see the goalkeeper get a call from new manager Justin McCarthy to return to the Limerick squad.
Adare raised more than a few eyebrows when beating Toomevara in the semi-final. They led by 1-8 to 0-3 at half-time, but O'Loughlin will be worried by a period of 24 minutes before his side tagged on their first score of the second half.
It will be interesting to watch who picks up Mullane should he move from the full forward berth. Mullane against Foley would be a key battle, but with the Limerick star such an inspirational figure for his club, O'Loughlin may look to Kennedy to keep tabs on the De La Salle talisman.
McNamara has also been in tremendous form for Adare but with midfield partner Michael Noonan out with a broken hand, the advantage swings to De La Salle in the middle of the park.
A close game anticipated, with De La Salle just edging it to line out against Cushendall.
Another Munster star will have no doubt appeared on the radar of Antrim hurling supporters this week, when Anthony Daly was appointed manager of the Dublin senior hurling squad.
It's a great move for Dublin and will raise the profile of the game in the Capital. It may even attract one or two of the dual players back to the hurling fold, but it also means that Daly's first championship game in charge will be against Antrim at Croke Park. The Dubs might even come out of the pubs for the throw-in, but no doubt Daly's presence will attract extra media attention to the game, a factor which the Antrim management will need to ensure is worked to their advantage.
