Dan Shanahan thinks that Mikey Butler will pick up Tony Kelly in Saturday's All Ireland hurling semi final between Kilkenny and Clare. The three-time All Star is currently coaching Bennettsbridge.
"From what I'm hearing, Mikey Butler is going to follow him all over the place. That's what I'm hearing. But when he does that, he creates space for other lads in the Clare forward line like O'Donnell, Duggan and Galvin. Tony was well marshalled the last day but he's outstanding in Croke Park any time he plays up there. Butler did a great job the last day in the Leinster final and he will probably get the same role on Kelly but Kelly is a totally different fish. He'll go out the field, he'll stay inside, he'll go out centre forward. From what I hear, he's going to follow him."
Shanahan predicts a Kilkenny-Limerick final on July 17. "Clare will earn their victory on Saturday evening, I can guarantee you that. This Kilkenny team are 75 minutes away from an All Ireland final and at the start of the year, who would have said that? They're going to be two phenomenal games, I wouldn't be surprised with any result. I'm tipping Limerick to win, they'll grind down Galway. The way Clare play, the physicality they have in their team, will suit Kilkenny. If it was a running game, that mightn't suit Kilkenny."
He disagrees with penalties deciding games that end level after extra time. "I don't see what the rush is to be honest with you. To end the game with penalties is not a thing. We've our own association, we make our own rules. If it doesn't go to a replay after extra time, the next score wins."
Listen back to the full interview with Dan Shanahan from Friday's Lár Na Páirce.
