Short is the new long in hurling but balance is crucial

The fastest field sport in the world, where balls can reach speeds of 180 km / hour. Where a ball can travel the length of the pitch in under three seconds, if you want it to.

But nowadays, more often than not, the ball will go short rather than long, across the pitch rather than up it. It's not a new phenomenon by any means but it’s being used by the top teams more than ever before.

Case in point for this was in Nowlan Park last Sunday, where I witnessed the reaction and anger from the Kilkenny supporters to this new style of play for their team.

Kilkenny went short on several occasions and tried to work the ball through the lines but found themselves in two minds and turned over by Tipp’s work-rate and desire to win the dirty ball (we'll keep it on the down low for now that Tipp are going well). Queue a chorus of 'Will you drive it up the field' and 'what are ye at with this tippin and tappin'.

For so long the game was simple in Kilkenny: win the ball, drive it long and they should be good enough to win it at the other end regardless of how it’s coming in. It sounds easy but when you had the greatest hurling team ever executing the plan, they often made it look that way. But the landscape has changed, teams are tactically better equipped and organised to cut out space, drop deep and defend, and so these 50/50 balls have now really become 30/70 balls at best due to the number of bodies back there.

So if you want to win or at least challenge the very best you have to adapt and move with the times. That is what Derek Lyng is trying to do and I feel the Kilkenny hurling public need to understand this and give it time. If they keep trying what they’ve always done and hoping for different results than the last few years, well