Tipperary hurlers continue to create very positive impression so far this season

One of the best compliments paid to Tipperary’s hurlers at the weekend came from John Kiely. In an after-match interview the Limerick manager stated that Tipperary “didn’t go away”. Staying the course was an essential requirement from Liam Cahill’s young guns, so that resilience alone was a pleasing aspect of a plucky performance, one that pushed Limerick all the way.

Ultimately it came down to a four-point defeat but it’s the quality of the performance that will have pleased Tipperary folk the most. It was gutsy and gritty - and with a fair dollop of skill in the mix also. Enough ingredients there to offer encouragement to a side trying to build competitiveness in a challenging year for the county.

Others have praised the quality of the hurling in a February league match. It was certainly of a high order for an early season game, something which is best illustrated by the scoring statistics. Showing remarkable efficiency, Limerick hit 30 points, a figure that would do justice to summertime hurling.

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The fact that Tipperary kept in tow with such precision pointing is commendable. In part it’s due to the ice-cool shooting of Darragh McCarthy from frees, nine in total with just one miss from distance. Others too pitched in with major inputs: Sean Kenneally on 1-3, 0-4 for Jake Morris and 0-3 from Alan Tynan. 1-23 is a decent innings any time of year.

The Kenneally goal was a real gem, an early season goal-of-the- year contender. Michael Breen provided the diagonal delivery into the full forward line. Darragh McCarthy peeled away to collect the breakdown and feed the handpass to the Moneygall man. The first-time volley finish was ballsy and brilliant.

The game’s only green flag came after 24 minutes and was crucial to Tipperary’s first half effort. Midway through the half Limerick had been threatening to get a handle on things but Kennelly’s goal was a major moment. Ultimately it sent us to the break a point up, though having played with wind backing.

It had been a high-energy half with lots of movement and heavy tussling. Limerick were working their characteristic necklaces of passes to free up a shooter – and the finishing was sublime. Just four wides and 15 flags in the first half was a rich haul.

For Tipperary, though, there was much to please the fans also. The team was manning up to the challenge and working their own quality scores from a variety of shooters, Willie Connors, Bryan O’Mara, Michael Breen and Gearoid O’Connor among the better strikes.

Against that there were seven wides. Limerick’s strike rate was greater and in a tight game that mattered a lot. Apart from Kenneally’s goal we had a few other half-chances. The Moneygall man got bottled up by defenders in one such incident and then was ridiculously penalised after being rear-ended by Dan Morrissey.

The best chance, however, was when a sharp passing movement fed Jake Morris but his attempted stick-pass to Darragh Stakelum was blocked and the chance was gone. A handpass was more likely to succeed - or should I say a hand-throw in a game littered with suck illegalities and not one of them penalised.

At the other end Limerick had just one clear goal chance when Donnacha O’Dalaigh seemed to get caught between two minds, whether to shoot or pass to Aaron Gillane. He did neither and sent the ball hopelessly wide.

Our second half history against Limerick under John Kiely is pock-marked with major failures. Sustaining the effort has often been a problem. Such memories on Sunday left one edgy anticipating the restart at the Gaelic Grounds. Could it be different this time? It could – and it was.

Probably the most encouraging aspect for Liam Cahill was the manner in which Tipperary stayed bold and on task. I didn’t have a sense that we could drive on to outright victory but there was certainly no retreat from this team. The side stayed working, stayed chasing and refused to buckle, even if the strain told somewhat near the end.

There was a moment there on 47 minutes when the game perhaps turned against us and ultimately led to that narrow defeat. Sean Kenneally – what a handful he proved for Dan Morrissey – got clear behind the defence but Shane Dowling batted away the shot before whipping clear when Darragh McCarthy got a touch on the rebound. Limerick broke down field and pointed, which meant a turnaround of four points, the ultimate margin.

It was a luckless incident. The shot needed to be kept low across the goalie but we got no break on the rebound, which could easily have found the net.

And yet Tipperary kept hassling and kept chasing, so that only a single point separated the teams going down the home straight. Ultimately, Limerick finished stronger, going five-up for the first time before Darragh McCarthy had the final point.

Much to praise then but all of it must be kept in context. I was sent a list of Limerick absentees and it really is scary to realise the depth of their panel. No Sean Finn, Mike Casey, Barry Nash or Declan Hannon from defence; no Will O’Donoghue and Darragh O’Donovan for midfield; no Cathal O’Neill, Gearoid Hegarty, Tom Morrissey, Seamus Flanagan or Peter Casey for attack.

Mind you, some of their replacements on Sunday more than matched the absentees, so that must be factored in as well. Still, it’s quite a depth of resources, one which we can’t match at present.

On the positive side our defence is shaping up quite well with a recognisable structure. Ronan Maher and Eoghan Connolly provide the central line, with Bryan O’Mara and Michael Breen delivering strong performances.

Robert Doyle has been a revelation for me with another confident display on Sunday, while Seamus Kennedy is working his way back after last year’s lay-off. Michael Corcoran is an impressive standby and Brian McGrath had useful moments on Sunday also when introduced.

Our new midfield pairing got a severe examination on Sunday. Willie Connors turned in another busy display but the impression was damaged by inaccuracy. Craig Morgan was quieter this time but still had his moments. They won’t meet stronger opponents than Cian Lynch and Adam English.

In attack Sean Kenneally was the standout with that 1-3. Jake Morris pitched in with useful scores but then had matching bad misses. Alan Tynan delivered another spirited display, hitting three points, and Gearoid O’Connor won good aerial ball.

Young gun Darragh McCarthy showed more ice in the veins on those frees. Don’t underestimate the essential value of a quality free-taker when you recall our problems in that area last year. Besides, the Toome’ lad is winning possession and laying off; maybe at times too unselfishly.

Darragh Stakelum has potential but will take more time to develop. One point for our forwards to note against Limerick: Diarmaid Byrnes (0-4 from play) must be treated as a forward threat and policed accordingly. Also, a worry was the fact that we managed a mere three points from second half play.

Overall, however, a very positive impression from a hard-grafting team, one that is showing attitude and aptitude in good measure. This was a big test and they came up with a display that will have pleased the supporters.

Despite the defeat we’re still top of the table on score difference; it’s a healthy position at the halfway point but there are major obstacles ahead. After three games on the trot, the team now has a break before Cork come to the Stadium. That should be another acid test of any progress being made.

P.S. Sitting in the Mackey Stand, towards the East Terrace end, it was my misfortune to be located near a Tipperary boor. His relentless and foul-mouthed commentary was an embarrassment to our county.