Sending this Tipperary team into that Cork cauldron is just not good policy

As I was saying, it’s been a strange league series. Indeed, strange turned to downright weird when Wexford rocked up to the Gaelic Grounds at the weekend and punched holes in John Kiely’s team. Sounds like fact outdoing fiction.

Of course, context was everything. With league positions already decided there was little to play for and Wexford had more incentive to put on a spirit-lifting show than Limerick. Still, a seven-point result caught us all on the hop. I wouldn’t fancy being in the Limerick training camp this week.

There was an odd feeling too in Semple Stadium on Saturday night when Tipperary and Clare fumbled their way through a sub-standard first half. More wides than scores at one stage, they looked like sides unsure about how to approach a dead rubber game.

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First half talking points were few. There was that audacious point by Tony Kelly when he pilfered possession from Brian McGrath out near the sideline. There was some deft stickwork too from Dylan Walsh in one movement.

Speaking of the Ballingarry man, he cuts in from the left corner and gets around Adam Hogan just outside the large parallelogram. The foul is cynical or professional, depending on your preference. If Walsh breaks that tackle, he’s in on goal. The referee gives a free and a yellow card.

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Can I remind people, yet again, that there is a cynical foul rule covering this precise situation. A penalty and black card is the proper punishment. Yet, referees have effectively negotiated this rule out of existence through a process called non-enforcement. The fact that they have been allowed do this is shameful.

In many ways it was a stuttering first half from both sides. Jason Forde missed his first free and our minds immediately reverted to last year’s league semi-final against the same opposition. However, we need not have worried. Thereafter Jason got into the groove and was faultless on subsequent efforts. It reminded us that for several seasons the Silvermines man was a top-quality free-taker; last year was a blip.

Such a low-scoring first half (0-10 to 0-8) is rare in the modern game. We thought we had another point when Jake Morris beat John Conlon before tapping over. However, as the Clare centre back was being treated for injury, the ref consulted the linesman and cancelled the point, with Jake collecting a yellow card.

Is it my imagination or are linesmen playing a more influential role in the modern game? On many occasions in this match the referee’s whistle seemed to come late, as if he was awaiting word in his earpiece.

Anyway, Clare had first half use of a chilly wind, which seemed to blow diagonally from the Killinan end of the pitch towards the Old Stand. It explained some of the wayward shooting.

At two-down, our half-time position was decent enough. However, we shipped a heavy knock when play resumed. Within seconds, before the Tipp lads had settled to their job, Sean Rynne set up Mark Rogers for the game’s only goal.

Worse followed. Buoyed by that score Clare hit a purple patch to reel off four points against a solitary Jason Forde reply. By the 42nd minute the lead had stretched out to eight points. It was worrying from a Tipperary perspective. A fade-out was the last thing we needed now.

However, the response of the side in the final quarter was surely the most pleasing aspect of this win. There was no fade-out, instead we had a fiery fightback from all. The bench helped with the management making a triple substitution in response to Clare’s push.

Newly arrived, Darragh Stakelum immediately split the posts to kickstart the recovery. Tipperary were feisty now, going doggedly after every ball. Jake Morris had our best goal chance when placed behind the defence by Conor Bowe. He carried forward in characteristic fashion but Eibhear Quilligan superbly turned away the shot for a 65. It goes down as a quality save rather than a forward miss.

Shortly afterwards, Noel McGrath lobbed one into the goal area, where Quilligan advanced to contest the drop with Dylan Walsh. The ball broke behind them and bobbled towards the goal-line before Adam Hogan scrambled back to save the day for Clare.

Those were our best goal chances but, in their absence, Tipperary kept up the pressure, picking away at a dwindling lead. Jake Morris had now emerged as our main forward threat, pointing twice and winning frees as his marker struggled for containment.

Eventually Forde pointed the leveller from a free but there was a kickback from Clare, with a brace of Aaron Shanagher points regaining the advantage into the final moments. Ultimately, from the 42nd minute to the finish line, Tipperary outscored Clare by 0-13 to 0-4. Therein, the match was won and lost.

There was a minor note of controversy when Eoghan Connolly broke upfield and his lobbing effort was brought down by Quilligan. The umpire paused but then raised the flag, indicting that it was over the bar. That was a match-leveller and it was left to Darragh Stakelum to plunder the winner when he emerged from a ruck and hit the target.

It was a sweet win against a grumbling opponent. Brian Lohan earns no credit for his after-match antics when cribs should be put aside – especially after such an inconsequential game.

The manner of Tipperary’s second half resistance was the highlight here. Apart from the Clare goal, the Tipp defence looked mostly assured. I love the way Robert Doyle wins so many of those rucks. Michael Breen too has had a fruitful spring, filling that man-marking role to great effect.

Midfield, I thought, was mostly a neutral area on Saturday before Darragh Stakelum gave us some crucial traction there in the final phase.

For me, Jake Morris was the pick of the forwards; we need him showing as the lead player in that zone. The others pitched in too, though I’m not convinced about playing Seamus Kennedy in that region; it’s an experiment that didn’t work in the past.
Darragh Stakelum and Gearoid O’Connor did best of the replacements.

Looking ahead, the league final has been set for Páirc Uí Chaoimh on April 6, with the Division 2 decider between Waterford and Offaly opening proceedings.

Cork claimed venue on the basis of some home and away arrangement from the past. Tipperary appeared to initially question the existence of such a deal but ultimately conceded.

Our last knockout league game against Cork was the 2014 quarter-final, which we won in Thurles.

I’ve always been against these venue arrangements with Cork and the passage of time has done nothing to alter my view. Sending the present team into that cauldron is just not good policy.

Elsewhere, this is an important week for our underage teams, as both the Minors and Under 20s launch their campaigns, thankfully with home venue in both instances. The Under 20s faced Limerick on Tuesday with the minors kicking off on Friday evening versus Waterford.

For Brendan Cummins’ Under 20s it’s a year of great expectations, which produces its own pressure points. This is the follow-on group from that 2022 minor steal against Offaly. They go in as reigning Munster winners and face a trip to Páirc Uí Chaoimh the following Wednesday, April 2. It’s a tough launch to their campaign. Thereafter there’s a fortnight’s break before they travel to Sixmilebridge on April 16 and the round-robin rounds-up with a home game against Waterford on April 23.

The minor schedule too is demanding. After their opening game against Waterford, they travel to Ennis on April 5. Then there’s a break until Limerick visit the Stadium on April 18, followed by a trip to Páirc Uí Chaoimh on May 2.

With our seniors in a rebuilding phase, there’s added focus on what’s happening down the underage ranks. Good luck to both sides and their handlers.