Wins by senior and Under 20 teams mean that Tipperary hurling is 'buzzing'

It has been an uplifting eight days for Tipperary hurling. The seniors followed up their Ennis form to impressively dispatch Waterford; and sandwiched between those games, the Under 20s retained their provincial title midweek. Tipperary hurling is buzzing, for the moment at least.

We worried about Waterford in advance given our recent record. Those fears seemed well-founded when the Deise hit an instant goal and went 1-3 to 0-1 clear after just three minutes.

It was a false dawn, however, for our southern neighbours. Tipperary levelled and then led. Even when hauled back to parity midway through the second half, there was a rallying kick from the home side, who put in a storming finish. A gap of nine at the end was a comprehensive outcome.

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It’s our finest moment since Liam Cahill took charge. We did emerge from Munster in 2023 but it was more by default than design. This time we advance on the front foot, taking five of the available eight points and still with a potential - though unlikely - chance of making the provincial decider.

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The story of the game is mostly one of pleasant recall, though that nightmare opening was unsettling. It was as if we froze in the moment while Waterford sprung from the blocks. Immediately on the throw-in Jamie Barron lobs one goalwards and Michael Breen seems to lose his bearings, as Stephen Bennett gathers and goals. Rhys Shelly might have been more decisive too.

We looked startled and Waterford drove on with points from Barron and Kevin Mahony against a solitary Jake Morris response from Tipperary. It took Tipperary a while to settle, though the process of recovery was aided by Waterford wastefulness. Stephen Bennett, untypically, wobbled on the frees and others too caught the bug. Nine first half wides was a significant factor.

Gradually, Tipperary’s workrate took effect. Already Andy Ormond was showing as a major player and Jake Morris and others were putting in heavy shifts, tackling and tracking. Our shooting was more economical than Waterford’s, with Darragh McCarthy precise on the frees and Jason Forde slicing over a pair of sideline balls. In short, we were having the better of it and went to the break three-up.

It could have been better but for an inexplicable refereeing decision. Ormond cut through and was grounded near goal by a combination of goalie and defender. To everyone bar the referee it seemed an obvious penalty. In the follow-up Ormond threw up the ball and John McGrath batted over for a point, which the referee allowed on advantage.

The word afterwards was that the official deemed the foul to be outside the large parallelogram and therefore merited only a normal free. Even the panel on TV coverage, I noticed later, focused entirely on whether or not it was inside or outside the large square.

All of which was entirely irrelevant, or have people completely forgotten about the cynical foul rule. It’s an ongoing topic in this column, where referees appear to have negotiated the black card and penalty out of the game without any apparent consequences.

Even the paid panellists on Sunday seemed unaware of the rule until Joanne Cantwell quoted it: a pull down, trip or strike on a goalscoring opportunity inside the D or twenty-metre line merits a penalty and black card for the offender. What could be simpler?

We had, of course, another episode in the second half when Darragh McCarthy outfielded his opponent and got goalside of him inside the twenty-metre line. He was dragged to the ground and again the official merely gave a free and a yellow card. This was dreadful refereeing.

The argument has been made that McCarthy had lost his hurley and therefore it was not a goalscoring chance. Not true. You can still kick a goal in hurling, as Nicky English so expertly illustrated in 1987.

Apologies for going on about these decisions but it is so important that referees get them right. The impact can be enormous. Imagine if Tipperary got two penalties on Sunday and Waterford lost two players to the sin bin – a different game entirely.

Anyway, in the third quarter Tipperary pushed their lead out to six but then got hit for six on the spin by the Deise to level matters. I found that lapse by Tipperary frustrating because we gifted Waterford most of those scores through sloppy play or fouling rather than anything brilliant from our opponents. With around twenty minutes to play everything was up for grabs once more.

And once more Tipperary found the gears, as they did against Clare eight days earlier. Darragh McCarthy remained impeccable on the frees, something that should never be underestimated. The subs had a significant impact. Noel McGrath arrived and stroked over one of those seemingly effortless points; Seanie Kenneally got arguably the point of the day from the sideline; and then Oisín O’Donoghue delivered the coup de grace.

What a week it was for the King Cormacs’ player, man of the match in the Under 20 Munster final and here he belies his years (he’s Under 20 again next year) with the composure of a veteran. Significantly, Darragh McCarthy supplied the feed and O’Donoghue pirouetted like a ballet player before guiding the ball to the net. At that stage it was the cherry on the cake.

Once more it was a performance built on old fashioned principles of hard work and getting the basics right. After those early shivers the defence firmed up and there was hardly another opening for Waterford thereafter, apart from a few hit-and-hope efforts from Stephen Bennett late in the action.

There were individual items from all defenders that could be praised but it was the collective that mattered most. Once again, the tackling and tracking was immense. Michael Breen had problems on Bennett early on but less so later, when the Waterford man showed his frustration and collected a yellow card.

Eoghan Connolly is making a habit of pitching in with three points and Robert Doyle was as feisty as ever. Ronan Maher has upped his game in recent matches, one inspirational catch giving a real lift to the team. Bryan O’Mara too had a strong input. His decision-making at times lets him down but if he can work on that flaw his game will be so much richer.

We got heavy shifts around midfield from Sam O’Farrell and Willie Connors while Andrew Ormond was the star turn in attack. I must admit I hadn’t seen this coming from the Brackens man. Between scores, assists and fouls, he was involved in nine Tipperary flags, which was a huge input.

It’s extraordinary how Jake Morris’ game has evolved. Initially, he was the pacey, fast-finishing goal poacher but he has since added an immense work rate, which now makes him indispensable to this team.

Darragh McCarthy didn’t score from play but again was heavily involved in so much. His free-taking was almost flawless, he set up Oisín O’Donoghue’s goal and he won some crucial possessions in the second half after Waterford came back and levelled.

Jason Forde and John McGrath bring huge experience to that forward line, which is needed to complement the younger element. Conor Stakelum’s work ethic and persistence is seen as an asset, even when he’s not on a lot of ball.

Crucially, the bench added a very necessary impact, none more so than Oisín O’Donoghue. Sean Kenneally’s point was a big moment in the game too and Noel McGrath and Seamus Kennedy are part of the experienced cohort who are seen as so vital to the overall balance of the side.

It’s a happy story so far with much more to look forward to. Tipperary now face a welcome break to review and reset for the rest of the campaign. Suddenly the future looks much brighter.

P.S. The Under 20 victory unfortunately gets overshadowed by the senior. It too is part of the present uplifting of spirits and deserves acknowledgment. More anon.