Tipperary really need Under 20 final success to bolster the senior ranks

Clarity and controversy were the twin takeaways from last Sunday’s hurling action. We’re now clear on our path ahead in the All-Ireland series after some loose ends were tidied up. We face the McDonagh Cup losers (either Kildare or Laois) in a preliminary quarter-final, followed (surely?) by a quarter-final date with the Leinster runners-up (either Kilkenny or Galway).

The controversies were unpleasant, with a host of punishable offences – some cynical and others downright nasty - going unpunished. Referees are in the dock once more amid growing concern about standards. More anon.

First, there’s a significant event in Nowlan Park this Saturday, with Tipperary and Kilkenny facing off in an appealing Under 20 decider. It will be the tenth final meeting of the counties, with The Cats holding a slim five-four edge from the previous nine deciders.

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The venue is payback for a 2006 replayed final at Semple Stadium, which we lost by 1-11 to 0-11. The drawn game that year was in Croke Park alongside the camogie decider; it’s an arrangement that also featured in the 2008 final, which we again lost. In fact, we’ve lost the last three of our final meetings with Kilkenny, which is a trend that needs correction.

Incidentally, I remain implacably opposed to these cosy home and away arrangements. There may be a financial dividend but there’s certainly not a hurling one. Semple Stadium is the everyman pitch, loved by all and offering the hosts no advantage. Football manager, Philly Ryan, is right to take his team out of there.

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The Under 20s’ Munster win got lost in the shadow of the senior game versus Waterford. It’s a pity because provincial wins are still hard-earned and valuable. Better still this was a title retention, one that nudges us ahead of Cork on the roll of honour.
The margin was a secure five points at the end, but this was a game that wobbled nervously on the tipping point for quite a while before tilting our way. Cathal English’s goal – once he lifted the opponent’s hurley out of the way – was crucial in the end.

In truth we got a few helpful breaks in the final decisive phase of the action. Both penalties were questionable but ours had the added advantage of a Clare defender going to the sin bin for ten critical minutes. That, plus the steadying influence of Sam O’Farrell on his introduction, helped turn a Banner tide that was hurting us in the third quarter.

A dubious call against Clare on a handpass/throw – yes, that issue won’t go away – gave us another advantage at a critical time near the end. These calls mattered in a game where Clare were winning the outfield battles in the third quarter and, at their peak, went four-up before we managed to wrestle momentum back.

Against that we should have been well in command in the first half, when we created several goal chances but only converted one. Quick-thinking Darragh McCarthy popped a close-range free to Oisín O’Donoghue for the goal but the missed ones were frustrating.

That was especially so when Paddy McCormack broke through and rattled the crossbar before Oisín O’Donoghue batted the rebound over instead of under. McCormack had another chance when he kicked wide from close range and there was a half-chance when O’Donoghue handpassed across goal towards Cathal English but a defender got back to flick the ball away.

A lot of missed opportunities then, whereas Eoin Horgan had little to deal with at the other end. A one-point interval lead somehow seemed poor reward for our first half efforts.

No doubt it encouraged Clare too, who came with a strong push in the second half. Helped by some ridiculous short passing by Tipperary, Clare got something of a chokehold on that middle third zone and Tipperary were struggling to get ball into an on-form full forward line. It made little sense to play around with the ball in your own half when Oisín O’Donoghue and colleagues had the measure of their men near goal.

In the crisis Sam O’Farrell was called into action and he brought composure to the scene. Then came our two goals, which pointed the way towards a strong finish. Our full forward line contributed 2-13. Oisín O’Donoghue was on fire. Cathal English’s 1-2 was commendable too and Conor Martin chipped in with 0-2.

The defence too deserves credit, one high fetch by Adam Ryan in the second half a real inspiration. Apart from a dubious penalty, Clare never threatened goal and depended heavily on the hugely impressive Fred Hegarty. Faultless on frees, he contributed 1-12 of his side’s total, 0-3 from play. He was their man of the match.

Kilkenny will surely present stiff opposition in the final following their impressive dismissal of Dublin in the Leinster decider. They looked strong and able and with home backing, as well as a desire to avoid a repeat of last year’s minor final, they’ll make a bold bid for this one.

It’s been quite a revival by this group of Kilkenny players, who as minors three years ago lost to Laois in the Leinster semi-final; Laois in turn lost the final to Offaly. Interestingly, nine of that Kilkenny minor side that lost to Laois started in last week’s Under 20 decider against Dublin. Three other starters from three years ago came on last week, so at least a dozen of the same personnel are still involved. I’d have expected a greater turnover.

Tipperary are quite similar, with seven of the starters in the 2022 minor final against Offaly starting this year in the Under 20 Munster final. Add in Sam O’Farrell, who came on as a replacement, and Darragh McCarthy, who was a sub in 2022, and that gives you nine players who have progressed. McCarthy’s progress has been truly spectacular. Jamie Ormond was another who saw action in the 2022 final and again last week against Clare.

Given the transitional nature of Tipperary’s senior side and the pressing need for upcoming talent to emerge, this final takes on an added significance for the county. We really need this one to bring on more underage winners to supplement the senior panel. The bookies have the side listed as favourites but that will mean little when the ball is tossed in on Saturday. Good luck to all involved.

Finally, last Sunday was a bad day for hurling’s image. It’s never pretty when TV highlights a player stamping on an opponent’s head or a reckless swing of a hurley that knocks a player’s helmet off. Then you have other red card offences not earning red cards and the cynical foul rule again ignored. Altogether it’s a refereeing mess.

I’ve often been critical of the TV pundits – especially the anodyne commentary that some of them constantly indulge in – but full credit on Sunday night to Messrs (no pun) Sheedy and Cusack for their forthright calling out of events that besmirched the game on Sunday.

I’ve regularly highlighted the manner in which referees have diluted the cynical foul rule out of existence, so it was especially pleasing to hear Donal Óg hit the same note on this occasion.

There is something seriously amiss when referees fail to implement an essential rule of the game. We’re not talking about marginal decisions here; we’re witnessing blatant breaches of the rule being ignored by the officials.

I was thinking of Darragh McCarthy on Sunday and what he must have thought of it all. For his dig on Sean O’Donoghue, he received the ultimate sanction. Then on Sunday the same Cork player was cited for a swing back on an opponent. The same referee, another striking offence but an entirely different standard applied when the yellow card was shown. So much for consistency.

Refereeing is in crisis and needs urgent addressing. If this continues the ultimate loser will be hurling itself.