LONG READ: Offaly's performance against Kilkenny is a timely reminder for Tipperary

Tipperary’s 50th league win over Galway came after a battle. In soggy, boggy conditions the teams slugged it out in the rain before the home side did enough in the final phase to claim the points. The win was deserved, but hard-won against a new-look Galway outfit.

Next up, it’s Offaly at Tullamore on Sunday.

A slugfest of a game on Saturday then tilted our way around the 64th minute when Tipperary hit 1-2 to take a decisive grip on proceedings. The goal was the crucial item, orchestrated via Ormond to Morris to Darragh Stakelum, who supplied the emphatic finish. Two points from Morris (one a free) accompanied the goal and that flurry effectively decided the contest.

Otherwise, it was a dour, dogged affair with the sides level on 11 occasions, including half time (0-9 apiece). Those interval figures flattered Tipperary. Galway were the better side in the first half but their nine wides against our four told a tale. They were prodigal and complained afterwards about the adverse free count. Their nine first half points came from open play whereas four of ours came courtesy of Darragh McCarthy frees.

We had struggled for traction in the forward line in that first half, though conditions were certainly part of the story. A pair of points each from Jake Morris and Sam O’Farrell were significant scores but Galway were creating more openings.
A highlight moment came near the interval when Cathal O’Reilly tracked back to get in a delightful flick that denied Aaron Niland a goal chance. It’s the type of intervention that the Holycross lad has become noted for.

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As early as the fifth minute we too had a fleeting goal chance when McCarthy hand passed to Morris. Jake blazed over the bar but it didn’t count because McCarthy’s pass was deemed illegal. It was the only penalised handpass in the entire game despite endless throwing by both teams.

I noted afterwards that co-commentator, Michael Duignan, agreed with the referee. In the recent club final, there was also one throw penalised and again co-commentator, Cathal Moore, agreed with the official’s decision. Nothing wrong there.

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However, as was pointed out to me, the crucial Ballygunner goal in the same final came off a thrown ball from Peter Hogan to Mikey Mahony and yet nobody commented on it. So, we have commentators complimenting referees on the rare – very rare – occasions they penalise throws but the same individuals conveniently ignore all the other thrown balls in games. The complicity of the commentators in this is shameful.

Anyway, speaking of match officials, Oisín O’Donoghue had what appeared to most of us a perfectly legal point waved wide by an umpire in the first half. Those of us in line with the shot had no doubt it was inside the right post. Perhaps there was a certain poetic justice then in the second half when a pick-up by Oisín led to a Jake Morris point. You win some, you lose some.
As the second half unfolded this game remained perilously poised. Tipperary resumed smartly but then got hit with the Galway goal. The lead-up featured an unwise pass out from defence by Bryan O’Mara. The ball was turned over; Galway strung together a few passes before Rory Burke slipped the shot past Rhys Shelly. The goalie was poorly positioned, showing too much goal space to his left.

O’Mara had some excellent plays in the match but a flaw in his game is the number of deliveries or passes he misplaces when coming out of defence. In this case he delivered what was, at best, a 50/50 ball.

That goal, and a few follow-up points, gave Galway a toe-hold on the game. Our defence was now under strain with full forward, Jason Rabbitte, proving a handful.

However, the Tipperary response was one of the most heartwarming features of the match. All over Tipperary players redoubled efforts. There was going to be no pretty win here; it had to be dug out of the mud and the players duly responded. Perhaps it was the confidence borne out of All-Ireland victory but there was a sense of defiance from Tipperary in the final ten minutes.

Darragh Stakelum’s goal turned the screw and the team played out the final minutes firmly in control. Stefan Tobin’s introduction was noted for one feisty possession where he won a valuable free in the closing minutes.

It was a well-earned and necessary win. After all, we had two-thirds of the All-Ireland fifteen on duty against a very young, new-look Galway formation. To have lost here would have been a significant setback.

Jake Morris got the man of the match award. No argument there. His five points from play, his taking over of the free-taking duties when Darragh McCarthy was substituted and his general play-making and leadership made him the standout performer. His development as a player over the years has been outstanding.

Andrew Ormond too picked up where he left off in 2025 and Willie Connors revelled in the physical battle with some rousing inputs. Sam O’Farrell again showed his versatility, hitting first half points from attack and reverting to defence when needed in the second period. Conor Stakelum got more involved in the second half as did Seamus Kennedy, showing a deft touch before striking a crucial point.

Cathal O’Reilly will be remembered for that goal-denying flick and Bryan O’Mara brought significant ball out of defence in spite of that error in the lead-up to the Galway goal. Rhys Shelly won’t be happy with the one that beat him and his deliveries at times went astray, which is untypical.

Of the newer players, O’Reilly obviously caught attention, which is quite a feat given his age. Oisín O’Donoghue didn’t score but contributed majorly as a primary ball-winner in general play. Perhaps more remembered heretofore as a goalscoring substitute, his ball-winning capacity is a welcome feature, which gives a more rounded impact to his game.
Jack Leamy certainly didn’t lack for effort but it was one of those days where he couldn’t get his hands on the ball to show what he’s capable of.

Overall, it was a necessary task successfully negotiated, one that sets the mood now, hopefully, for the remaining games in the league.

I was amused on Sunday night hearing Donal Óg Cusack characterise Tipperary’s hurling landscape as a land of milk and honey. I thought of the old Latin warning to beware of Greeks bearing gifts.
There are agendas at play here and hyping up Tipperary serves the desires of some. Inflate a bubble around Tipperary now in the hope of bursting it later.

The truth is that Tipperary famously won an unexpected All-Ireland last year, aided in some way by a Cork blow-out. Ahead of the new season we’re third favourites for the 2026 Munster and All-Ireland titles. That rating is fair and should offer some check to those inclined to get carried away. It’s going to be a tough year.

In the meantime, we have Offaly to engage at Tullamore on Sunday. King’s County barely survived relegation from Leinster last year but have been nurturing a significant cohort of underage talent in recent seasons. We were second best to them in the 2024 Under 20 final.

Last weekend Johnny Kelly’s side put it up to Kilkenny at Nowlan Park. The Cats won in the end by four points but a shock was on the cards for some time. It offers a cautionary reminder for Tipperary ahead of Sunday.

Our last league clash with them was back in 2017 at O’Connor Park when we sailed through by 4-28 to 3-13 in a quarter-final. We subsequently beat Wexford in the semi-final but slumped to Galway in the final.
Overall, we’ve won 34 out of 42 previous league meetings. Losing on Sunday is unthinkable but respect all opponents and take nothing for granted.

Hurling can be a great leveller.