Intensive build-up to Tipperary's championship opener against Cork is well underway

And so, the curtain falls on a mixed bag league season for Tipperary. A draw with Kilkenny in the final episode is the type of neutral result that neither inflates nor deflates our rating ahead of a four-week intensive build-up to the championship opener against Cork on April 19.

It’s been an assortment league then from Tipperary, mixing the good, bad and in-between. On a quick tally, the management used a total of 38 players over the six-match series, as they gave playtime to a wide range of players. Interestingly, Andrew Ormond and Darragh Stakelum were the only players to see action in all six matches.

Those stats (subject to correction) illustrate how the league has been used as a platform for experimentation. We may be the reigning All-Ireland champions but that was last year; a new season brings new challenges. Nothing stays static, there’s a constant flux and Tipperary’s successful underage profile requires careful nurturing.

We saw different extremes in our six league matches. The Galway win was probably the steadiest performance while the Limerick pasting was the low point. The Waterford match was the most critical result while the Offaly mismatch could be written off. Being close enough to Cork was acceptable and then there was Saturday’s game against Kilkenny.

The visitors to Semple Stadium on Saturday were under some pressure following their feeble surrender to Galway in the previous round. The need to show cause generated an urgency, which was immediately evident as they raced through our defence for an instant goal on the throw-in.

READ NEXT: Grateful Tipperary mother praises the Dillon Quirke Foundation

It was an ensemble movement started at midfield by Cian Kenny, who played in Eoin Cody and Tom Phelan before Liam Moore provided the finish. The Tipp defence was caught cold with nobody able to deliver a blocking tackle.

Kilkenny drew first blood then and that goal remained the difference for the opening quarter. Tipperary, however, did settle, with Jake Morris points a significant input. Our leading forward did even better after 29 minutes when Jason Forde turned the ball his way and the finish to the net was textbook.

SEE MORE: Parking changes could be a 'seismic blow' to future of tourist town in Tipperary

We were matching Kilkenny stroke for stroke now in an open, enjoyable contest. Jason Forde was back on free-taking duty and he missed a few before landing one in injury time, which put us ahead for the break.

We began the second half just like Kilkenny started the first. A midfield breakaway from the throw-in saw Alan Tynan cut through the defence and then lay off to Darragh Stakelum, whose shot was parried before Darragh McCarthy volleyed the rebound to the net. It was a flying restart by Tipperary but events would not always run smoothly in this half.

The growing influence of TJ Reid, who gave Ronan Maher a torrid time, was soon evident. Around midway through the second period, Reid lobbed one over the head of Rhys Shelly for Kilkenny’s second goal and seven minutes later our rearguard was breached again, as Martin Keoghan notched their third major. A blatant foul on a Tipperary defender in the lead-up to Reid’s goal should be noted too. It was one of many unpunished infringements during the match.

Things weren’t going our way. Untidy, error-strewn play was part of the problem, with misplaced passes and dropped balls the order of the day. Defensive difficulties weren’t helped by outfield play, where we regularly stood off the Kilkenny puckout, allowing the likes of Paddy Deegan to loft raking clearances into our goal area.

It can be puzzling at times to see the forwards concede the puckout to defenders, who can then transfer play while unchallenged to the opposition goal zone. The old-style mantra of playing the game in the opposition half comes to mind here but you’re considered a neanderthal if you challenge modern tactics.

Besides, it should be remembered that there’s always jeopardy when a high ball drops in around your goal area. However, the approach now is often to play around with the ball outfield. Possession is king.

Anyway - and to their credit - Tipperary took those heavy hits of the Kilkenny goals and kept coming strongly with a healthy stream of points. We too had our goal chances but Aidan Tallis stood in the way, first denying Darragh McCarthy and then in turn batting away shots from Darragh Stakelum and Jake Morris.

I suspect those saves will have annoyed Liam Cahill. Goal-getting has been a trademark of this management and when players are eyeballing the goalie they ought not to be denied. Again, keeping the shot low and bouncing is often the secret, just like Jake Morris in the first half.

The introduction of Andrew Ormond added punch to our attack at a vital time and we really should have held out for the win here.

Sean Kenneally too had an impact on being introduced and his point two minutes into injury time looked like a winner until Jordan Molloy hit the late leveller at the other end.

A win would have been nice but a draw is okay too, especially in the context of a game where there was little at stake other than bragging rights. Derek Lyng as Kilkenny manager has still to record a win over Tipperary.

The game was no classic, but it was lively and enjoyable in front of more than 10,000 spectators. The appetite for the game is as strong as ever among the public.

A worry for Tipperary as we face into the championship build-up is the form of Ronan Maher. He was the heartbeat of the side last year but he underwent surgery over the winter and this was just his second competitive game since returning. He still looks quite a bit off he pace of the game and time is running short before a likely rematch with Brian Hayes and company.

Others too like Robert Doyle and Michael Breen are playing catch-up after missing a significant part of the league series but the prognosis in their cases seems more encouraging.

John McGrath’s absence on Saturday was, apparently, precautionary and it was good to see Alan Tynan make a welcome return. Jake Morris, on the weekend when he sadly lost his grandad, Jimmy, turned in a stellar display. He has developed into a pivotal player for this Tipperary side.

In general, there is an element of catch-up at play with this team, particularly in the area of hurling sharpness. Much work to be done then over the next four weeks.

Finally, I took the trouble of watching back the TG4 coverage of the game. The station has often - and rightly - been praised for its contribution to the GAA. It regularly fills a void that’s left by RTE and brings many games to people who otherwise would never see them.

However, this latest offering was cringeworthy. The commentary brought mistaken identity to a new level. An occasional misidentification in a fast-moving game is understandable and acceptable. However, in this case the wholescale misrecognition of players was beyond belief.

Apparently, we were all conned and John McGrath actually played in the game. His name featured regularly in the first half commentary, especially any time Darragh McCarthy got the ball. This was in spite of the fact that there was no number 14 jersey on the pitch for Tipperary.

It didn’t end there. Sam O’Farrell will be delighted to learn that he scored the goal we all mistakenly thought Darragh McCarthy got. On the Kilkenny side David Blanchfield became Jeff Neary and Derek Lyng will be thrilled to hear that Andrew Ormond scored a great point for Kilkenny late in the match.

I’m only giving you a small sample of the many examples of mixed-up identities. It was actually comic.

My other crib is the station’s obsession with replays. Even the most routine score has to be replayed and when you go back live you’ve missed the puckout and the action is at the other end of the pitch. For a professional outfit like TG4, all this is embarrassing.