In this perfect storm, the last thing Tipperary hurling needs is a change of management

'Cast ne’er a clout till May is out’, is an old saying which warns against the dangers of throwing off clothes (old English word clout) prematurely ahead of the real summer heat of June. May weather can be treacherously deceptive.

It’s become a treacherous month for Tipperary hurling too. For the second time in three years our season is over before June 1, which is regarded as the start of the meteorological summer. The Tipperary senior jerseys are cast off before the real heat arrives, though hopefully the underagers will continue to keep matters warm.

Of course, our doom was sealed before Sunday last but our last fling in the provincial championship was an opportunity to sign off with some semblance of positivity. The defeats to Limerick and Cork were of a disturbing magnitude so pride had to be a spur against Clare.

And, in fairness to team and management, they delivered a performance that will have restored some respect and help soothe the hurt of previous games, though it’s an odd feeling to be taking comfort from defeat.

Mind you, there was a stage there in the third quarter when we went eight-down following Clare’s goal and it seemed as if another trimming was on the way. The fact that it didn’t happen was a definite relief. The side stayed on task, epitomised by the urgings of Jake Morris, though also helped by the fact that Clare didn’t drive on as Cork did the previous week. Dalo has been regretting their lack of killer instinct and he has a point.

The management certainly shuffled the pack ahead of this final game, making seven changes from the side that buckled to Cork. It was understandable, though not without risk. Michael Breen’s breakdown during the warm up was no help, forcing a late change with Eoghan Connolly coming into the full back line.

The Cashel KC man had early problems with Aidan McCarthy, but settled in and left a second half mark, including two useful points. Craig Morgan too had difficulties with Shane O’Donnell – who wouldn’t? – and collected an early yellow card before eventually surviving – wounded but still standing.

The defence in general was locked in a real battle against O’Donnell-led Clare, but apart from the one major breach for Diarmuid Ryan’s goal, the dam mostly held. Better finishing from O’Donnell would have really hurt us, including one goal miss.

Thank God for Ronan Maher. He is the one immense pillar in our defence, so sure on the ball, so strong when riding the tackles. Without his commanding presence we’d be in serious difficulty.

Midfield wasn’t an area where either side dominated, while in attack Jake Morris and Sean Kenneally were our best performers. Jake initially built his reputation on those flashing goals but more recently has expanded his game. He appears to have bulked-up considerably and is now putting in strong shifts in general play, even getting in a yellow-card hit in the first half. His five points from play was a rich haul.

But against all that there are negatives that we can’t escape. We have a lot of players at a certain level who would do okay as the supporting cast if we had lead performers showing the way beside them. That lack of leadership is being acutely felt throughout the team, Ronan Maher aside.

Jason Forde’s slump in form has come with cruel timing. Ideally, he should be a lead player in attack now but he has never properly recovered from that injury that kept him out during most of the springtime.

Others have struggled to make the desired impact at this level. Bryan O’Mara was the great white hope but he has never brought even his Fitzgibbon Cup form to the Tipp senior jersey. I wouldn’t give up on him; he has great qualities if he can grow into the role.

Gearoid O’Connor too has hinted at greatness, only to then disappoint. Paddy Cadell was another highly touted underage talent who has struggled with the step up. Mark Kehoe remains the great conundrum, dogged by inconsistency, going from brilliant to brutal even within matches.

On top of all that John McGrath’s best hurling seems to be in the past; Seamus Kennedy’s injury came with devilish timing; ditto with Cathal Barrett.

It all adds up to a very problematic scenario. In many ways it’s the perfect storm, with the last survivors from a great era gradually slipping away and comparable replacements not forthcoming. We’re bottom of the pile in Munster and the statistics in that regard don’t lie.

After the final chapter of a season there’s always an element of introspection, especially when it’s been such a troubled campaign. Liam Cahill bristled at one line of questioning in the aftermath of Sunday’s match.

After-match dressing rooms are fraught places. The adrenaline is still pumping, nerves are raw and emotions are high. Being asked to assess your own suitability for the job ahead is, at best, insensitive and the Tipp manager responded accordingly.

Any management team is limited by available talent and ultimately Tipperary’s present position is down to the player pool. People will try to come up with other factors but it all pares back to that stark reality.

That’s not to suggest that the management is above criticism. There will always be debates around team selection and tactics employed. It might be, why wasn’t Sean Kenneally brought on against Cork? Or why was Conor Bowe left off on Sunday? Why wasn’t Cathal Barrett substituted earlier against Cork? Why so much chopping and changing of personnel and positions during the spring? Etc.

This is all part of the normal banter. However, over-riding all that has to be the bigger picture of our present position in the hurling world and our player limitations. We have been slipping since 2019 and the danger is that we may not have hit the bottom yet.

The last thing we need now is a change of management. Liam Cahill, Mikey Bevans and company know the Tipperary scene intimately by this stage. Furthermore, they know what’s needed to improve the development pathway in the background and that knowledge has to be utilised now. Rebuilding is at least a medium-term project so typical barstool reactions to another championship exit have to be resisted. I’m sure it’s an issue we will hear more about.

The one positive at the moment is the underage scene, where the Under 20s made it a provincial double last Friday night with victory over a fancied Cork team. They rode their luck, of course, with The Rebels denied a legitimate goal but these breaks are part of the game that can go for or against you in a given match. Cork’s annoyance might focus more on that little detail of 16 wides and the part it played in frustrating their ambitions.

After leading marginally at the interval, a Tipperary scoring burst of 1-3 in the third quarter was crucial to the win; Oisin O’Donoghue finished the goal clinically after Darragh McCarthy and Senan Butler created the chance. Ultimately, in a nail-biting finish it was a super score from Toomevara’s McCarthy that divided the teams.

The final clash with Offaly will see a renewal of the minor rivalry of 2022 at the same Nowlan Park venue. There’s plenty of background baggage then to this one, with Offaly intent on settling an old - and very sore - score.

Elsewhere, Galway’s woes continued with an early exit to Dublin. David Burke’s red card was central to the story. It would also have been a red card in the Leinster/Toulouse rugby game the day before. On this I agree with Donal Og, which is a cause of worry.

PS. Referee, Johnny Murphy, went some way towards rehabilitating his reputation with Tipperary fans on Sunday. Hopefully, it’s the start of a new relationship, though past ghosts won’t be so easily quietened.