Do-or-die games looming for some clubs in Tipperary hurling championship

The Tipperary hurling championship is the gift that just keeps giving. Another electrifying weekend of sun-soaked action across the county produced fantastic entertainment. The big winners were JK Brackens, Moycarkey/Borris, Thurles Sarsfields and Cashel KC; for others the final round in a fortnight takes on a do-or-die imperative.

The one aspect our championship doesn’t lend itself to is easy prediction. You might as well toss a coin as try and read form lines. The margins are so incredibly tight, which is part of the magic of the series.

Last weekend, for example, the average winning/losing margin in the Dan Breen was 3.7 points and that’s when you factor in Nenagh’s 14-point pasting of Mullinahone and Brackens’ six-point verdict over Toomevara. These were outliers. Exclude them and the average gap in the other six matches was just 1.6 points with late drama deciding several games.

The all-Mid clash of Sarsfields and Holycross definitely lived up to expectations. It was an engrossing tussle that careered down to a gripping climax where Sarsfields found the pep and the points to just about edge it in the end.

When the teams met in the Mid semi-final back in early July it resulted in a six-point statement win by Holycross. Cathal Barrett was outstanding for the winners. Sarsfields’ full forward, Denis Maher, was replaced in the second half by Aidan McCormack. Paddy Creedon wasn’t playing. It was a chastening defeat for Thurles; there was a sense of the old order being replaced by the new.

Fast forward to a month later and it was Sarsfields who learned most from that defeat. Denis Maher switched to the other end of the pitch, putting in a solid shift at full back on Saturday last. A fitter Aidan McCormack was on from the start this time, as was Paddy Creedon whose set-to with Cathal Barrett was a feature of the contest.

Sarsfields had a more formidable shape on this occasion. Conor Stakelum has grown into the centre back role in the absence of Ronan Maher. He brings physicality as well as hurling nuance to the job and forms a sturdy half back line with his brother Cian and Keith Loughnane.

Up front Paddy Creedon provided the cutting edge by bothering Barrett. It was a ferocious battle between the pair but I’d rate it a points win for the Sarsfields’ man, despite getting little sympathy from a referee who seemed kinder to defenders than attackers.

And yet Sarsfields still came close to squandering the game. They hit an incredible fourteen, wind-carried wides in the first half alone. Lest we forget they also hit a dozen wides in the second half of the Mid semi-final, so this aspect isn’t new.

Their three-point lead at half time was a paltry return for their efforts. Apart from the wides there was a goal miss early on when Creedon outfielded Barrett and cut inside, only to see his shot rebound off the base of the post. Even in the follow-up the forward had a second chance but his shot was easily saved by Ewan Bourke. They did eventually goal when Keith Rossiter was fouled close-in and Aidan McCormack bounced the penalty off the rock-hard surface to beat Ewan Bourke.

Still, Holycross kept in touch against a fresh wind. Somewhat against the trend, Robbie Ryan poached an excellent goal early on when Joe Caesar’s shot dropped short and the inrushing forward surprised everyone to flick it home a la John McGrath in last year’s All-Ireland final. Tadhg Gould and Darragh Woods kept the points ticking.

The three-point deficit at half time was wiped within seconds of resuming when Robbie Ryan slipped away from Stephen Maher’s clutches and raced in to flash home his second goal of the day. With the wind behind them, Holycross’ situation looked promising at that stage but they could never push on.

Eoin Purcell wriggled his way in for an important Sarsfields goal on the three-quarter mark. They might have had another when Darragh Stakelum was through but he tried to be too precise and the chance was scrambled clear.

Ultimately, it came down to a cliff-edge finish with injury-time points by Paddy Creedon and Euan Murray, two heroes of the day, proving the difference. Mikey Nally had a late chance but the Sarsfields’ defence held him up. Darragh Woods pointed a late ‘65’ when a goal was needed with the match five minutes in the red.

It was a big one for Sarsfields, who probably should have won easier. Euan Murray, in his first senior year, is a star in the making. In fact, their cohort of younger players, including Henry Fogarty, Keith Loughnane and the Rossiter brothers have added majorly to the team, complementing the more seasoned element. They still have hopes that Ronan Maher will be back before the season is out. They’re definitely in the mix.

For Holycross it was another reality check. They were without wing back Liam Doyle, which caused a readjustment to the lines with Jimmy Lahart starting in the forwards. They remain a promising, upcoming side who have yet to learn how to scale that final rung of the ladder.

Robbie Ryan is a talented player, so often their go-to man in the forwards. He hit a brilliant 2-1 on Saturday in his battle with Paul Maher but he needs more support in that area. Darragh Woods was the only other starting forward to score from play. By contrast five of Sarsfields’ starting forwards scored and the sixth, Kieran Rossiter, won the penalty. Therein lies an essential difference between the sides.

The second game at Boherlahan was another humdinger, which went all the way to be decided in injury time. Ultimately Moycarkey/Borris outstayed Clonoulty, with Kieran Morris and Killian Cantwell pointing the late frees that got them home.

It was another cracker, not quite as good as the opener, but still engrossing for the large attendance. The tightness of these games is what makes them for the followers, with so many won in the final seconds.

Moycarkey had the wind in the first half, with Rhys Shelly’s deliveries hitting the opposition square. He landed a monster free too in the early moments and Moycarkey had slightly the better of the opening quarter.

However, they were rocked by a Jack Ryan goal midway through the half as Clonoulty edged ahead. It was that type of over-and-back game. Moycarkey enjoyed a strong second quarter, outscoring their opponents 1-5 to 0-2 to take a four-point lead to the break. Davd Costigan flashed home the goal.

Back came Clonoulty with a productive third quarter to tie up the match and set the stage for a decisive home straight. Then the sides swapped quick-fire goals. David Costigan lashed home his second and minutes later Stephen Ferncombe replied at the village end.

It was entertaining fare with little separating the teams. Jack Hayes came on for Moycarkey and landed a crucial goal with eight minutes to play. That put the Mid side four-up but Clonoulty’s battling qualities again showed as they once more retaliated with four unanswered points.

Jack Ryan hit the final point and the game seemed headed for a draw before Moycarkey struck late with the winners. Neither team is seen as a top contender for final honours but likewise neither will be easily beaten.

In the Premier Intermediate grade there was a strange game on Saturday evening at Dundrum, where Golden/Kilfeacle survived a late scare against Boherlahan/Dualla.

For 55 minutes this game was one-way. Against a Boherlahan side that looked leggy and lethargic, Golden were playing on their own terms and looked likely winners by a comfortable margin. They led by seven at half time following first half goals from Jack Leamy and Ben Currivan; the margin was ten points entering the final minutes of the match.

Suddenly, out of nowhere, Boherlahan came with a late surge. Their defence tightened with the likes of Johnny Ryan and Gerard O’Dwyer prominent, while elsewhere Euan Ryan really sparked into life. Against a fading Golden effort, Boherlahan rattled off seven unanswered points, Euan Ryan hitting four of them, to cut the ten-point lead back to a single score.

It might have been worse for Golden. Four minutes into added time Euan Ryan had a great chance of goal but stumbled at the crucial moment. By the end Golden were left wondering how they came so close to surrendering a game that seemed so secure. Boherlahan were left to ponder why they waited until the end to start hurling.

Finally, a brief reflection on the camogie final. The physicality of the women’s game is now much more in line with the men’s version. They really barrel into each other and the number of obvious frees that were ignored on Sunday added to the robustness.

They share a few other features too with the men’s game. Throwing of the ball is everywhere, with only a few token ones penalised. Sounds familiar. And cynicism is alive and well. Any threat to goal and the player is automatically pulled down, something that was very noticeable in the final stages as Galway chased the lead. Like hurling, reform is needed.