Tipp still on course following controlled performance

 

By Liam Hogan

 

David Power’s smile was the only brightness as grey skies and heavy rain hung over Semple Stadium last Sunday afternoon after his side had defeated Clare in this Munster senior football quarter final at Semple Stadium

The three-point winning margin only masked a Tipperary performance that should have yielded a much bigger winning margin, but Clare refused to make things easy for them.

Yes, Tipperary were underdogs and as Power suggested “Tipp were the better team by far but Clare didn’t make it easy” as Tipp set out on a campaign to reach the Munster final for the first time in four years, a journey that Power had clearly planned from day one.

But returning to last Sunday’s game and the goals score and the chances that went abegging. First the goals when the first arrived in the fifth minute when Michael Quinlivan’s quick delivery off the ground found Conor Sweeney unmarked and with a bit to do he unleashed his sweet left foot and put the net shaking.

Sweeney went on to be Tipp’s highest scorer with 1-4, 1-2 from play and his brilliance lent a hand in Tipperary’s second goal forty seconds into the second half, a goal that was brilliantly executed from the time of Colman Kennedy’s right foot delivery to Sweeney, then the switch to Bill Maher and the Kilsheelan/Kilcash clubman weaved his way past a Clare defender before shooting low with his left foot also.

The Tipperary forward line have six players that any other county would die for and they made the difference as the opposition forward line were no match with three of the starting six replaced.

But having six great forwards is one thing but expecting the scores is another as Tipp missed at least three more goals due to mishandling or panic in front of goal.

 

 

Tipperary      MATCH STATS           Clare

7                          Wides                             4

23                       Frees Conceded        21

4                          Marks                             3

1                          Black Cards                 0

3                          Yellow Cards               2

0                          Red Cards                     0

Take the 27^th minute when Bill Maher stole a march inside the Clare cover but lost his footing at the wrong time.

Close to half time, Clare full back Cillian Brennan made a brilliant dash back towards goal and cut of more danger. Tipp led 1-6 to 0-5 at half time and should have more if only for possession alone.

With Bill Maher grabbing Tipp’s second goal seconds after the resumption, the size of Tipp’s lead took the pressure off the home side. They continued to string the phases together but suffered a setback when Colman Kennedy was black carded in the 46^th minute.

Fourteen men against fifteen for the next ten minutes and one could feel a degree of panic for a second as one expected to see the powerful Gary Brennan rise to the top. But not a bit of it as Jack Kennedy held his own in that sector. He moved there in the absence of Steven O’Brien who moved to full forward as he struggled with a hamstring injury sustained two weeks previous against Offaly. O’Brien had struggled and was called ashore in the 48^th minute.

If anything, Tipp were growing in stature as their half backline of Robbie Kiely, Kevin Fahey and Bill Maher made daring runs into Clare territory but as so often the moves broke down. Kiely should have made most of a chance to point in the 57^th minute when Tipp led 2-9 to 0-7. Two minutes later Maher did likewise before Kiely had a great chance of a goal in the 69^th but blazed wide.

Deep into injury time Sweeney had the chance of a point in injury time when after winning a mark his effort for a point was weak.

But Clare had chances too. Podge Collins won a lot of possession but the Tipp defence were well drilled and in the 49^th minute he had a chance of a goal from inside the small square but by the time he was about to kick for goal his shot was smothered by the close marking Jimmy Feehan.

Clare were favourites as we said but they did not expect to come up against such an excellent Tipp backline particularly the full backline of Alan Campbell, Colm Shaughnessy especially Jimmy Feehan at full back. So many times, the trio made timely interceptions leaving the Clare forwards gasping for thin air.

Feehan was unlucky to concede the own goal in the 74^th minute. Five minutes earlier he fouled Gary Brennan to force a penalty. We said unlucky because to my eye he slipped and knocked Brennan to the ground, but Brennan’s experience worked. Evan Comerford denied David Tubridy with a wonderful save and Tipp were remained seven clear, 2-10 to 0-9.

The Clare goal arrived later but if Tipp conceded a second goal they could but blame themselves as in the 75^th minute Conor Sweeney should have converted his mark inside the Clare thirteen metre line but his effort was weak making it easy for Stephen Ryan to save. One minute later another Tipp attack broke down when Kevin O’Halloran reached the ball inside the thirteen-metre line again but lost his footing and was judged to have touched the ball on the ground. Free out said referee Conor Lane who did a great job on the day.   

The focus turns to next Saturday’s semi-final against Limerick at the LIT Gaelic Grounds. Last year they met in the quarter final and Limerick beat Tipp 3-11 to 1-10 in Tipp’s worst result for many years. They have the ammunition to make amends and reach the final. David Power’s journey continues.