We finally got a complete performance - Carr
By Thomas Conway
There is a potentially endless list of adjectives which could be used to describe the emotions of the Tipperary ladies footballers following last Saturday’s successful relegation battle against Tyrone.
Relief, ecstasy, and satisfaction are all among them, but perhaps the most noticeable feeling emanating from the Tipperary camp was the sense of validation which the win generated.
The trajectory of Tipp’s form in 2021 has dipped dramatically, in contrast with previous seasons. Up to last Saturday, the side had looked vulnerable, with a general lack of confidence making them easy prey for top-quality opposition. Yet, if you had strolled into Coralstown-Kinnegad GAA grounds without prior knowledge of their season, you might have wondered why this Tipperary team hadn’t featured in the latter stages of the senior championship.
Even in the absence of Aishling Moloney, Emma Morrissey, Orla O’Dwyer and Roisin Howard, Tipp have a variety of talented attackers in their ranks - speed-merchants who thrive off quick break-aways and counter-attacks.
Manager Declan Carr has crafted a game-plan which revolves around pace and precision, and on Saturday, his players implemented that strategy with perfection and consistency.
“I think the plan came to fruition in the sense of a complete game or performance,” he said.
“We had played like that in flashes or brief periods, but we put it together for the sixty minutes today. I think we won three of the four quarters, and again we only took it quarter by quarter. So it did come together, but the girls made a commitment two weeks ago after Kerry - that we have nothing to lose now, everything to gain, and we’re just going to go for it. And from the get-go today, they just went for it.”
That commitment to throw caution to the wind and play with loose abandon was evident to all in attendance. Tipp seemed to adopt the Kellie Harrington mantra of “hakuna matata”, casting aside their worries, while also crucially retaining their composure. That’s a difficult balance to achieve.
In previous games Tipp had run opposition defences ragged for short periods, before being utterly dismantled at the back. On this occasion, they attacked in numbers, but also defended in packs, cutting out any potential goal threat. Tyrone kicked some awesome points, but rarely did they threaten Lauren Fitzpatrick’s goal, something which gave Carr huge satisfaction.
“In the past we pressed forward, pressed forward, and then got really exposed at the back. Today, we pressed forward but we were in a position to defend as well,” he added.
“And in fairness to the girls there was no silly stuff. Tyrone did come with a bit of a run, which we knew they would, but we kept our heads and defended quite well. And that for me was a real highlight.”
When it comes to assessing the 2021 season, the Holycross/Ballycahill clubman - who took over the reins from Shane Ronayne late last year - is characteristically honest and insightful. He makes no excuses for the string of defeats which Tipperary suffered, but he cites last Saturday as proof of the side’s true ability. That ability may have not been evident for much of the 2021 campaign, but it finally flourished on Saturday, and could well flourish in next year’s senior championship.