Tipp find a different way to win

By Liam Hogan

Looking at the opening minutes of the game against Wexford last Sunday we wondered if Tipperary’s good performance against Sligo a week earlier was just a one off.

Wexford simply owned the ball and kicked over three unanswered points, including one from a 45, which came about following desperate defending by the Tipp defence when they denied John Turbritt a certain goal.

Part of Tipperary’s problem was their kickout strategy where Michael O’Reilly was unable to find his men and even Dean O’Toole couldn’t believe his luck when one of the kickouts came straight into his grateful arms which led to the move that finished up with the 45.

It was the fifth minute before Tipp reached the Wexford goal line which resulted in a wide ball. Facing the first Wexford kickout helped Tipp get organised and then a stroke of genius when Bill Maher’s brilliant delivery from the wing was expertly punched first time to the net by their leader Conor Sweeney.

Sweeney was once again one of Tipp’s leaders but failure to get enough ball into the Ballyporeen man meant he had less of an impact on what we come to expect with the Wexford defence having to close ranks after the concession of the first half goals.

It must be said that scoring 4-4 (eight scores) and conceding 0-15 and yet winning is strange indeed. Just as well that Tipp raised four green flags because Wexford, buoyed by their round four win over a fancied London side were full value for money in front of their very small home support.

Despite the concession of two goals in the opening ten minutes they came at Tipp in droves with Niall Hughes, Alan Tobin, Dean O’Toole, and Glen Malone plus Paraic Hughes involved in a lot of the moves built up from the middle third of the field.

In addition, their wing forward Kevin O’Grady was a real livewire in that first half and his two points midway through the half were beautiful executed. He was a real menace but credit to the Tipp defence for not conceding a goal.

That same defence grew in stature as the game progressed as Shane O’Connell, Jimmy Feehan and Jack Harney provided great cover for goalkeeper Michael O’Reilly who didn’t have to make a save in anger.

Halfbacks Kevin Fahey and Robbie Kiely covered a lot of ground as well as minding their half of the field and the concession of eight points from play over the seventy minutes is proof positive that their hard work is paying off. Remember they conceded just 1-7 from play against Sligo, both games an improvement on the Leitrim game when they conceded 2-11 from play.

With Tipp under pressure in that opening quarter and in the 26th minute, manager David Power replaced centre back Sean O’Connor with Martin Kehoe. The Mullinahone clubman did himself no harm with a sound display and ten minutes later he was at the receiving end of a rough challenge which merited a red card for Paraic Hughes.

Tipperary were very grateful to have Teddy Doyle on board and the Kerry native scored two opportune goals in the first half which helped us come within one point of the leaders at half time 0-11 to 3-1.

With the breeze and the extra man to our advantage the thoughts of a second half takeover were on the minds of the travelling support and the initial steps of the takeover were enhanced when Mark Russell sent Mikie O’Shea past the Wexford defence for goal number four. Conor Sweeney’s deft flick into the path of Mark Russell was noteworthy and well-timed.

Then further disappointment as Tipp lost Teddy Doyle to a second yellow card offence. Again, these yellow cards are a little bit on the soft side but otherwise nobody could have any complaints with referee John Hickey and the official had no other option but to have Mark Russell black carded for a foul on Kevin O’Grady inches outside the large square. Russell was a huge loss both numerically and in terms of his workrate.

Down to thirteen men (as opposed to fourteen for Wexford), Tipperary had a fight on their hands with Shane O’Connell and Jack Harney producing two vital blocks close in on goal. What the Tipp defence couldn’t do there was the support provided by Conor Sweeney who at one stage was defending inside his own thirty-five metre line. In addition, there was much to admire from the work ethic of Conal Kennedy and his brother Jack who continues to improve following his lengthy injury problems and his two points in the second half were so important.

The one Tipp player that played beyond the call of duty was Bill Maher who at times could be seen helping out the defence before returning to his wing forward duties.

The last meeting between the sides was in 2015 when Wexford beat Tipp in Clonmel by three points and they also won at Wexford Park ten years ago. Wexford Park is a difficult place to come away from with victory.

But overall, this was a sound if unspectacular performance by Tipp, but they will need to improve if they are to trouble league leaders Cavan in Breffni Park next Sunday.