Sluggish Tipp do enough against Dublin
By Shane Brophy
Tipperary got the job done in the end but it won’t be a performance that will last long in the memory.
On the positive side, Tipperary went to Parnell Park last Saturday and came away with a ten point victory as the same venue where they struggled to a draw in the championship last year. This was despite a much changed line-up as new manager Denis Kelly and his management run the rule over their squad and with 23 players getting game time, they can be pleased in that respect.
The new management also showed their ruthless streak as with eight subs at their disposal, they made four at half time, a signal of their displeasure at the first half performance on the day, but also a warning going forward to the players that if you don’t perform, you’ll be coming off.
In the first half, apart from Roisin Howard who scored three points from play, and the hard-working midfield of Casey Hennessy and Grace O’Brien, any of the remaining twelve players could have been taken off. In terms of generating competition for places, they would have been heartened by the impact off the bench of subs Courtney Ryan, Eimear Loughman, Teresa Ryan and Niamh Treacy in particular who added much needed bite to proceedings.
They helped Tipperary pull away to what in the end was a flattering ten point win but one that keeps the positive momentum going as Cork come to The Ragg, who will provide a true test of where this Tipp team stand at this stage of the campaign.
It is still a side missing some key players in Mary Ryan, Clodagh McIntyre and Ereena Fryday, but overall, the panel looks a good bit stronger than last year.
Maybe the combination of Tipperary’s impressive first round win over Galway and the fact that Dublin had been hammered by Cork, led to a little softness in the performance, particularly in the first half when all the intensity and aggression came from Dublin but whose shooting let them down with seven wides as they could have put Tipp under greater pressure on the scoreboard.
The return of Roisin Howard to the squad this year is another boost, as she provides a nuggety presence in the half forward line, as well as a good finisher with each of her three first half points well finished.
She was the only real threat Tipp had in the first half with the two-player full forward line of Cait Devane and Caoimhe Maher well shackled in the main, although aided by the fact Dublin played a sweeper as Tipp forwards had limited space in which to operate.
Maher’s relocation from the half forward line to the full forward line is one of the new things the management are trying out, to add some more physical presence and it is certainly worth persevering with as she finished with 1-2 from play, her goal in the 40th minute really kick-starting Tipp’s push for home.
Despite having their own sweeper in defence, Tipp didn’t have things all their own way at the other end, despite Lorna Ryan standing out.
Tipp led 0-7 to 1-3 at half time but were much more focused in the second half, helped by the changes at half time, plus the growing influence of Casey Hennessy at midfield, the Clonoulty/Rossmore club-woman, whose hard running through the middle caused Dublin no end of problems, while she also showed her prowess as a natural forward contributing 1-2 from play, her goal in the 55th minute a well finished effort.
So all in all, a good day for Tipperary, the win they wanted but with plenty to improve on and they’ll need to for the visit of Cork next Saturday, but it’s a challenge that should draw better out of them.