Tipp need to find killer instinct against Wexford

By Shane Brophy

Tipperary resume their National Football League campaign this Sunday knowing anything, but a win is required to keep their promotion hopes intact.

Paul Kelly's charges were supposed to have home advantage against Wexford but with Templetuohy deemed unplayble, have been forced to concede home advantage with the game now switched St Patrick's, Enniscorthy. However, heavy rain on the day made the pitch unplayable, as well as the back-up venue in Ferns.

With the final round of games to be played next Sunday, the game had to be rescheduled quickly with the game now reverting to Fethard Town Park (today) at 4.00pm. It is hoped to play it on the grass pitch there but if not playable it be played on the 4g pitch at the magnificent venue.

Despite having dropped six points and recorded just one win so far, Tipp are still in the hunt by virtue of the race for second place, although wins for Longford and Leitrim yesterday has made their task harder.

Should Tipperary get the win over Wexford, it would bring them to six points, and with a final game again Leitrim, Tipp would still have something to chase going into the final game, particularly if Longford were to win their match as Tipp have the head-to-head over the Leinster side already.

However, winning games has been Tipp’s Achilles heel as they have been in winning positions against London, Waterford and Laois but only have two points to show from those games rather than six.

Wexford will provide a stern test and were impressive last time out with a win over Carlow. They were unlucky not to have beaten Leitrim in the previous round with the concession of a dubious last minute goal which would have seen them in a strong position for promotion.

The absence of captain Steven O’Brien has been huge as in a squad that is relatively inexperience, Tipp need leaders, particularly in the midfield where Jack Kennedy is ploughing a lone furrow at times, while in defence Shane O’Connell and Jimmy Feehan have been showing up well.

O’Brien’s power is also missed particularly in penetrating mass defences which would create openings for others and take the pressure off Sean O’Connor who, despite his own relative inexperience, has been a huge leader for Tipp in attack.