“Wet, Wet, Wet” with the weather Gods pouring scorn on Tipp Football

By Liam Hogan

Fethard Town Park will not bring happy memories to Tipperary Footballers as they suffered a disappointing fourteen point drubbing and the hands of Wexford.

In a game that was postponed twenty hours earlier because of atrocious conditions in the supposed ‘Sunny South East’, the losing margin was one point shy of the 2-20 to 1-8 away defeat at Wexford Park at the hands of Slaneysiders in division 3 in 2013.

It was a disappointing end to the weekend which saw Tipp under 20s lucky to share the spoils with Limerick on Friday evening. The Under 20 team was at full strength but the same cannot be said about Paul Kelly’s team.

With so many injury worries and Tipp being effectively out of contention for promotion, the starting team barely resembled the team provided in the official match programme. Nine of the team that drew with Waterford, two weeks ago, started with Jimmy Feehan, James Morris, Stephen Grogan, Stephen Grogan, Kieran Costello, Jack Kennedy (Clonmel Commercials), Peter McGarry, Paddy Creedon and Sean O’Connor on duty.

Jack Rogers made way for Evan Comerford in goal with Emmett Moloney at right corner back in place of the injured Shane O’Connell. Colm O’Shaughnessy had his first outing in taking up position at left corner back thus allowing James Morris move to wing back. Luke Boland filled in at six in place of Paudie Feehan while midfield pairing of Mark Stokes and Conall Kennedy didn’t start allowing Stephen Grogan and Kieran Costello to fill the void, moving from their respective wing back positions. Both Cathal Deeley and Jack Kennedy (JK Brackens) were omitted as Conor Cadell and Martin Kehoe operating in both wing-forward positions allowing Peter McGarry, Paddy Creedon and Sean O’Connor to man the full forward line.

Manager Paul Kelly wanted to try different players in different positions, but the dust had barely settled when it was evident that Wexford had too much power for this Tipp fifteen.

The Model County had all the say with wing back Glen Malone mastering the middle third of the field while their attack had the look of stardom as the half forward line of Graham Cullen, Eoghan Nolan, Paraic Hughes gave the Tipp half backline little time to think. Sean Nolan was a beacon of light at full forward.

With Wexford at full flight the Tipp backline were caught with full lights blazing into their eyes and the goals came one after another in the 11th, 22nd & 27th minutes with the first goal by Sean Nolan the stand out one.

Trailing by ten points at half time, the break was very much welcomed by the Tipp team. The second half produced a little improvement, but the scores didn’t come enough despite the best efforts of Jack Kennedy, sub Conal Kennedy, and Sean O’Connor.

The backline was much tighter with the experienced Colm Shaughnessy and Jimmy Feehan managing to curtail the Wexford attack to some degree as the starting six defenders had settled down and completed the day without been replaced. Mark Russell’s return from a lengthy lay-off was welcome.

A disappointing performance, and a long way from heady days of 2018 & 2019 when Tipp were doing nicely in Division 2.

Tipp face Leitrim next weekend. Not an easy task against a team who are looking for promotion with Saturday’s win over table-toppers Laois adding a degree of confidence for the Connacht side.

Should Tipp win they will finish sixth. A defeat could mean seventh position – that’s if they lose and London overtake them with victory over Carlow. Tipp lowest position in the league in the last twenty years was eighth in Division 2B in 2005 but since Division 4 was re-instated in 2008 Tipp’s lowest finish was third in 2013.

Hopefully things will improve by the time the Munster Championship comes around in three weeks time.

There is plenty of time for the injury list to shorten with Conor Sweeney and captain Steven O’Brien improving slowly with no knowledge if they will be fit enough to be involved come quarter final time against Waterford.

In addition, there are worries about with Teddy Doyle (calf), Shane O’Connell (hamstring), and Paudie Feehan while Emmett Moloney hobbled off towards the end of this game and was not replaced as Tipp had their five subs used.

Indeed, the whole weekend was dramatic. Arriving in good time, ninety minutes before the scheduled 6.00pm throw-in at St. Patricks GAA in Enniscorthy on Saturday evening, one could sense the weather was going to be the winner even an hour before the scheduled throw-in. The players and officials arrived and were ready, but referee Pat McGuire and his officials waited until the last minute before the game was officially called off at 5.30pm.

Wexford wanted the game played and the cavalry of supporters and buses went north in the hope of acquiring the pitch at Ferns where there is an excellent centre of excellence. No joy there either as the heavy rain continued to fall and both camps organised a meeting with a view to re-fix the game and it was decided to give Tipp back home advantage and with FBD Semple Stadium, Clonmel Sportsfield and Templetuohy (the original venue) out of bounds with the excellent Fethard Town Park the chosen venue with the sand-based pitch favoured over the 4G with the latter the venue if the heavy rain returned.

The sand-based pitch was excellent, but the pitch wasn’t a major factor as Tipp football is at a low ebb for now at least.