Stable Tipp have what is takes to beat Kilkenny

By Shane Brophy

Who is going to take the massive opportunity that is before them?

In advance of the quarter finals, Kilkenny would have been planning for Limerick, and Tipp for Cork, that’s what the form suggested. However, Dublin threw a massive spanner in the works when they took our Limerick, and where Kilkenny and Tipperary would have been considerable underdogs going into those semi-finals, they now look at each other and see a more winnable contest.

Kilkenny might well be marginal favourites going into this Sunday’s All-Ireland semi-final but to all and sundry this clash between the two great traditional rivals is too close to call.

The Leinster champions have the edge in terms of experience, their seventh semi-final in a row where as Tipperary are at this stage for the first time in six years, their last championship outing at Croke Park coming at the expense of Kilkenny in the 2019 All-Ireland final.

Then there is the Croke Park factor, a virtual home from home for Kilkenny but there is enough experience in the Tipperary team for it not to be a major concern. Likely starters Rhys Shelly, Eoghan Connolly, Robert Doyle, Andrew Ormond, Sam O’Farrell, and Darragh McCarthy haven’t played there before, but the majority have including Bryan O’Mara, Johnny Ryan, Conor Stakelum, Alan Tynan, and Brian McGrath would have played there in a league game against Dublin in 2023.

Of the Tipperary team that featured in the 2019 All-Ireland final, only four remain from the side that will likely start; Ronan Maher and Michael Breen in defence, and John McGrath and Jason Forde in attack. Jake Morris and Willie Connors came off the bench that day also.

Noel McGrath and Seamus Kennedy are also survivors, and both are at the heart of the selection debate ahead and whether their experience will be needed from the start to bridge the gap to Kilkenny.

There’s a logic to it, particularly McGrath, as Kilkenny play a slower brand of hurling which wouldn’t be as taxing on the Tipp great, but considering McGrath’s most least influential game in the championship so far was as a starter against Clare, the likelihood is he will be kept in reserve once again, as will Kennedy, particularly as Tipp look to have the edge in terms of the strength of their bench, particularly with the game likely to be decided in the closing stages.

Of the Tipp team that started against Galway in the quarter final, the only likely change would be in midfield if Peter McGarry, as expected, isn’t retained. There are a couple of options open to the management; Darragh Stakelum who was impressive off the bench, scoring two points from play, but with Kilkenny offering a more physical challenge, it leads itself towards either Conor Stakelum or Alan Tynan getting the nod.

Both could also slot in at wing forward also with Sam O’Farrell going to midfield but there is a fluidity to how the Tipp midfield and half forwards play, almost as one unit with Andrew Ormond and Jake Morris dropping deep for spells as well.

For only the second time in his fledgling senior career, Darragh McCarthy was taken off last time out. It can be easy to forget that he is still just twenty and still making his way at this level.

His under 20 teammate Oisin O’Donoghue is snapping at his heels for a start, but we know what the Cashel clubman offers off the bench whereas starting him could be a risk, plus we don’t know what McCarthy offers as a sub.

Jason Forde could easily assume the free-taking mantle, but such a change in set-up late in the campaign would be risky, but manager Liam Cahill has shown he isn’t afraid to make surprising calls.

However, McCarthy’s mindset is such that he’ll likely thrive on the big occasion. He responded to the poor performance in the league final with a match of the match one against Limerick in the Munster Final. It would be a surprise if he doesn’t start.

It’s likely the Tipperary team that starts won’t be too dissimilar to the one that defeated Kilkenny in the National League at Nowlan Park last March, with Rhys Shelly, Willie Connors and Andrew Ormond starting from the bench that day.

That match might be remembered for the four red cards, three for Kilkenny, but before the madness set in early in the second half, Tipp were the better team and six-points up, the game in which John McGrath also rediscovered his confidence and belief at this level.

However, he wasn’t marked at full forward that day by Huw Lawlor who was one of a number of key players missing, including Adrian Mullen and Eoin Cody, although the latter hasn’t featured much in the championship but is set to be available for selection, as is Mossy Keoghan after a recent hamstring injury.

The Tipp management will reflect on that encounter as they get their match-ups set. Michael Breen started on TJ Reid and kept him scoreless from play, before shifting across onto Billy Ryan whose pace and power was an issue for Bryan O’Mara, but was negated thereafter. Ryan’s form this year has been his more consistent and his hard running will need to be curtailed.

You could well see Eoghan Connolly or Ronan Maher on TJ Reid while Craig Morgan and Robert Doyle picking up Keoghan and Cody respectively.

Going the other way, much will focus on how Kilkenny set-up, will Richie Reid be a sitting centre-back or will be follow Andrew Ormond out the field?

The likelihood is it will be the former and when Reid gets on the ball and is given time to get his head up and find his men, is when Kilkenny are at their most potent.

Tipp will be aware not to play too much aimless ball through the middle and to be fair in the championship, their use of the ball is much improved, certainly to an extent where they won’t be pucking 50/50 ball down on top of Huw Lawlor like Galway did in the Leinster Final.

Sunday is a massive opportunity for Tipperary to reach an All-Ireland Final.

Kilkenny are to be respected but not to be feared. They shouldn’t be as Tipp’s recent record over their rivals at all grades in recent years has removed much of the aura they had during the hay-day of the Cody years.

Tipp have come along way this year, but they aren’t finished yet. It will require their best performance of the campaign to get the victory, but they are capable of it, particularly with their steely mindset of rising to the challenge.

Tipperary manager Liam Cahill has named an unchanged starting line-up and subs bench for Sunday's semi-final against Kilkenny