A lot to like but Tipp need to tidy up loose areas

Longford v Tipperary Match Analysis

By Shane Brophy

A point on the road is better than none and that is the way the Tipperary senior footballers can reflect on a somewhat frustrating Sunday afternoon in Longford.

Facing into the strong diagonal breeze at the hill-top venue for the first half, if you offered Tipperary a two-point deficit at half time, they would have devoured your hand there and then without salt.

However, this is where the mentality of sport is so fascinating. When both sides had to play into the elements, they showed greater composure to hold onto the ball and work the opportunity, with Tipp in the first half scoring six points from play, highlighted by the very first play with Joe Higgins winning the throw-in with Tipp maintaining possession for almost three minutes before Steven O’Brien found the opening to kick the score.

Indeed, many of Tipp’s first half scores were like that, helped by a dominant midfield where goalkeeper Shane Garland went long with his kickouts but Joe Higgins, Paudie Feehan and Steven O’Brien were lording it while Mark Stokes and Charlie King were prominent carrying the ball.

However, Longford began to get a foothold before half time and continued it early in the second half when Tipperary would have been hoping to at least be on parity in terms of possession to create more scoring opportunities.

The arrival of Dylan Farrell as a half time sub from a real boon for the home side, the lively half-forward kicking a two-point free not long after the restart which was a bonus, as was his 47th minute goal, fortuitous as it was as he appeared to be going for a point but didn’t get full purchase on the shot which died in the breeze and dropped under crossbar into the corner of the net.

A goal, against the breeze, under the new scoring rules and trends, is some bonus but to Tipp’s credit they responded with four points in as many minutes from Daithi Hogan, Cian Smith, and a two-pointer from Sean O’Connor.

In this trio, Tipperary have real potency in the full-forward, scoring all bar one of Tipp’s scores with Smith grabbing eight, converting seven of his eight shots at goal. He doesn’t lack confidence in front of goal and doesn’t require a second invitation when the opening presents itself.

Having such a potent inside line is all well and good without the ball into them and if Tipp are to kick on in the coming months and years, getting a greater handle on their restarts is a must.

It is in the early days of the new regime but short kickouts don’t seem to be in Tipp’s gameplan at the moment but they may well come. You can see why they like to go long as Tipp certainly have size there, added to by Mark Russell who came off the bench.

When they do get possession, Tipperary certainly have threats, not just inside, but also from deep where James Morris was particularly effect at wingback, after starting the first three games at the edge of the square. At full pace, he has a great ability to break a tackle, which he did to great effect in the first half, creating three points, but wasn’t as effective after the break as Longford, to their credit, shut him down, as they did Russell when he came on, their memories fresh from the corresponding game last year in Clonmel when the Aherlow man kicked the winning two-pointer in added time.

However, it is defensively where Tipperary gave the greatest gains to make. You can’t say anyone struggled on the day but certainly when Longford had possession, particularly in the second half, the home side were able to retain it too easily and while Tipp were structured in their approach, Longford still found the gaps a little too easily, and were efficient scoring 1-6 from nine shots at the target.

Tipperary are heading in the right direction. They are fit and athletic, playing a quick and easy on the eye brand of football, however, when they get turned over in possession, they remain too vulnerable and is where they have lost the four points which would see them further up the table.

Still, they are in the race for promotion with three games to go, with their hopes very much in their own hands, starting with Leitrim next Sunday where a win would set them up for the key game away to Wicklow.

Tipperary don’t appear ready for division 3 football yet but that is twelve months down the line and a lot of improvement can happen between now and then so going after the win over Leitrim, who have had Tipp’s number in recent years, would be a good progress marker.