Same again would be welcome for Tipp against Clare twelve months on

GAA: Munster Senior Hurling Championship Round 4 Preview

By Shane Brophy

TIPPERARY v CLARE

FBD Semple Stadium

Saturday, 16th May

Throw-in @ 7.00pm (E.T.)

Referee: Thomas Walsh (Waterford)

It’s a case of déjà vu for both Tipperary and Clare ahead of the latest renewal of their rivalry in the Munster Senior Hurling Championship on Saturday evening.

53 weeks ago, to the evening, the sides lined up on a sultry Saturday for a key game where, for the loser, their championship ambitions would all but end. Tipperary emerged from Ennis with the win that kick-started their run all the way to the All-Ireland title.

Twelve months on, it’s not quite as winner-takes-all as it was then for both sides, but it is not far off it. Both teams will have one more game to play after Saturday evening with Clare going to Cork who are already confirmed to finish in the top 3 and would be through to the Munster final if the Banner don’t claim full points in Thurles.

The greater pressure is on Tipperary with just one point from two games so far, and with a trip to Limerick to wrap up their round-robin campaign, a win is needed not only to keep their chances of progression in the own hands but also giving their campaign a much needed shot in the arm.

Tipp’s campaign hasn’t fully ignited and the hope is the three weeks since the draw in Waterford will have given the players an opportunity to prime themselves for the rest of the campaign, including trying to beat Clare for the first time at home on the round-robin format.

Tipperary manager Liam Cahill has never been afraid to change things up mid-stream, and just as he did twelve months ago when Rhys Shelly and Andrew Ormond came into the team out of nowhere and made an immediate impact in Ennis, depending on who is performing in training, it may well be that some players that might not have seen much game time so far could be thrust into the action.

The inconsistency in Tipp’s performances has been concerning, from the lack of energy in much of the game against Cork, to their strong first half against Waterford but in the second, struggled to stem the tide of the Deise resurgence until late on.

Twenty days is a long time between the games but Tipp have no excuse not to be primed for what was always going to be a key fixture in the race for the top 3.

In front of Rhys Shelly, defensively Tipp might well stick with the same six that started against Waterford. Based on last years championship meeting, Ronan Maher on Peter Duggan looks nailed on as does Michael Breen on Mark Rodgers. The interesting one will be Robert Doyle, who last year tailed Tony Kelly out to wing forward to great effect but with Shane O’Donnell now back in harness, the Clonoulty/Rossmore clubman might be needed closer to goal with Bryan O’Mara possibly detailed to follow Kelly.

Willie Connors and Alan Tynan look nailed on for midfield while in attack, scoring 1-30 the last day out was a good shift with O’Farrell, Morris, Ormond, John McGrath, Darragh McCarthy and Oisin O’Donoghue having their moments.

Stefan Tobin impressed off the bench, as did Darragh Stakelum and Jason Forde who might well be held back to give Tipp another experienced option off the bench.

From a Clare point of view, the fact they threw in such a limp display at home to Limerick last time out makes them even more dangerous as they have a point to prove, particularly to themselves, so you’d be expecting a ferocious challenge from a Clare side that love nothing more than getting the better of their neighbours from across the Shannon.

One thing to look out for in terms of how they set-up is whether they sacrifice a forward to shore up their defence, with possibly veteran John Conlon coming in to support their half-back line who were exposed massively by both Waterford and Limerick, and similarly by Tipp in the first half of last years meeting in Ennis. Tipp made hay that day by opening up the spaces, as Limerick did, and certainly Clare have more than enough firepower if they had to go with one less forward from the start to stabilise their defence.

For Tipperary, there are no second chances left. A defeat and they are left hoping for a unlikely Waterford win over Limerick on Sunday to stay alive so in essence they have to get something from a fixture they have earned nothing from at home in the recent past.

This is where being All-Ireland champions has to start counting for something, going out and showing their living best, not just their hurling ability, but also managing their way through a game when the pressure is on.

This is the time the players need to remind themselves and everyone about why they are All-Ireland champions. They have to go out and grab it once more. They just need to produce the first half Waterford performance for longer.

They showed in how they weathered storms against Cork and Waterford that the spirit it strong but the damage they are sustaining in opponents purple patches is too much and no better team than Clare and their attackers, including Diarmuid Ryan from half back, to get on a run if they are allowed.

It feels like Tipperary are waiting for a spark to ignite their season, just like Ennis proved to be launchpad for last years success. Starting on the front foot and taking it to Clare is a must, to allow the home supporters in the anticipated crowd of 30,000 to play their part in helping the team get the win they need.