Relegation playoff is Tipp’s All-Ireland - Power

By Shane Brophy

Tipperary manager David Power made no excuses after his side failed in their quest to get the win they needed against Offaly to reach the division three promotion semi-finals.

A playoff now ensues against Longford which will determine who will fall to the bottom tier of the National Football League with the Tipp boss claiming the game as their All-Ireland final.

“We have to get ready for two weeks’ time and that is going to be our All-Ireland Final,” he said, following the defeat to Offaly, in which they were outscored 0-6 to 0-1 after the second water-break with unforced errors leading to the home side punishing Tipp ruthlessly.

“We can’t be turning over the amount of ball we did,” Power added.

“You couldn’t even call them forced turnovers; they were just basic.”

Tipperary had recovered from a slow start to lead at half time, but they failed to build on the second quarter momentum at the start of the second half, despite having plenty of possession.

“We were too slow moving the ball and that has been a big problem,” Power added.

“Our transition from getting from the defence to our forward line (isn’t quick enough). After the high of last years Munster championship success, league 2021 has been anything but straightforward with injuries hampering Tipp’s ability to put their best team on the field. Kevin Fahey, Bill Maher, and Evan Comerford made their first appearances in the league after injury, but the treatment table claimed two more additions in defenders Emmet Moloney (leg) and Colm O’Shaughnessy (facial).

“The cards we are being dealt are not kind at the minute,” Power added.

“If we could keep some of our main fellas on the pitch for seventy minutes that would be massive. It is just not happening at the minute, and this is the problem when you are going from week to week.

“It’s grand when things are going well, and you are winning, and injury free, but when things are going against you it is hard, but we are going to pick ourselves up and get ready for Longford.”

Twenty-seven different players have been used in the three league games to date which is one of the few positives to come out of the league so far, including Philip Ryan who kicked three points off the bench while Conor Bowe had another impressive outing at wing forward.

“We are blooding a couple of good young fellas,” Power added.

“If we can survive this division we are going to be after creating depth into our panel in terms of the young fellas. Conor Bowe stepped up again today to be fair, and some of the lads that came on as well did well to.

“We are in a tough position, so we have to get our heads clear and get ready for Longford.”

After three games in fifteen days, the players weren’t due to gather together again for training until this evening (Wednesday) to allow them to freshen up before they build for the game against Longford which will define their season.

“It’s getting bodies right. This is a key match. We can’t look any further than that,” David Power concluded.