The anatomy of Tipp’s run to the final

IN ALL FAIRNESS

A mild January evening under the lights in Templemore was the starting point to Tipperary’s unlikely run to this All-Ireland Final.

It should have started ten days before that but Clare scarpering from St Sheelan’s Park in the town double quick due to pockets of ice on the pitch.

Laois stepped into the breach, with Tipp manager Liam Cahill holding his word that the fundraiser for Mary’s Meals would still happen, and while they didn’t get much of a challenge on the night, you did notice the leanness of the Tipp players compared to last year.

The following Saturday saw Dublin travel to Fethard Town Park for what proved to be a feisty encounter which proved to be a portent of the season to come for both sides, not standing back from the battle.

National League

Galway - Start as you mean to go on, and in the days after Storm Eowyn wreaked havoc on the country, Tipp wreaked havoc on the tribesmen in Salthill, with their workrate and physicality the notable aspect of the performance and victory.

Wexford – Darragh McCarthy’s penalty goal finally shook off the Wexford challenge in a low-key game where Tipp struggled to get into a flow, but in such games, just find a way to win and move on, and they did.

Limerick – the first stumbling block with another defeat to Limerick, but overall the performance was positive, a game highlighted by Sean Kenneally’s outstanding goal, first timing a Darragh McCarthy assist to the net.

Cork – a statement win, even if Cork weren’t at full strength. With memories of the hammering by the rebels the previous May still fresh, Tipp had to perform and did with goals from Jake Morris and Dylan Walsh key to victory.

Kilkenny – Nowlan Park is always a testing ground no matter what state Kilkenny are in, and in a game the home side finished with twelve men, Tipp were the dominant side before the mayhem began.

Clare – Tipp had nothing to play for as they were already qualified for the league final but it was important to keep the momentum going, as well as maintaining their unbeaten record at home, coming from eight points down on 42 minutes with Darragh Stakelum scoring the winner in added time.

Final v Cork – the first considerable skid in the campaign as a seventeen-minute spell up to half time which saw Cork outscore Tipp 3-8 to 0-4 proving their undoing. However, they stemmed the bleeding and managed to win the second half, they never threw the towel in.

Championship

Limerick – this was always going to be the test of where Tipp were, added to by having to overcome the manner of the league final loss.

The first half performance was impressive, but the highlight was how they responded to Limerick’s expected fast start to the second half, which had been their undoing in recent clashes. John McGrath’s second goal and the move which created it epitomised the new-look Tipp.

Cork – a virtual write-off after Darragh McCarthy’s first-minute red card. Conceding three goals in the first thirteen minutes, it could have gotten ugly, but the spirit shown thereafter was hugely uplifting, never throwing in the towel, scoring 24 points and also left a lot behind them.

Clare – the key game. Lose, and Tipp’s year was as good as over. To go to the home of the All-Ireland champions and not only blitz them in the opening half, but then have the resolve to go on and have to win the game a second time after Clare’s fightback only re-enforced this Tipp team was made of different stuff. The inclusion of Rhys Shelly and Andrew Ormond heralded a change in approach.

Waterford – conceding a goal within ten seconds wasn’t in the plan but they never let it spook them, going onto control the game for long spells, again showing their resolve when Waterford fought back to level to push on and win by nine points. Oisin O’Donoghue announces his arrival as an impact sub with a goal.

Laois – a banana-skin game was put to bed inside five minutes with a 1-5 start. The scale of the Tipp support in Portlaoise suggested they liked what they saw in Munster.

Galway – the game which would define if the season was a success or not. The pressure of it showed in what was arguably Tipp’s poorest performance of the campaign, but they had more than enough quality against a poor Galway side.

Kilkenny – back in Croke Park after six years. They played as such in the early going but their 3-11 first half blast showed their best in full-flow. Things were harder in the second half but the defiance they showed after going down to fourteen men was incredible. There was no panic with Oisin O’Donoghue’s goal and Robert Doyle’s block going down as iconic players.

All-Ireland Final v Cork - Sunday will tell all.