Tipperary's Kevin O'Halloran is faced by Donegal's Michael Langan. PHOTO: ODHRAN DUCIE

Tipp silence doubters once more

Just when you begin to doubt this Tipperary senior football team they reel you right back in.

A lot has been made of the players missing so far in this campaign for various reasons, but the remaining members made a statement, not only for themselves, but for the rest of the team with the manner of their come from behind win over Donegal on Sunday.

Having dropped a home point against Fermanagh the previous weekend and with the Erne-men subsequently defeating Kildare on Saturday night, it meant Tipperary needed to get something from this game with the Ulster champions.

Donegal might well have been without marquee names such as Michael Murphy and Paddy McBrearty, as well as the Gaoth Dobhair contingent but they have been developing a deep panel under manager Declan Bonnar for the last couple of years and for fifty minutes they were the superior outfit in this game as they led 0-11 to 1-4 after 53 minutes.

They were by no means dominant but were comfortable as Tipperary struggled once again in the attack, where in the first half they were turned over cheaply which in turn led to four Donegal points on the counter-attack. In the second period with the strong wind behind them, Tipp began missing some good opportunities and kicked five wides as they failed to eat into the three point half time deficit which was manageable.

In many ways, Tipperary paid Donegal a little too much respect during the course of the game and on 50 minutes when the Ciaran Thompson kicked the Ulster men four points ahead, the signal went in from manager Liam Kearns that the impressive Brian Fox, who had been deployed in a deeper role until then was pushed forward and Tipp went man for man. It was the worth the risk as Tipp were going nowhere having failed to score in the opening fifteen minutes of the second half.

Then the break came on 54 minutes, from another one of Steven O'Brien's powerful runs which were so effective all day, yielded a free 45 yards out from goal. Liam McGrath stepped up at a similar distance to the one he scored against Fermanagh to earn a point. On this occasion, it looked as if he were going to be unsuccessful as the shot fell short with Donegal goalkeeper Shaun Patton looking like he had things in hand but Hugh McFadden cut across his line with the ball ending up in the back of the net.

 

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