Tipperary Hurling Tipperary GAA Premierview

Tipp Wexford preview

Last Saturday saw Tipp’s senior hurlers complete a very circuitous route to Croke Park with an unexpected and thrilling victory over Cork on Semple’s hallowed turf. Tipp’s plucky performance overcame the Red lads without the intervention of Eoin Kelly & Paul Curran, while John Carroll & Shane McGrath only made 2nd half appearances. What lies ahead now is a clash with Wexford, a side whose championship performances in this millennium could be best described as schizophrenic, such are the ceilings and troughs they’ve experienced since 2000. The prevailing wisdom is that both counties would be happy enough to face each other rather than some of the other teams still in the championship. Come 4 p.m. on Sunday, one side’s supporters will be happily awaiting the outcome of the 2nd quarterfinal to determine who the next opponents are, the other bunch will merely be wondering who to shout against, or else trying to figure out where to get the best snackbox.

Tipp & Wexford haven’t clashed too often in the senior championship in recent years, just 3 times since 1997. Before that their last meeting was in 1968, where Wexford staged a dramatic 2nd half recovery to clinch the All-Ireland title. When TG4 reran this game on their classic series it was voted the most popular screening, despite the fact that the footage was in black and white and just a tad grainy. Mick Roche still hurled like a giant anyway, just in case people had forgotten.

In 1997 when they met again, Wexford were reigning Leinster & All-Ireland champions, and on the crest of a wave. Just a few weeks previously 36 year old Billy Byrne had turned around the Leinster Final by scoring 1-2 after his late introduction for Larry Murphy. Tipp meanwhile had lost the Munster Final to Clare, but had re-entered the All-Ireland championship in the inaugural year of the “back-door”, which gave the losing Leinster & Munster finalists a 2nd bite at the cherry in the All-Ireland quarter-finals against the Connacht & Ulster champions. Meanwhile, also in its first year, the new calendar-year National Hurling League gave us a chance to regroup a week after the Munster final loss, when a revamped side saw off Dublin in the quarter-final of that competition in Thurles. Tipp had drawn Down in the All-Ireland championship, and went up to Clones to face them. Len Gaynor & co used these 2 games to alter the Munster Final losing side, which gave opportunities to Conal Bonner, Liam Sheedy, Brian O’Meara & Liam McGrath, players with a physical edge to their game. Eugene O’Neill, the star of the All-Ireland winning ’96 minor team, was also introduced, while Conor Gleeson & Tommy Dunne moved to midfield, releasing John Leahy back to wing forward.

A huge crowd turned out for this game. Not for the first time Ger Loughnane shovelled some coal onto the fire, stating that roughhouse tactics wouldn’t work against Tipperary. (Sound familiar?) Those tactics had certainly worked in the Leinster Final, when DJ Carey was subjected to some heavy treatment from the Wexford backs, rendering him largely anonymous in that game. Many thought these comments to be Machiavellian on Loughnane’s behalf, believing that Clare would have preferred to face Tipp again in the All-Ireland final, rather than the Slaneysiders. Anyway, Tipp didn’t need Ger’s help, not with John Leahy on song. Despite suffering an accidental facial injury, which necessitated his later substitution, he did more than enough for Tipp’s cause, notching 1-4. The goal was a beautiful overhead flick when he ghosted onto a centre from Conor Gleeson, another who was to contribute handsomely that day. Others to shine were Tommy Dunne, the masterful Declan Ryan, & Paul Shelly at corner back. Brian O’Meara hit a first half goal which helped Tipp keep Wexford at arm’s length. Three 2nd half points from the classy Michael Cleary also helped Tipp on their way, as well as the dominance of Colm Bonner at centre back. Apart from a couple of points by Martin Storey when he moved to full-forward, Wexford lacked punch upfront in the 2nd half, and springing Billy didn’t work this time. A very pleasing victory.

Wexford weren’t without rank bad luck. They lost Rod Guiney to a knee injury after a few minutes, and his replacement John O’Connor couldn’t handle Leahy at all. Gary Laffan was seriously hampered by injury, whilst they lost Rory McCarthy to a concussion sustained in an accidental clash of heads with Conor Gleeson. Tipp at least had benefited handsomely from Leahy’s presence before he departed the field; Wexford couldn’t claim the same about their injury victims. Their profligate shooting, which had troubled them so much earlier in the decade, came back to haunt them again on this occasion. It was a fully merited, comfortable win for Tipperary, and signalled the start of some very barren years for Wexford at the hands of Offaly, culminating in an awful thrashing at the hands of the Faithful in 2000.

The next time the sides met in the championship in 2001 their respective roles were reversed. Tipp were provincial champions, having seen off Limerick in a thrilling decider. Wexford had been badly beaten by Kilkenny in the Leinster equivalent, before recalibrating their team with a smattering of U21s and shocking Limerick in the All-Ireland quarter-final. They scored 3 goals from placed balls that day, 2 from netminder Fitzhenry. Tipp had a few surprises of their own in store for Wexford, the chief one being the placement of John Carroll at centre forward, after a less than stellar Munster championship at wing back.

On a damp day the 1st quarter was even enough, before Tipp completely took over. John Carroll goaled for Tipp with a great ground stroke. Fitzhenry’s heroics kept Wexford within 7 points at the break, as did Tipp’s inaccuracy from placed balls. Tipp continued the wastefulness after the break, while Wexford panic stations saw Darren Stamp go wing back in a switch with Larry O’Gorman. Suddenly Larry had the ball in the Tipp net, and the next thing they sent for Martin Storey, dramatically recalled after Limerick were beaten. In Martin came, and his arrival seemed to upset Tipp’s defence. A high ball rained in, Martin challenged Brendan Cummins, the ball broke and Rory McCarthy shook the net. Tipp weathered these 2 blows reasonably well, and seemed set for victory, till a one-handed swipe from the falling O’Gorman saw Cummins beaten again. Suddenly Tipp were in serious trouble, and points from Adrian Fenlon & Mitch Jordan saw them equalise. Tommy Dunne had a great chance for the winner, but was blocked by Paul Codd. Codd in turn was hooked by Paddy O’Brien while attempting to clear the ball, and as the Wexfordman did a great impression of a dying swan in order to engineer a free, the final whistle was blown. Confusion arose afterwards as to the appropriate amount of injury-time played, and futile speculation as to what may have happened had the game continued.

6 days later on an evening similar to those we’re getting these days, the replay took place in Croke Park. Pat Horan was the referee, and he ordered 3 players from the field before half-time. The twin dismissals of Brian O’Meara & Liam Dunne on the linesman’s word was considered harsh at the time, and while technically correct as both did strike each other with their hurleys, it certainly seemed like someone swatting a housefly with a sledgehammer. Worse was to follow for Wexford, when Mitch Jordan was sent to the line for a wild pull across Paul Ormonde. Jordan had been Wexford’s most productive forward in both games up to his dismissal, and his departure was an even worse blow than Dunne’s. Despite playing against the elements Tipp had openly brightly, with John Carroll kicking past Fitzhenry. Wexford proceeded to dominate the 2nd quarter, but with a man down and the rain and wind against them for the 2nd half, it was inevitable what would follow. They scored just 2 points after half-time, while sub Eugene O’Neill hit 2 goals to clinch an easy Tipp victory. The Kelly brothers starred for Tipp, who had many solid performers in ensuring no further breach of Cummins’ net. The sendings-off certainly marred the game from a spectator’s perspective, as there was only so much an overworked Wexford defence could do.

In the years since then we’ve seen the best and worst of the Slaneysiders. A very creditable performance against Kilkenny in the 2002 Leinster Final, only to be hammered by Clare 6 days later. Poor displays against Offaly & Kilkenny in 2003, followed by an excellent victory over Waterford in Nowlan Park. Scraped past Antrim in that year’s All-Ireland quarter-final, then drew with Cork in a thrilling game, only to be crushed in the replay. A superb display against Kilkenny in 2004, with Mick Jacob crashing the sliothar past James McGarry to send the Noresiders through the qualifiers, but walloped by cork in the All-Ireland semi-final. A decent display against Kilkenny in the 2005 Leinster Final was followed by a tame surrender to Clare, and their subsequent championship performances have been dismal. That’s the backdrop to next Sunday.

Tipp meanwhile have failed to win anything significant since the 2001 season ended. 2 All-Ireland semi-finals have been reached via the scenic route, each time Kilkenny defeated us en route to winning McCarthy. There have been a couple of heavy defeats, some narrow losses, a fair few draws and numerous solid victories. We could do with augmenting the latter statistic, and Sunday’d be a nice opportunity to show that more of what we saw last Saturday night is in front of us. The only fly in the ointment is the cumulative effect of 6 games on the trot, though it didn't seem to be such a problem against Cork. Babs & his boys have given us plenty of entertainment and joy this Summer, I wouldn't bet on it being over yet.

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Tipp V Limerick Preview Ardan Ui Chinnean



Pairc na Gael on the Ennis road is where the Summer starts for Tipp senior hurlers on Sunday, facing the home side for the right to contest the Munster Final. 13 months ago the sides met in Thurles on a day memorable for an extraordinary display by Eoin Kelly, and a lightning start from the Shannonsiders, which wasn’t sustained. Both sides have been named for Sunday’s clash, and make for interesting comparisons.

Tipp hand championship debuts to Cashel’s Ryan O’Dwyer and the DromInch pair Buckley & Woodlock, while Darragh Egan & Willie Ryan get their first championship starting slots, having debuted in the championship against the same opposition as late substitutes in 2005 & 2006 respectively. The side has considerably changed from that which lined out against Limerick in Thurles in May of last year, with changes in every outer line of the field. Diarmuid Fitzgerald makes a welcome return to the defence, and certainly the new full forward line of Kelly-Corbett-Ryan looks to have more scores in it than last year’s version, where the aforementioned Fitzgerald looked ill at ease for most of the championship. A lot of hope sits on the shoulders of the aforementioned O’Dwyer, as the no. 11 jersey has proven hard to fill in recent years. Our midfield partnership of Woodlock & McGrath is full of running and energy, whilst Benny Dunne gets to wear no. 6 for the county, following on from his excellent club form in the slot over the last few years.

Philip Maher, Ger O’Grady & Colin Morrissey from last year’s starting 15 are no longer on the senior panel, neither is Ken Dunne who played extremely well when introduced as an early substitute that day. Shane McDermott & John Devane, who also made substitute appearances later in the championship, are also deemed surplus to requirements. Meanwhile, Liam Cahill, who transferred from Ballingarry to Thurles Sarsfields earlier this year, has found himself back in the senior squad after an absence of 4 years. Burgess clubman Shane Maher, who last featured on the senior panel in 2004, is also back in the frame, while 2006 minor & U21 stars such as Patrick Bourke, Thomas Stapleton, Gerry Kennedy, Alan Byrne, Conor O’Brien & Danny O’Hanlon have also joined the senior ranks. A lot of change in one season, though it’s not unusual to see this in a new management team as they settle into their roles.

Limerick’s listed side contains no championship newcomers, though one man, Peter Lawlor, did not feature at all in last year’s championship, despite playing so well in 2005 that he gained an All-Star nomination. Last year’s centre forward Stephen Lucey is now at full back, whilst Ollie Moran goes in the opposite direction from wing back to centre forward. This column has immense regard for Moran, who has often been a victim of his own versatility, shipping unwarranted criticism from his own supporters, but always a pivotal player for his county. Conor Fitzgerald has left the panel since last year, depriving them of a nippy forward with tasty hands and a good eye for a score. TJ Ryan has retired, while Paul O'Grady & Mark Keane are also absent. The unfortunate Denis Moloney is still recovering from a bad knee injury sustained last year in Thurles. Limerick suffered a humiliating defeat to Clare in last year’s qualifier match, prompting Joe McKenna & his management team to resign en masse. They regrouped quickly under the eyes of Richie Bennis & Gary Kirby, to reach the All-Ireland quarter-finals and put the heart crossways in Cork, before bowing out by a single point. Despite rarely looking like a side that will go full distance to September, they have proven to be stubborn opponents for virtually every hurling county in recent years, particularly Tipp who certainly won’t be taking them lightly.

Both sides approach Sunday through relatively long grass, with Limerick having to contest a relegation battle to retain Division 1 league status, whilst Tipp bowed out a the quarterfinal stages, after which our bench resembled a small hospital. Unfortunately Paul Kelly misses the chance to play against his cousins for the 2nd year running, but otherwise the news on the injury front looks promising, with Toome’s John O’Brien back hurling again after a serious car crash late last year. The big prize at stake on Sunday is direct entry to the Munster Final & All-Ireland stages, thus preventing the necessity of playing a quick series of qualifying games, which can be extremely disruptive to a County Board’s club fixture schedules. It’s one worth having, and with both counties not having won any senior silverware in a good while, the prospects of a tilt at Waterford or Cork in July should ensure a lively clash on the Ennis Road on Sunday afternoon.

Ardan Ui Chinnean