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Knocknagow
Tipp 3-24 Wexford 0-19 (03-07-2010)
Tipp comfortably defeated Wexford in Phase 1 of the Qualifiers in Thurles this afternoon in front of a poor crowd of 10,927. Neither side made any changes; personnel or switches prior to throw in, from the official programme and Tipp played with the aid of a slight wind in the first half.
Tipp were first to attack when Lar won a ball turned and pointed. However most people missed it as Declan Fanning and Stephen Banville were stuck in each other at the other end of the field. While Fanning shouldered Banville, Banville firstly broke his hurley off Fannings back and then went for Fannings face guard firstly. Both players ended up ripping the helmets off each other. The ref gave both yellow but Fanning went off as a blood sub and played no further part as it was just before half time when he came out of the dressing room with a severe looking bandage on his head and went to the Tipp dug out, Paul Curran came on for Tipp at full back. Hopefully Michael Duignan does not do his usual Sunday Game routine on Tipp of “trial by tv” as both players would be in trouble!!
Anway back the action and debutant David Young scored a sweet point. Wexford got their first score when Shane McGrath failed to raise a ball in midfield and Colm Farrell nipped in to point. A good clearance from Young found Noel McGrath and he pointed. In the 6th minute Rory Jacob pointed to leave it 3-2.Atkinson put a Wexford free wide; before Lar won a puck out and pointed. Conor O’Mahony found Gearoid Ryan and under pressure he ran and pointed superbly. Paul Curran then made a great catch off Banville with no hurley, was fouled and Cummins cleared the danger. Banville got on the score board soon after with a point after good Wexford play. Eoin Kelly then had a wide after shooting from a tight angle when there were better options inside. Young pointed; winning a ball from a ruck driving on and pointing. Kehoe pointed for Wexford.
Eoin Kelly’s goal chance was thwarted by a hook. Shane McGrath then went on a run and went for goal which the Wexford goalie tipped out for a 65 which Kelly pointed to leave it 7-4 after17 minutes. A foul on Brendan Maher on the 65 saw Eoin Kelly put the ball wide. Noel McGrath pointed. Brendan Cummins saved from Rory Jacob which Atkinson pointed from the 65. Bonner Maher broke the ball and allowed Callanan to run onto it and point. Ciaran Kenny got a yellow card after a high shoulder into the head of Brendan Maher; Kelly pointed the free to leave it double scores; 10-5 after 26 minutes. Gearoid Ryan broke the ball to Lar and he pointed.
Farrell got his second point of the day for Wexford from long range. Eoin Kelly got a free for Tipp. After a good run Bonner Maher got his first point. Kehoe got a point for Wexford. Lar passed the ball back to Young and he pointed for a long way out. Both Noel McGrath and Brendan Maher had poor wides for Tipp. Lar then had his initial point effort blocked but then picked up the rebound and went on a run, but his final pass was poor and Wexford cleared. Brendan Maher on the run found Eoin Kelly and he pointed, his first from play. The ref blew up after 2 minutes of injury time with Tipp comfortably ahead 15-7.
Wexford made 1 change at the start of the second half with Lar Prendergast in for Eoin Quigley. Tipp seriously upped the pace with Shane McGrath setting up Eoin Kelly who pointed. He got another again soon after. Then in the space of 60 second the game was ended. Firstly Shane McGrath found his namesake Noel who passed the ball to Lar who rounded his man and just about managed to get the ball over the line. The crowd had just sat down when Lar again got the ball and this time made no mistake as he blasted to the net to leave Tipp 2-17 to 0-7 after 39 minutes. Wexford got 2 points with points from Atkinson; a free and Kehoe. Jacob picked up a yellow card.
Noel McGrath made a great leap, caught the ball but was fouled. Kelly pointed the free. Wexford brought on Jim Berry for Atkinson. Conor O’Mahony got a yellow card for a wild. Wexford took off Watters and brought on Michael Jacob, with a bit of messing with taking off Banville as well just as he pointed. Eoin Kelly put a free wide after Tipp got a free after Shane McGrath was hit after he hit the ball. Tipp brought on John O’Brien for Callanan at wing forward. While Wexford brought on Tommy Dwyer for Dave Redmond. Bonner Maher then went on a run and ignored both Kelly and Lar to shoot, but it was saved and Kelly pointed the 65. The less said about Kelly’s reaction to Bonner not passing the better.
In the 53rd minute Paudie Maher found Garoid Ryan and he pointed to leave Tipp 2-20 to 0-10 up. Rory Jacob pointed after poor Tipp play. Bonner Maher pointed for Tipp. Seamus Hennessy went in corner forward for Eoin Kelly. Young set up Gearoid Ryan who pointed. Wexford pointed. Noel McGrath was fouled and Kelly pointed. McMahon pointed for Wexford in what nearly could have been a goal so with 10 minutes left Tipp lead 2-23 to 0-13. Wexford got 3 points with Jacob, and sub Berry got 2 the second a free.
Darragh Egan went full forward with 5 minutes to go with Shane McGrath coming off; Hennessy went midfield. Brendan Maher found Gearoid Ryan who pointed. Brendan Cummins then had to pull off a full length save. Noel McGrath then went on a run and Darragh Egan scored a rebound goal after his shot came back off the crossbar. Shane Maher came on for Brendan Maher. Wexford made another switch and scored a point. Tipp made their last change with Michael Heffernan on for Gearoid Ryan. Wexford got the last 2 points with Berry and Farrell scoring. Hennessy shot was short. The ref blew up after 3 minutes of injury time with Tipp winning 3-24 to 0-19. The Saturday Game gave the Man of the Match award to David Young.
Colm Bonnar will not be happy with this game and result. The fire and drive that they had for 50 minutes against Galway was no where to be seen. They were beaten in every sector of the field and some of the tactics were bizarre; at least three times in the first half they played cross filed balls that went straight over the sideline, they had a big man in at full forward but played all balls in front of him then when Banville went off they spent the last 20 minutes lofting high ball into the small men in the full forward line and the subs made little since with Banville off as a blood sub, back on and then off again 3 minutes later! The only hope Wexford had was to horse Tipp out of it, hit hard and build up a lead and get the crowd on Tipp’s back, they did none of this and once Tipp got 2-2 in 4 minutes after half time the game was over.
Sheedy will be happy that Tipp won but will not be sure of the performance as to be honest this game was not related to serious Championship fare. Most League games are a better work out than what Tipp got today. Still Tipp got themselves into the Qualifiers and it is now up to Sheedy to get them out of it. Once Tipp got in front they never looked like losing this game and snuffed Wexford out. He will have been happy that all 6 of the forwards had scored from play in the first half, Tipp scored 27 times, 3-18 from play is not bad scoring irrespective of the opposition, the half forward line actually functioned for once, that David Young was superb on his debut and won Man of the Match while both debutants had great games in the half forward line, Tipp did not look any weaker when Curran went off injured after only 3 minutes, the backs did not concede a goal and that the Tipp backs appear to have learnt how to have dealt with a big man at No. 14!
Still there is a lot to work on Tipp led 16 points after 4 minutes of the second half yet Wexford outscored Tipp 12 points to 7 for the rest of the game. Tipp players; especially the forwards, did a lot of fluting about and fancy flicks with the ball in the first half when the game was still there and Tipp should have just taken their points instead of silly little flicks. Tipp allowed Wexford to score 19 times. Tipp had at least 3 other decent goal chances that were squandered. He will also not have been impressed to have seen both his captain and Lar screaming at Bonner Maher after his shot was saved for a 65; considering Tipp were 16 points up at the time they should have both been running over to the debutant to congratulate him for having the guts to go for a shot.
Brendan Cummins: Made 1 excellent full length save late on. Dealt comfortably with every thing else thrown at him. Came out a few times to sweep away ball.
Full Back Line: Declan Fanning only lasted about 3 minutes after he “tussled” with Banville. Was luck not to get a straight red, (or maybe the Sunday Game might sort that out!) Michael Cahill was at his industrious in your face best, blocking, hooking, flicking the ball away from danger time after time, best all afternoon. Conor O’Brien again was tight and cleared a lot of ball.
Half back line: It’s a long time since I remember a Tipp debutant having as good a game as David Young! I am delighted to say that he proved my doubts wrong! The Toome man who was only added the panel at the start of the year but played like he was there all his life. Scored 3 great first half points as well as setting up at least 3 more. Superb going forward but will surely be tested more defensively the next day. Conor O’Mahony got in a couple of flick and blocks early on, but was less and less in the game. Still not as assured as other days. Got a yellow card for a wild swing in the second half. Padraig Maher again showed his versatility with an assured performance cleared a lot of ball as well as going back in front of the full back line to clear ball from Curran’s breaks.
Midfield: Both men were way too loose with both of their men getting easy scores in the first half. Shane McGrath had 1 great run that nearly led to a goal. Took a serious amount of punishment in the game and had to get treatment at least 4 times. This affected his influence on the game. Brendan Maher used the ball that came to him very well and set up a few good scores.
Half forward line: Gearoid Ryan, making his first Championship start, scored 1 first half point and 3 in the second half. Won a lot of primary ball in the half forward line and used it well. Patrick (Bonner) Maher, making his debut, scored a point in both halves and had a goal chance blocked for a 65. Won a lot of primary possession as well as breaking the world of ball which both Lar and Callanan scored off. Worked tirelessly throughout the game and adds a different dimension to the half forward line. Seamus Callanan scored a point early on. Was one of the ones to benefit from Bonner Maher’s presence. Scored a point early on but faded out of the game until replaced by John O’Brien after 47 minutes.
Full forward line: Eoin Kelly score 9 points; 3 from play, 4 frees and 2 65’s. Yet his touch was poor, being hooked while shooting for goal in the first half and taking a touch too many in the second half and losing the ball on 2 occasions. Should be encouraging the likes of Bonner Maher when he went for goals rather than berating him. Still appears to be getting back to full fitness and was not caught for pace when sprinting for a few balls. Was replaced by Seamus Hennessy after 55 minutes. Lar Corbett scored 3 first half points and 2 second half goals. Still has a habit of drifting out of games. Was unlucky I the first half when a bit of luck would have seen him through on goals. His 2 goals killed the game as a contest. Noel McGrath scored 2 first half points. His touch and confidence was far better than in the Cork game. Gave a lovely pass to put Lat through for the first Tipp goal and it was his shot that Daragh Egan goaled of at the end. Looked for and wanted the ball and seems more like the player that won Young Hurler of the Year last year.
Declan Fanning for Paul Curran: Came on after about 3 minutes as a blood sub for Declan Fanning but played all the game at full back. Dealt comfortably with everything that Wexford threw at him and was a rock in front of Cummins.
John O’Brien for Callanan: Came on at wing forward after about 47 minutes. Didn’t see much of the ball.
Seamus Hennessy for Eoin Kelly: Came on after about 55 minutes. He went in corner forward initially and then out to midfield once Shane McGrath came off. Made a number of good catches and sent good ball into the forwards.
Darragh Egan for Shane McGrath: Came on at full forward, with 65 minutes gone. Scored a rebound goal after Noel McGrath’s shot came back off the crossbar.
Shane Maher for Brendan Maher: Came in with the game just in injury time; made 1 good catch and clearance.
Michael Heffernan for Gearoid Ryan: Came in with the game just in injury time at wing forward. Don’t think he touched the ball.
So Tipp move into Phase 3 of the Qualifiers playing the winners of the Phase 2 games on the 17th of July with the winners getting into the Quarter Finals. Sheedy will be glad that Tipp won a game with 3 players making their first Championship starts; (Young, Bonner and Gearoid Ryan), and all played very well and that another player, Michael Heffernan, got his first taste of Championship fare. This game showed that if Tipp are taken on man for man, not closed down, the likes of Lar and Noel McGrath not given close attention that Tipp will win, it’s when teams get in Tipp’s face, get niggily that Tipp struggle. No Tipp fan should be under any illusion after today’s game that all the problems that were exposed in the Cork game are now gone. They are not; it was just that Wexford did not have the where with all to expose Tipp.
Still after all the doom and gloom after the Cork game things are slightly rosier for the Tipp fans. However Sheedy still has a few serious issues to sort out before the next game; who will go full back; Curran can hardly be faulted for that good display but Fanning did not touch a ball before he came off, who will be dropped to let Stapleton back, will Festy be ready, do John O’Brien or Brian O’Meara deserve a starting place and who would loose out. Still Sheedy can put his feet up and watch the two Phase 2 games next week before worrying about who Tipp draw.
Tipp v Wexford (03-07-2010) -Knocknagow
Tipp host Wexford in Thurles on Saturday afternoon in Phase 1 of the qualifiers. The game throws in at 3.30, the ref is James McGrath of Westmeath and the game is live on RTE. The winners of this game plus the winners of the other Phase 1 game will then advance to Phase 3 where they will meet the 2 winners of Phase 2 (games involving Limerick v Offaly and Clare v Dublin). The second last meeting between the sides was the 2001 All-Ireland Semi Final replay which Tipp won 3-12 to 0-10. The last meeting between the sides was the 2007 All-Ireland Quarter Final when Wexford won by 3-10 to 1-14. Michael Jacob and Lar Corbett traded goals as Tipp lead at the break 1-8 to 1-5. Despite a Ciaran Kenny goal Tipp nosed ahead with a string of points, from Darragh Hickey and Hugh Moloney but Damien Fitzhenry was on hand with the game approaching injury time to drive a 21 yard free to the net to seal the Wexford win.
The fact that Tipp have been drawn to play Wexford brings an interesting symmetry to the game considering the comments that Babs came out with in the aftermath of the loss to Cork. This was Babs last game over Tipp and only 3 of that side lined out against Cork, Fanning, O’Mahony and Corbett! While Some of Babs comments may have been true a number of them were beneath contempt and personally I find it sad that such a decorated player and manager of Tipp resorts to such inane and idiotic ramblings anytime a microphone is put near him.
While Liam Sheedy will have been hoping that Tipp would have avoided Wexford he will have been glad that Tipp did get home venue and also that Tipp avoided the Preliminary Round game. Now that the dust has settled and everyone, (and judging by all those that come out in the media), I do mean everyone has had their spiel about the Tipp performance, or lack thereof, Sheedy will be glad to get back to the playing fields. Some of the revisionism after the Cork game was astounding with a number of people more then willing to put the boot in. In the aftermath of the Cork game there was a team meeting in Thurles a few days after the game and since then most players will have gotten that game out of the have as they will have played 2 or 3 games with their clubs.
Despite all the hysteria after the Cork game there is no need to do anything rash and go switching players like Conor O’Mahony or Paudie Maher to the forwards, or wholesale changes like has been suggested in some quarters. Since John Carroll switched in the latter stages of 2001, no backman has been successfully converted into a forward, (indeed his contributions to Tipp went seriously downhill after 2001). Diarmaid Fitzgerald and Hugh Moloney are the 2 most recent backmen tried out by the Tipp management in Championship games in the forwards recently and the outcome has not been pretty. This added to trials of John Devane and Declan Fanning who spent time in the forwards during recent League campaigns. There is no need to go dragging in more players into the panel the 30-35 players in this set up are the best players in the County.
Wexford have had a mixed year to date, they were underdogs in the League Final but yet pounced late to deny Clare and regain Division 1 status. Their Leinster campaign was ended by Galway at the Leinster Quarter Final stage. Despite a bright opening half a late lapse allowed Joe Canning to drill a 21 yard free to the net as they went I behind 1-9 to 0-6. Despite Rory Jacob missing a gilt edged opportunity for a goal a Banville goal brought them to within 3 points of Galway. However a straight red card for wing forward and captain Diarmaid Lyng and a goal for Kevin Hayes meant that Galway ran out comfortable winners 2-22 to 1-14. Colm Bonnar will be well used to these Tipp players having coached a number of them at WIT and come across them when involved with Waterford as a selector. He will also have noted the excruciating difficulties that Aisaike caused to both Paul Curran and Paudie Maher so expect more of the same on Saturday evening to Stephen Banville in the full forward line! They recently played and lost to Limerick in a challenge game but it should be noted played 2 different sides in both halves.
Thanks to the Sunday Game and their highlighting of his tackle on Shane O’Neill Tipp will be without Brian O’Meara after the incident was studied by the CCCC who subsequently asked ref Barry Kelly to review his original call. Kelly concluded that he should have sent off O’Meara for "behaving in a manner dangerous to an opponent". Even though his month suspension will be up he also gets a one match ban. Of course the spineless Tipp County Board will not appeal the decision and have left the player out to dry as they have done on previous occasions with Eamon Corcoran in 2003 and Derry Foley a good few years ago. I have no problem if trial by media is going to happen if it is done across the board, by far the worst incident in that Tipp v Cork game was Tom Kenny’s deliberate stamping/walking on Brendan Maher’s arm in injury time right in front of ref Brian Kelly who did nothing at the time. Why was Kelly not asked to review this decision, I suppose the CCCC knew that Cork would fight it tooth and nail and get their player off where as the Tipp County Board would do nothing and meekly accept the decision. I wonder is it any coincidence that the 2 players who have been retrospectively suspended in the Championship to date, (Tipp’s Brian O’Meara and Kerry’s Paul Galvin), have both come about after games played against Cork and both were highlighted on the Sunday Game!!!!
Recent club games have brought mixed news for Sheedy with Paul Curran and Pat Kerwick both missing games due to injury and Jody Brennan getting injured with his club. On the positive side Seamus Hennessy played well for his club despite a broken toe, Gearoid Ryan has impressed for Templederry at midfield, Timmy Hammersley continues to rack up impressive scores for Clonoulty while both Brendan Maher and John O’Brien put in a number of superb performances in the forwards for Borrisileigh and Toome. Surprisingly Sheedy has added another forward to the Tipp panel with Thurles’s Pa Bourke coming back into the panel after being left off after illness and loss of form at the start of the year. Although Ryan O’Dwyer was added he has gone to the states for the summer. It has to be a worrying development that so many forwards have been called into the Tipp team since the end of the League and shows that Sheedy doesn’t have confidence in the players he is looking at in training week in week out.
Last Wednesday week Tipp beat Waterford in a high scoring challenge game 2-25 to 1-23. Tipp played a fairly strong side with a number of interesting selections; Fanning was full back, a new half back line of David Young, Shane Maher and Conor O’Brien and most unusually Padraic Maher at centre forward. By half time 9 Tipp players had scored from play and it was second half goals from Bonner Maher and Noel McGrath that sealed the win for Tipp. Tipp also played out a high scoring match against the U21’s a few weeks ago. Last weekend Tipp played an A v B’s game in Holycross.
Brendan Cummins.
Michael Cahill, Declan Fanning, and Conor O’Brien.
David Young, Conor O’Mahony and Paudie Maher.
Brendan Maher and Shane McGrath.
Gearoid Ryan, Seamus Callanan and Patrick Maher.
Noel McGrath, Lar Corbett and Eoin Kelly.
The side shows a number of changes from the side beaten by Cork in May, due to suspension, injury and loss of form. There is a totally new full back line. Injuries see both Paul Curran and Paddy Stapleton out and in come Conor O’Brien, (first Championship start since last years Munster Final), and Michael Cahill moves into the corner, while Declan Fanning moves to full back from the wing. In the half back line Padraig Maher moves in the other direction and goes to the wing with former U21 captain, David Young gets his first ever Championship start after impressing recently. Shane Maher must feel unfortunate that both Young and Cahill have passed him out.
In the half forward line Seamus Callanan is recovered from injury and is joined by 2 players making their first Championship starts Templederry’s Geraoid Ryan, and Patrick Bonner Maher from Lorrha. John O’Brien is the man to loose out, probably paying for John Gardiner’s display the last day. The full forward line is also change with Noel McGrath going back into the corner, Lar to full, (Brian O’Meara is suspended), and Eoin Kelly captains the side from corner forward.
Injuries dictated that changes were required in the backs with Fanning always odds on to man the edge of the square. He will have his work cut out with Banville. Hoepfully David Young will step up to the plate although I would have preferred if Shane Maher had started. Both midfielders need to get into the game and dictate the pace of the game and carry the ball into Wexford territory.
It is quiet telling that the only 2 lines unchanged are goals and midfield with every other line getting serious surgery, (Conor O’Mahony is the only back man to start the 2 Championship games to date in the same position!) Thankfully some of the wilder suggestions that were being considered have been nipped in the bud, (Paudie Maher to centre forward). Sheedy is taking a major risk starting 2 debutants in the half forward line. Yes that line was cleaned out and either of both of Pat Kerwick or Gearoid Ryan would have started had they been fit v Cork. Sheedy has brought in a bit of steel that Babs was shouting for! While Bonner Maher will not score much he won’t allow his man to collect ball freely and drive it down the field, he also is well able to win his own ball and drive towards goal. Gearoid Ryan will do his own thing and hopefully nick 3-4 points, (Mark O’Leary style). All of the full forward line need to up their game Lar started well but faded out; Eoin Kelly was narky and could have got the line for a number of petulant swipes, while Noel McGrath never got going.
How do I think this game will go? Well there are a serious number of variables; will Tipp line out as selected, will the changes work, how will the 3 debutants cope, will the players up their performance from the Cork game? If Tipp play with the same malaise and attitude that they did against Cork then Wexford will win, however if this Tipp team have any bit of fight or pride in them they will come out and win this game. Wexford will be well use to playing in Semple Stadium having played in the League Final there a few months ago. Ultimately I think that the loss to Cork has mortally wounded Tipp’s All-Ireland chances but still Tipp should have enough firepower to beat Wexford on Saturday evening by about 4 points.
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Cork 3-15 Tipp 0-14 (30-05-2010) Knocknagow
Cork and Tipp played the first game of the 2010 Munster Senior Hurling Championship with this Quarter Final game in Pairc Ui Chaiomh in this afternoon in front of 36,827. The match was delayed in starting by 15 minutes; wind was not an issue on a greasy pitch that was not in good condition for hurling. Both sides lined out as selected with no positional switches.
Tipp had the first attack when Callanan got possession but charged into his man and gave away a free. Asaike had a chance but put it wide. Straight away from the puck out Lar got possession and pointed for Tipp despite being fouled in the run in and catching the ball 3 times! Brendan Cummins then made a great catch of a ball that looked over the bar. Lar then had a great chance when he burst onto a loose ball but Cusack saved his goal effort for a 65 which Kelly pointed to leave 2 up after 8 minutes. A Ben O’Connor point got Cork onto the scoreboard from a pass from his brother. Seamus Callanan then caught a ball and managed to put it over the bar on the turn for a great point. Asiaike the got the ball into his hand but his weak goal effort was saved and Ben O’Connor subsequently put a free over after Paul Curran was pulled up for throwing the ball. In the 14th minute the game turned another high ball into Asiake from the unmarked Gardiner saw Maher haul him to the ground and Pat Horgan score the goal from the penalty. Maher got a yellow card with Asiake lucky not to get a yellow in the aftermath after getting involved in a confrontation with Curran. Asiake was again fouled out in the corner and Ben did the needful with the free.
A high ball into Boogie saw him break the ball to Lar who pointed. The next ball into him he was fouled and Kelly pointed. In the 23rd minute the ball went in, (from a sloppy Pual Curran clearance), again to Aisaike, who despite fouling Pauide Maher fell, Ronaldo like, in the square and the ball came to Pat Horgan for Cork’s second goal. Cork now led 2-3 to 0-5. A long range Gardiner free extended Cork’s lead. John O’Brien got on the score sheet with a neat point. Belatedly Sheedy switched Paul Curran into full back, Paudie Maher to wing back and Cahill into the corner. Shane McGrath had a bad wide. Brendan Maher’s run at goals was cynically hauled down by Jerry O’Conner who was yellow carded and Eoin Kelly pointed.
Eoin Kelly then picked a stupid yellow card for a petulant pull. A good pass from Cahill set up John O’Brien and he pointed to leave Tipp only 2 behind 2-4 to 0-8. Brendan Maher then had a wide from half way. Cork then got a ridiculous easy score when Naughton picked up a sideline cut and pointed. A great Paudie Maher pass set up Brendan Maher and he got his first point with a sweet strike from a tight angle. The ref played 1 minute of additional time and a shell shocked Tipp went in only 2-5 to 0-9 down.
Neither side made any change at the start of the second half although Tipp had Boogie out at wing forward. Tipp started brightly and Boogie was fouled and Eoin Kelly pointed the free. Callanan then had a very poor effort. Boogie then picked up a yellow card for a late shoulder into Brian Murphy. Asiake got his first score of the game. A shocking puck out from Brendan Cummins saw both Conor O’Mahony and Shane McGrath look at the ball and Niall McCarthy nipped in to seize the ball and point. He pointed soon after from a Sean Og pass. Tipp made their first change with Boogie going off to be replaced by his club man Seamus Hennessy on the wing. Niall McCarthy then set up Naughton but Cummins saved his goal effort and Gardiner did the same to the 65.
Ben O’Connor pointed to put Cork 6 up 2-10 to 0-10. Cadogan eventually got a yellow card for a foul on Eoin Kelly. Kelly scored the free to leave 5 in it after 47 minutes. Sean Og had a wide from long range and Kelly got another Tipp free. Fanning then gave away a stupid free for too many steps and Ben scored it. Horgan pointed for Cork as they closed the game out. Sheedy made his second change with Geraoid Ryan surprisingly replacing Conor O’Mahony. This necessitated a number of changes with Paudie Maher going from wing to centre back, Brendan Maher to wing back and Gaeroid Ryan to midfield! Asiake missed his second open goal when his weak shot trickled wide with Cummins on the ground. Pa Horgan pointed for Cork with Kelly having an awful wide for Tipp after a great run.
The game totally ended in the 60th minute when fumbling in the Tipp full back line saw Paul Curran come out with the ball but Jerry O’Connor got it and passed to the unmarked Asiake who flicked the ball to the net to leave it 3-13 to 0-12 in Cork’s favour. Straight away Kelly won a great ball, soled with the ball and his goal effort was brilliantly saved by Cusack for a 65 which Kelly pointed. Cork brought on Cussen for Niall McCarthy and Tipp brought on Timmy Hammersley for Noel McGrath. Cussen got a yellow card for a late shoulder. Cork put on Pauide O’Sullivan for Horgan and Tipp brought on Jody Brennan for John O’Brien. Timmy Hammersley was eventually awarded a point after the umpire waved it wide initially. Tipp’s only score from play in the second half.
Naughton and Paudie O’Sullivan got the last 2 scores for Cork with points from play as Cork brought on Lorcan McLoughlin for Tom Kenny as injury time approached. Timmy Hammersley’s goal effort was put out for a 65 and Brendan Maher dropped it and in but a free out was given as Seamus Hennessy was yellow carded for a late belt. The ref blew up after 3 minutes of injury time with Cork 3-15 to 0-14 ahead. The Sunday Game gave the Man of the Match to Asiake but Pat Horgan was the best player on the field.
Denis Walsh will be happy with the outcome of this game they are now in a Munster Final, (with all due respects to Limerick!), and firmly have Kilkenny and Galway in their sights. His side went in as slight underdogs and attempting to stop Tipp beating Cork for the 4th time year in a row. They put the League Final loss out of their system and drove on upped their game and were deserving winners. The never looked like losing and with Tipp lethargic and not marking the tactic of high balls into Asiake paid off handsomely. Yes he did get away with fouling Paudie Maher in the build up to the second goal and yes he did miss 2 open goal chances but he gave Cork a focal point that they have been missing for the last 4-5 years since Brian Corcoran retired. In truth Cork should have won this game by 20+ points they dominated every single sector of the field and yet it was only when they got the third goal that they looked nailed on to win. Dennis Walsh will have to rein in the show boating and gloating that the Cork players exhibited in the last 10 minutes if they are to go further as far more serious tests lie in store for them. Corks backs were outstanding, the half back line, much criticised after the League, cleaned up time after time. Ben O’Connor and Pat Horgan ran onto breaking ball after ball and scored freely throughout the game. Donal Og made a number of crucial saves, especially Lar’s early on. In fairness to Cork they had enough confidence to talk the talk in the media during the week, and today they walked the walk when they crossed the line.
Liam Sheedy will not be happy with the result and absolutely gutted with that shambolic performance. For me it was the worst Tipp display since the games v Clare in 1999 replay and in 2003. Tipp came into the game with a number of long term injuries and 2 debutants, and right from when Lar missed the goal chance after 8 minutes the Tipp players heads dropped and they never were in the hunt. Cork were hungrier, first to the ball, drove Tipp players out of the way and never dropped the intensity. Tipp were totally outplayed in EVERY single line of the field. No Tipp player beat his man. While Sheedy gets credit when Tipp go well he must also take credit when the wheels come off. For the first 25 minutes EVERY SINGLE ball John Gardiner got he launched high into Asiake with John O’Brien 15 yards off Gardiner, this led to 2 goals and the losing of the game. Surely after this happened the first time John O’Brien should have been told to stay on Gardiner, its not rocket science. Seamus Callanan took a knock early on and yet was left on for all the game, why were most of the puck outs launched straight down on Ronan Curran who caught ball after ball as if he was at training, Sheedy took a major gamble with Boogie at full forward; from limited ball he set up a point and won a free in the first half why was he moved out wing forward and finally, (for now!), why the hell wasn’t Curran switched to full back after the first goal, it was obvious that Asiaki was cleaning him and that Maher would be sent off if he was left there. Why was Conor O’Mahony taken off, (a substitution which involved 3 changes!), and a midfielder brought on when it was in the forwards, especially the half forwards that were being destroyed in.
What was the point of throwing subs on like confetti in the last 5 minutes? Why were Tipp so leaden footed today? Cork were the older team, (by a long shot), most mileage on the clocks yet they won every ball. Sheedy must have known what Cork were going to do and yet it looked as if the Tipp full back line had never seen a player over 6 foot 4 in their lives! Were the team too tense, did the favourites tag get to them, were they over trained or worse again over confident. Tipp looked like a side that had never played with each other before both Kelly and Callanan went on runs in the second half and Kelly flicked the ball harmlessly wide and Callanan made a hames of his goal effort. On both occasions they were surrounded by 2-3 Cork players, where was the support were was the fight that won Tipp so much in the last 2 years. Where was the marking, how many of Cork’s points came for a simple over lay all because the half forwards let their men wander off unimpeded down the field. All of these questions will have to be answered and sorted out before Tipp take the field again.
The statistics do not make for pleasant reading; Tipp had only 14 scores in 75 minutes of hurling, and went 30 minutes at the start of the second half without scoring from play, only 6 points from play in the first half and only 1 in the second half from a sub meaning that none of the starting forwards scored from play in the second half!! A shameful, but an unfortunate accurate reflection of the poverty of our play. Only 3 of the 6 forwards scored from play, Kelly McGrath and O’Meara did not. A more prolific team than Cork in front of goals would have taken us for at least a point a man after the way we played today.
I normally have a paragraph of the positives but it will be left blank this evening!
Brendan Cummins: Could not be faulted for the 3 goals or the puck outs as when he tried a short one the 2 Tipp players looked at the ball and let the Cork man sneak in and point. When he put it long Cork just cleaned up. He did make a number of smart saves in both halves which spared further blushes for Tipp, especially from Pat Horgan in the second half.
Full back line: Paddy Stapleton’s man was the best player on the field getting 2 goals and a number of points. Paudie Maher had a shocking bad day at full back totally cleaned out by Asiake and lucky not to be sent off after continuously fouling him, however seemed right at home at wing back setting up Brendan Maher for a lovely point just at the break. Paul Curran while on first viewing he did ok at full back however it was his fumbling that led to Asiake scoring the third goal unmarked and his sloppy clearance that allowed Gardiner to gather the ball in the build up to the second Cork goal.
Half back line: Declan Fanning did not see much of the ball but Niall McCarthy did score 2 points off him. Conor O’Mahony did not seem to get into the game but his substitution was a puzzle as there were areas of the field that were faring far worse than the half back line. Michael Cahill on his debut got an amount of ball at wing back and used it well in the first half. Not as involved when went to corner back.
Midfield: Shane McGrath took an early slap to his hand that seemed to affect his game. His striding runs into the Cork half were not evident and he did poorly considering that Tom Kenny was on 1 leg for the whole game. Brendan Maher starting his first Senior Munster Championship game for Tipp at midfield. Scored 1 point just before the break but like Shane never really got into the game. Went back wing back when Gearoid Ryan came on.
Half forward line: Noel McGrath had a shocking bad game not at the races at all, his first touch was awful, his confidence seems shot, did not look for the ball, did not want the ball and his point effort in the second half summed up his afternoon was replaced by Timmy Hammersley. Seamus Callanan scored 1 great point early on after a great catch. Spent all the first half limping but was totally cleaned out by Ronan Curran, (a close second to Horgan for Man of the Match), fared little better in the second half when his tippy tappy 1 handed style of play was blown out of the water by the Cork half back line. John O’Brien scored 2 first half points but refused to stand near Gardiner meaning that the 2 Cork goals came off him. Did zip in the second half and should have been taken off way sooner.
Full forward line: Captain Eoin Kelly was very poor; scored 7 points in total 5 frees and 2 65’s was lucky to stay on the field after a petulant pull late in the first half and a number of second half fouls. Had 1 great goal chance superbly saved by Cusack in the second half. In fairness to him he got shocking ball whether in the corner or on the wing. Brian O’Meara starting his first game for Tipp on the edge of the square and I though he had a decent first half, setting up 1 point and winning a free so why then was he moved to the wing. Totally drifter out of the game and was replaced by Hennessy. Lar Corbett started off well and nearly scored a goal. Did get 2 first half points but faded out of the game as the supply got worse and worse and the Cork backs totally closed him out of space.
Seamus Hennessy for Boogie O’Meara: Came on after about 45 minutes at wing forward. Spent all the time shouting at Cummins for a puck out and they when 3 came to him he went up with the hurley and failed to control it! Did very little but got yellow carded on his Championship debut for a dirty pull in injury time.
Gearoid Ryan for Conor O’Mahony: Came on in 56th minute and went midfield, didn’t see much of the ball as Cork were steamrolling through Tipp for most of the time he was on.
Timmy Hammersley for Noel McGrath: Came on after 60 minutes at corner forward, scored Tipp’s only point from play in the second half!! Didn’t see of the much ball.
Jody Brennan for John O’Brien: Came on with about 5 minutes to go, I don’t think he touched the ball.
Conor O’Brien for Shane McGrath: Came on at midfield with about 2 minutes to go.
So after their exertions today in Pairc Ui Chaiomh it’s now on to the Qualifiers for Tipp, for which the draw has not been made yet. The players will go back to there clubs for a few weeks before coming together again. There will be much serious debate and screams for serious bloodletting after the shocking performance today. The knives will also be out for heads. Hopefully this will not happen as this is the same team that got us to the All-Ireland Final last year. Yes a number of players need to ask serious questions about their performances, yes the management have to ask serious questions about their tactics and their calls on the line. One wonders will some of these players play again for Tipp after what was witnessed today, maybe this an overreaction but a Tipp team can never take to the field with the attitude that was on display this afternoon. Saying all this maybe the team just had a seriously bad day at the office and had their confidence serious kicked in but a few quiet games in the qualifiers out of the media spot light might be no harm and recharge the batteries.
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Cork v Tipp (30-05-2010) Knocknagow
Cork play Tipp in the Munster Quarter-Final on Sunday in Pairc Ui Chaiomh on Sunday at 4.00 with the game live on the Sunday Game. The ref is Barry Kelly from Westmeath. This is the fourth year in a row that the sides have clashed and Tipp are going for 4 in a row! In 2007 they met in the qualifiers; Cork dominated early on and led 6 points to 1 at the quarter hour mark. Willie Ryan goaled when he collected a pass from Webster. Cork lead 12 to 1-8 at the break. In the second half Willie Ryan again goaled. With Fanning and Corcoran immense Tipp withstood a late Cork charge and picked off enough late points through Darragh Egan and John Carroll to win by 2-16 to 1-18. The sides met in 2008 in the Munster Semi-Final in Cork with Tipp winning 1-19 to 1-13. Cork dominated early on and went 7 points up, their goal coming from Ben O’Connor. However Cork then wilted and when Eoin Kelly expertly goaled the game turned in Tipp’s favour. Cork led 1-8 to 1-7 at the break. Tipp with Conor O’Mahony superb at centre back dominated the second half once Paudie O’Sullivan’s weak penalty was saved by Cummins and further points from Kelly, Lar, Corcoran, Webster and Callanan sealed the win. The sides met last year in Thurles with the sides swapping point for point in the first quarter. Pointed efforts from the 2 McGrath’s and Lar put Tipp 6 up but 2 Ben O’Connor frees left the score 13 to 9 in Tipp’s favour at the break. Callanan scored 1-1 at the start of the second half as Tipp looked in control. However Cork stormed back to get within a point, but 2 late Benny Dunne and Lar points meant that Tipp won 1-19 to 0-19.
Unusually for Cork they come into this game with a full League campaign behind them for the first time in a few years added to that they also got to the League Final against Galway where they. They also have a very good coach over them in Denis Walsh who has more than impressive in what he has done to date with even that esteemed hurling analyst Joe Brolly tipping Cork to sort Kilkenny out this year! However they still do have some “characters” on the team who are not the most likeable. In Donal Og Cusacks’s book he makes a number of disparaging comments about Tipp; firstly saying about Tipp’s win in Cork in 2008 was their first in Leeside “since Tipp people began walking upright or whatever”, and he also admitted switching sliotars, to a dud one, before Eoin Kelly took a penalty in the 2005 Munster Final. Unsurprisingly neither of these issues were raised in the national media who were far more concerned with highlighting the more salacious aspects of his book. This along with such antics as throwing Webster’s hurler into the terrace last year and his continuous whinging and whining during the various Cork strikes means that Cusack has not endeared himself to the Tipp fans! Given that Cork continuously go on about Babs; donkeys don’t win derby’s comments from 1990 Cork can be thankful that the largely pro-Cork national media have not bothered to cover these stories. Also in the recent League meeting between the sides not a single one of the 3 main papers made even a reference to Pat Horgan’s assault on Declan Fanning which should have at least resulted in a red card and a 3 month ban but instead resulted in Fanning getting a yellow card!
Tipp’s preparations for this game have been mixed. The League campaign saw Tipp not get to the League Final for the first time in 3 years; however 32 players were used with at least 29 getting 70 minutes and impressively 20 players got on the score sheet. Good performances from Shane Maher, Michael Cahill, Timmy Hammersley and Brendan Maher at midfield have given Sheedy food for thought although he will be disappointed that injury ruled out John O’Neill and James Woodlock for the entire League, Paul Kelly and Geraoid Ryan ruled out for a number of months with injuries, while Callanan, Bonner Maher, Pat Kerwick and Jody Brennan had their League campaigns severely curtailed due to injury. Unfortunately the League did not throw up any great solutions to solve Tipp’s half forward problem. Tipp also had to switch a training week in Spain to Carlton House in Kildare due to the Icelandic volcano.
On the injury front Cork’s full-back Eoin Cadogan suffered a stress fracture to his foot in the later stages of the League and was due to be out injured for between 2 to 3 months. Also Michael Cussen broke a bone in his hand in the League Final, while Tom Kenny damaged his hamstring in a club game. However Cadogen played in an internal Cork challenge game and both Cussen and Tom Kenny have returned to training in recent weeks. Cork have named a very strong side with no debutants, Cadogan and Aisaike line out as do the 2 O’Connors in the half forward line while Tom Kenny lines out with Cathal Naughton in midfield. Cussen is kept I reserve.
Panel news for Tipp is that 2 players have been called up; Brian O’Meara from Kilruane and Paddy Fanning from Moneygall. They play at full forward and centre forward generally. Tipp have been busy since the end of the League playing 3 challenge games. On the 11th May Tipp played Dublin in Nenagh, it was a fairly full strength Tipp side with Tipp winning 5-25 to 0-15 with Eoin Kelly scoring 2-6, Noel McGrath 2-2 and new boy Brian O’Meara very impressive scoring 1-2 and setting up the world of scores from the edge of the square. On the 14th May a weakfish Tipp side played Laois and won 5-22 to 2-19. Lar, with 3 goals, Shane Maher and Cahill were the best for Tipp in another one sided game. Finally for Tipp last Wednesday Tipp beat Clare 1-16 to 1-15 in Thurles. Tipp had a strongish side out and Brian O’Meara was again the main talking point with 1-1 from full forward.
However injuries are again beginning to pile up for Tipp. Definitely out are James Woodlock, John O’Neill and Paul Kelly, (with serious long term leg injures), while Benny Dunne broke a bone in his hand in the Dublin game and is ruled out for a number of weeks. There are now serious doubts about Gearoid Ryan who returned for the Clare match last Wednesday week and had to come off after 13 minutes when he appeared to have damaged his other hand while Conor O’Mahony and John O’Brien both came off with hand injuries, and most worryingly Pat Kerwick has come off in both the Dublin and Clare games with a recurrence of his hamstring injury. One has to wonder about the County Board not letting some club game go ahead 2 weekends before Championship and then playing a challenge game v Clare on the following Wednesday and 4 players get injured! Of those recently injured Benny Dunne is definitely out and Pat Kerwick is extremely doubtful to play.
Cork’s form was great up until the League Final where after a Cathal Naughton goal they were still in touch at half time only 2-12 to 1-11 behind but they were blown away in the second half with Ben O’Connor, and the 2 Ó hAilpín seriously struggling. While Cork’s League form was very good in the group stages there always was the feeling that they were ahead of other teams in terms of fitness and sharpness however the League Final result and performance will give the Cork management some serious food for thought in the build up to the Championship as some major surgery is required.
Brendan Cummins.
Paddy Stapleton, Paudie Maher and Paul Curran.
Declan Fanning, Conor O’Mahony and Michael Cahill.
Shane McGrath and Brendan Maher.
Noel McGrath, Seamus Callanan and John O’Brien.
Eoin Kelly, Brian O’Meara and Lar Corbett.
The side shows 2 enforced changes and a number of positional switches from the side that lost the All-Ireland Final to Kilkenny last September. As expected Brendan Maher moves from wing back to partner Shane McGrath at midfield, replacing the long term injured James Woodlock. Thurles’s Michael Cahill gets his first Championship start for Tipp after impressing in the League. Shane Maher was the other alternative but probably Cahill’s man marking ability won the day. The half forward line is altered with Noel McGrath moving out from the corner to the wing to replace the injured Pat Kerwick whose groin injury ruled him out. In the full forward line Sheedy is taking a major gamble with Brian (Boogie) O’Meara getting the nod at full forward. He is the second debutant on the team and indeed this is his first start for Tipp in either the League or Championship having only recently joined the panel. He is flanked by Kelly and Corbett.
Numbers 1-9 practically pick themselves although there may be some switching with Paul Curran possibly going full back, Paudie Maher to wing back and Cahill into the corner. While Aisake has not been playing well to date he did cause Paudie Maher trouble in the League so the main thing is to not let him get possession of the first few balls that come into him. This could be done by Maher playing in front of him, a dangerous tactic, or else the half back line pushing back to close the space up. Midfield have to get quality ball into the full forward line and also stop Cathal Naughton getting a run at goals. I expect the Tipp forwards to rotate with Lar coming out the field to get possession and turn and run at the Cork half backs. Callanan will have a tough day on Ronan Curran but if he plays his usual game of drifting inside and nicking a few scores then his job will have been well done. Noel McGrath has looked slightly sluggish to date and needs to deliver on Sunday; show for the ball drive on and score. John O’Brien needs to win puck outs and keep Gardiner on his back foot, not letting him come out with the ball and score from midfield. Cadogan needs to be kept on the back foot by O’Meara. High balls into him with him winning the ball and using it or Kelly nipping in to pick off the breaks. Tipp need to use the possession they get wisely, stop the 2 O’Connors get a run at goals, keep the Cork half back line on the back foot and get the ball into Kelly and Lar to do the scoring.
How do I see this game going? Well for the winners there is a massive advantage in that due to the ongoing shenanigans in Limerick hurling whoever wins on Sunday is into the Munster Final. Cork with a full pre-season behind them but the momentum gained in the League was dented by being well beaten by Galway in the League Final. This is a major game for Sheedy. Tipp HAVE to come through the front door, a loss for Tipp on Sunday and the knives will be sharpened both inside and outside the county. Last year Sheedy had Tipp performance levels such that they peaked in the latter stages of the Championship and it worked. If Tipp are not at 100% on Sunday Cork will win. There will be a big Cork crowd, (back on the bandwagon!), so Tipp need to settle early and not allow Cork build up a big lead and get the momentum behind them. These Cork players know that they have to deliver this year; their time for excuses is over. I do believe that the spine of this Tipp team up the centre of the field is strong and that Tipp have the better and more reliable scoring forwards, Kelly, Lar and Noel McGrath. Despite all that I am still very, very wary of Cork but give Tipp a hesitant vote of confidence to win by 2 points.