Tipp gut Wexford by the banks of the Suir but game is marred by racist abuse aimed at Lee Chin
John McGrath shone like a diamond much to the delight of the large attendance at Carrick for an important fundraising game for Ryan O'Dwyer last Saturday unfortunately though the action on the field was overshadowed by events off the field as the game came to an abrupt end when a melee broke out and Wexford player Lee Chin was subjected to racist abuse from the crowd.
Referee John Keenan called the game off a minute early and the post match feeling in the ground was a far cry from the pre match excitement where bikes, cars and walkers filtered into Carrick Swans GAA club from near an hour before throw in to get a glimpse of what the championship holds for two teams that met by the banks of the Suir.
The actions of the spectator were widely criticized and will be the subject of conversation for some time. The racial comments were widely condemned by Tipperary board officials as well as Wexford officials afterwards.
The game itself had been a one sided affair for the most part with Tipperary dominating proceedings from the off and showing good form ahead of their trip to Ennis in two weeks. Liam Cahill had plenty to digest at full time, with his Tipp side comfortable winners over Darragh Egan's crew that never got to the pitch of the game.
While the contest was open and the wind blew strongly up from the Suir, the hurling was still sharp. Tipp players knew they were playing for championship starts and the crowd reacted well to the hardy Cathal Barrett making his much awaited return to the full back line.
His participation was a huge bonus to Liam Cahill who saw Cathal's return as a real highlight: "It is great to get Cathal back in particular onto the field, we got a good 50 minutes of play into him," the Tipp manager told 'Tipperary Live' at full time.
In fact, two key returning players playing well was probably the highlight all round for the Tipp manager: "Great to see John (McGrath) back again after a long term injury. We are after, thank God, getting some regular play into John consistently over the last couple of weeks and are very happy with how he was moving today. He obviously retains all that ability he has shown for Tipperary over the years."
That he did. He was constantly involved in all that Tipp did well and in the second half slotted over a sweet point followed a minute later by a crisp rebound coming to him nicely and he stitched it into the net in that old familiar way. Much like John McGrath, Tipp were primed and tuned in from the off.
Playing with the gale, the ball was fired into the forwards early and often. Hopping the ball in front of the full forward line on the sand based pitch reaped rewards for Tipp. Enda Heffernan, John McGrath and Sean Ryan struck within the first five minutes. Mark Kehoe then and Gearoid O'Connor deal balls too sailed over as Tipp showed some real killer instinct.
With 12 minutes on the clock, Conor Bowe found some room and fired low to a huge applause. One wondered if Wexford had got off the bus at all. Tipp kept going led by the centre forward and fulcrum of attack, John McGrath. 1-8 to no score up, Wexford finally got going in the game with a point on the quarter mark but the early blitz had effectively ended the game as a contest.
From there till half time, with the intensity gone out of the game, Wexford crept back in with five frees from their best player, Lee Chin, as well as an Oisin Foley point and a Niall Murphy score too. Gearoid O'Connor hit the frees for Tipp and sent over a couple as well as a good long range one from play before half time to see Tipp lead 1-15 to 0-7 at the break.
The teams used their panels as the game wore on. Managers toyed with styles and positioning of players. Rhys Shelly replaced Barry Hogans in goals at the break and was called to face an early Wexford penalty at the start of the second half which was duly converted. From there Tipp made use of playing against the wind in this half, with aimed, low ball fed into a hungry forward line.
After the Wexford green flag, Tipp went down the field relentlessly attacking with pace. The in-form Fitzgibbon cup winner with UL, Gearoid O'Connor, struck the net to raise a green flag and leave it 2-15 to 1-7 effectively killing any uprising Wexford may have been considering. Not to be outdone by his clubmate, Conor Bowe popped up with three points in a row for Tipp with Sean Ryan again hitting a score to leave it 2-19 to 1-8.
Wexford hit two points but the attacks kept coming and the positioning of John McGrath was usually right to set up attacks. He was in the right place himself to fire over a good long range point to much applause after 10 minutes, leaving the game on double scores, 2-20 to 1-10.
Again Wexford hit two points before a Tipperary attack broke down and the ball fell nicely to John McGrath. Showing the quick wrists of old he flicked to the net to leave it 3-20 to 1-12 in favour of the home team. Tipp brought on Bonner Maher, Cian O'Dwyer and the in-form Jason Forde. He fired over a lovely point from the sideline late on. The Silvermines star hit the last two of the game from frees to leave it Tipperary 3-28 Wexford 1-14 and though the game came to an abrupt ending, the result was never in doubt from a long way out.
After the game Tipperary GAA issued a statement in relation to an incident just before the end of the game when Wexford player Lee Chin suffered racial abuse from the crowd and the game was blown up a minute early because of it. The statement was issued as follows in relation to the incident close to full time:
"Unfortunately as the game entered the closing stages, a member of the public who is not connected to either Tipperary GAA or the Carrick Swan club made racial comments which were directed at a member of the Wexford team.
"Tipperary GAA wish to state quite clearly that this kind of behaviour is totally unacceptable and has absolutely no place at our games or in our society.
"Tipperary GAA along with the senior hurling management, players and the Carrick Swan GAA club do not condone this kind of behaviour and wish to distance ourselves from any such comments.
"Both Tipperary and Wexford GAA County Boards have been in contact with each other in relation to this incident and are fully committed to having the incident investigated fully."
After the match Liam Cahill said he was pleased with the form of players and also pleased his team could contribute to a great cause in aid of Ryan O'Dwyer who was involved in a serious traffic accident:
"Great workout for a great cause and we're delighted to be a part of the fundraiser today and very appreciative of the way the Carrick Swan club looked after us with the pitch in pristine condition and thank you to Darragh Egan and his men for coming up today and making it happen, so a great day all round. I hope there were a lot of funds raised for a very needy cause and we all send our regards to Ryan and his family.
"Carrick on Suir people here in south Tipperary are fanatics on hurling. Just over the Suir you have the near neighbours in Waterford and Kilkenny so people here in Carrick love their hurling and they love their Tipperary hurling so a big crowd came to support the cause but also to look at the players for what is going to be coming down the road in a few weeks time in our championship trip to Ennis."
More questions than answers for Darragh Egan's team who were too reliant on Lee Chin for invention and inspiration. The Slaneysiders found scores from play difficult to get and lacked energy from the off. Tipp were solid throughout with Barrett and McGrath both looking sharp. The fluent movement was of a team that knows their style of play now and are hurling with confidence. Back to the training ground now to prepare again as bigger championship days await.
TIPPERARY:
Barry Hogan;
Cathal Barrett, Michael Breen, Gavin Ryan;
Enda Heffernan, Bryan O Mara, Brian McGrath;
Conor Stakelum, Johnny Ryan;
Gearoid O'Connor, John McGrath, Mark Kehoe;
Conor Bowe, Kian O Kelly, Sean Ryan.
Subs:
Rhys Shelly for Barry Hogan (HT); Dan McCormack for Gavin Ryan (HT); Jack Ryan for Kian O'Kelly (HT) ; Patrick Bonner Maher for Gearoid O'Connor (51 mins); Pauric Campion for Brian McGrath (52 mins); Jason Forde for Sean Ryan(55 mins); John Campion for Cathal Barrett (56 mins); Cian O'Dwyer for Conor Bowe(58 mins).
WEXFORD:
James Lawlor;
Shane Reck, Liam Ryan, Kyle Scallon;
Conal Flood, Simon Donahue, Niall Murphy;
Cathal Dunbar, Conor Hearne;
Richie Lawlor, Oisin Foley, John O'Connor;
Lee Chin, Mikey Dwyer, Jack O'Connor.
