Only two weekends in and already the senior hurling championship is throwing up some classic games. And, not all in Munster either by the way!!
Few would have predicted that the All-Ireland champions would topple in their own backyard last Saturday evening against Clare. Sure, they were a bit sluggish against Waterford a week before that, but they still got the job done and nobody really expected that anything except the same result would materialise at the TUS Gaelic Grounds when the noisy neighbours came to visit.
But, sport is sport, and the great thing about sport is that anything can happen. Clare horsed into Limerick and brought a level of intensity to the game which, to be fair, they had managed against Tipperary a week beforehand as well. The problem with the Tipp game was that they gave away three goals due to errors and were always on the back foot. There was no such generosity from the Bannermen on Saturday evening and the result has really turned the championship on its head.
The problem from a Tipperary perspective is that they will now meet Limerick coming off the back of a first championship defeat since 2019 and with a few weeks off to recharge the batteries – the bear has been well and truly been poked and they will roar back to life, you can be sure. Meanwhile, Tipp will rumble with Cork in Páirc Uí Chaoimh on Saturday evening next – a Cork side which scored an emphatic victory over a very flat Waterford last weekend.
Of course if things go right for Tipperary on Saturday in Cork, they would almost certainly be qualified for the All-Ireland series before they come to entertain Limerick. So, there is a real incentive – as if it was needed- for Liam Cahill’s men to hurl up a storm on Leeside. The Rebels had it all their own way on Sunday last but they still impressed as they swept aside a very inept Waterford. They won’t have it as easy on Saturday evening and Tipperary will want to put the clampers on them and ensure that this match does not turn into a shoot-out. Because, a shoot-out is exactly what Cork would want.
The Tipperary attack has proven itself capable of running up big scores and this will probably be required again if victory is to be achieved. However, at the other end, the rearguard will need to be better, tighter and offering more resistance than was evident against Clare. The Tipp backline was quite open and going forward this will have to be addressed, starting on Saturday in Cork, because if anyone can exploit gaps, Cork can. We know this to our dismay only too well over many decades.
You know given the close nature of games in Munster over the last two weekends, a draw could well be on the cards in Páirc Uí Chaoimh – that would not be a bad result at all from a Tipperary perspective, but of course a win would be mighty. At the start of the championship campaign, I would have suggested that an away win against Cork might be more achievable than an away win against Clare in Cusack Park. We have that first away win now, so let’s go gung-ho on Saturday evening and leave ourselves on top of the table and in rude good health. The senior camogie clash between Tipperary and Waterford as a curtain-raiser is an interesting concept – if you are heading to Cork, be sure to get in early and cheer on the girls.
If you wish to watch it on TV it will have to be on GAAgo again – last Saturday evenings clash was streamed likewise and this received a lot of negative comment on social media. But, that’s the world we live in now – at least with this service you can purchase each game individually if you wish and you are not required to pay an annual subscription as is the requirement with many such providers, although you may do so too at a very reasonable fee. Think about it – €12 to watch the game and you could have the house/public house full of people if you wish. When you get over the shock of having to pay for it in the first place, it’s not bad value at all. €12 would scarcely get you the diesel to drive to Cork, not to mention the tickets, programme, food, drinks etc.
In Leinster, Galway travelled all the way to Nowlan Park and came away with a point in what was another fine contest with super defending, some great scores and plenty going on all over the field. We often think that we have the preserve on classic games in Munster, but this one was certainly up there and the return of King Henry to his former stomping ground was an interesting sideshow. It’s hard to see past these two counties occupying the dressingrooms in Croke Park on Leinster Final day and into the All-Ireland series thereafter as well.
Our U20 hurlers are still in the hunt for provincial honours and will entertain Clare on Monday evening next in FBD Semple Stadium. They had enough to do to see off Waterford on Friday evening last, but they never looked in any real bother to be honest.
Many have commented upon the style of play being deployed by Brendan Cummins and his management team – it’s not easy on the eye in the traditional hurling sense, and when it breaks down it can look atrocious. But, given the style of player at their disposal, it has served Tipperary relatively well so far – the Cork game besides, and that was played in very poor conditions. The big question is this: if Tipp were to win a Munster or All-Ireland final playing as they are, would too many people care about the style? Probably not. It’s when things don’t go well that the adopted style comes into focus.
Brendan Cummins is on record as saying that his job is to provide men for the senior squad in the years to come. Judging by the side he is turning out, there is plenty of optimism on that front with quite a few players shining right now. However, they know that they face an almighty battle against Clare on Monday evening. The sides have already shared the round robin points from their clash in Ennis but a result will have to materialise on Monday in the semi-final, with Cork awaiting the winners in the decided. Tipp will have to be at their best and the hope is that there will be plenty of home support in Semple Stadium to cheer them on.
Meanwhile on the football front, Tipperary will have to contend with Waterford again in the Tailteann Cup. David Power’s men have been drawn in Group 2 of this year’s Tier 2 competition, where they will face Meath, Down and Waterford in their games as they bid to claim a berth in Sam Maguire next year.
Group winners advance straight to the quarter-finals, which will be subject to the avoidance of repeat provincial final pairings and group stage pairings where possible, while the second-placed teams will host a third-placed team from another group in preliminary quarter-finals.
On the face of it, Tipperary would appear to have received a decent enough draw – time will tell. A good run in the competition would help to lift the spirits of the football fraternity somewhat – this seems to have been the preserve of the minors at the present time as they continue their good campaign in the provincial championship.
