Win would give Tipp platform to build
The nature of the National League is that you are under pressure from the off and despite earning an away draw in their opener against Limerick, a win is a must for Tipperary against Clare this Sunday.
Should they do so, three points from four would be a welcome start for new manager Liam Kearns and his fractured panel as he tries to blend in new faces with upto ten current panellists unavailable.
The situation with the five Clonmel Commercials players (Michael Quinlivan, Ian Fahey, Jason Lonergan, Donal Lynch and Kevin Fahey) will become more clearer on Saturday week when the Tipperary and Munster champions face Ballyboden St. Enda's in the All Ireland Club semi-final.
Should the Clonmel players subsequently be unavailable until after St Patrick's Day, having three points on the board would be a nice cushion to have going into the three week break before the league resumes against Westmeath on 28th February.
Despite having won their last five league games with Clare, Tipperary will be facing a Banner county with plenty of confidence as they backed up their McGrath Cup final appearance by beating Sligo by seven points in the opening round of the league last Sunday.
The sides met in the McGrath Cup on January 3rd last when a late Clare goal saw them beat an experimental Tipperary side and while the premier county would like to exact some revenge, manager Liam Kearns is clear where the battle line will be.
“We have got to go out and produce again next Sunday against Clare, they are big and strong, and are strong where we have lot a lot of players around the middle of the field,” he said.
Kearns added: “Martin Dunne and Alan Maloney all played well (against Limerick) as well as young Niall O'Donovan who marked Gearoid Hegarty who would be considered a great midfielder.”
In Gary Brennan and Cathal O'Connor, Clare have an extremely strong midfield and in David Tubridy have a class forward if he gets enough supply but in Ciaran McDonald Tipp have shut down corner back who is capable of negating Clare's chief scoring threat.
At the other end of the field, Tipperary need to be much more clinical in attack and you suspect this will be the message Liam Kearns will be driving into the players this week.
Tipperary will still be without the suspended Liam Casey who completes a two-game ban carried over from last years championship loss against Tyrone but goalkeeper Evan Comerford should be available after an administrative error saw him forced out of the starting line-up for the Limerick game.
TIPPERARY v CLARE
Sean Treacy Park, Tipperary Town
Sunday, 7th February
Throw-in @ 2.00pm
Referee: Padraig O'Sullivan (Kerry)