Tipp can’t afford to lose focus for Waterford clash
TIPPERARY v WATERFORD
Semple Stadium, Thurles
Sunday 19th May
Throw-in @ 2.00pm
Referee: John Keenan (Wicklow)
It is the beauty of the round-robin system in Munster and Leinster that every game matters.
One loss isn’t fatal but a second is all but and that is why Tipperary will be wary of a wounded Waterford coming to Semple Stadium on Sunday following their defeat to Clare at Walsh Park last Sunday.
Paraic Fanning’s charges were behind for all bar two minutes at the start against the Banner men as they struggled to generate any fluency to their game and only a late scoring burst prevented Clare from winning more comfortably as the one point margin probably doesn't tell the full story.
From a Tipperary viewpoint, they will be wondering how Waterford will line up, either systematically as they did for sixty minutes, or opening up a little when Maurice Shanahan came onto the field and became more direct in their approach which seemed to suit them in the closing stages.
Knowing Liam Sheedy, he will be ready for both eventualities as Tipperary will undoubtedly get a much different test than they did get from Cork last Sunday. Cork will always let you hurl and that played into Tipperary’s hands but it is doubtful that Waterford will be as obliging, if as expected Tadhg de Burca maintains his sweeper role. They will be sweating over the fitness of Noel Connors who was forced off after 18 minutes against Clare with a suspected concussion.
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