Right boxes ticked in near complete performance

Tipperary not only breached fortress Cusack Park on Sunday, they sacked it with their most complete performance since the 2016 All Ireland Final victory.

Despite the impressive nature of their wins over Cork and Waterford, there was still a sense that we didn't know where Tipperary stood and that facing Clare in Ennis would be as tough a challenge as they come.

Well each of the nineteen players who got game time rose to the challenge, leaving Clare a well beaten side with twenty minutes to go as the game petered out in unexpected fashion as the home side were almost demoralised and wishing for the final whistle to sound.

Tipperary were far from perfect in the second half but they had the game well in command following a controlled performance, containing none of those lulls in scoring that the team tend to go through from time to time.

The scoring rate was down but 3-21 in very windy conditions was still a good days work, particularly when hitting thirteen wides in the process and Tipperary continue to work the ball into good scoring positions with eight different players getting on the scoresheet.

However, the impressive aspect from the Tipperary performance was their workrate which had to be right on the money to set up a victory as impressive as this was.

There was also a defiance, epitomised by Michael Breen coming to the aid of Brendan Maher when Tony Kelly became frustrated in the second half. It might have been a risk on Breen's behalf to become involved but it said everything about Tipperary's mentality on the day.

 

To read more, pick up a copy of this weeks Nenagh Guardian locally or subscribe to our e-paper to access it online each Wednesday.