Tipp come through no-win situation

KILLINAN END

 

Before the Tipperary-Cork match in May the pre-match interview with Liam Sheedy was upbeat. It was clear that preparations had gone well and he expected a good performance that day. There was no smoke and mirrors about the discussion, no playing it cute, just a straightforward upright observation of what he believed to be the case. Subsequent events vindicated his views. After last weekend’s game against Laois he was quick to install Wexford as hot favourites for the semi-final based on what had unfolded that day at Croke Park. We would do well to heed his commentary on this occasion too.

It is true to say that Tipperary were in a no-win situation in the sense of assuaging public opinion. A big win might set excited tongues wagging – and we know how volatile opinion-formers are in this championship with the latest good performance garnering all manner of praise. Conversely a bad performance or unconvincing win might energise the nay-sayers. To an extent the latter is what actually happened. Of course, the margin was ten points which is enough to be going on with, and there was never any danger of a loss, but to say that the performance left something to be desired would be to put it mildly. As an exercise in qualifying the end was achieved. As a day to boost confidence or move things along in a playing context it was hardly instructive. Rarely will the team have played in a more disjointed game. In fairness it was not helped by an opposition which struggled to achieve the control to put movements together. This made the flight of the ball often hard to predict and players were often wrong-footed.

 

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