Browne frustrated as mistakes punished

By Shane Brophy

Tipperary manager David Power watched Sunday’s game from a terrific vantage point, but not the one he would have wanted. The Kilsheelan/Kilcash clubman was banished from the side-line, and indeed the dressing room prior to and at half time against Fermanagh, after being handed a one-match ban after he was reported for verbal abuse by referee John Ryan following the controversial draw with Longford the previous week.

Power watched from a high vantage point at the picturesque bank side of St Joseph’s Park, not far from the Tyrone border. He was in constant contact with coach Sean Barry with selector Declan Browne stepping in a manager for the game and the former All-Star forward admits the team are making things hard for themselves at the moment.

“It’s disappointing, the scoreboard doesn’t provide a true reflection,” said the Moyle Rovers clubman.

“Most of Fermanagh’s scores came from our mistakes again which is probably a trait we have had all year. It’s so frustrating because the lads are putting in so much effort that when it translates out onto the field and lads make one or two mistakes, we are being punished big time.

“Then going up the other end of the field, Riain Quigley had a great (goal) chance which didn’t go over the line so we are just not getting the rub of the green but you make your own luck and we are probably making too many mistakes to win matches.”

2-4 of Fermanagh’s 2-6 in the first half came from Tipperary coughing up possession cheaply, from where the opposition countered quickly and made hay, a theme of Tipp’s campaign so far.

“We are playing forward football but it just breaks down and we are getting punished each time. There doesn’t seem to by any let-up,” Browne added.

“It is up to us to try and fix it. We can blame who we are missing but that is not what we are going to do, we are going to drive on again.

“There are some positives there, but it is just about getting it on a consistent basis and that’s what we are trying to work on.”

Browne is arguably the best player Tipperary has produced, having won two All-Stars and while the mistakes are being punished at one end, Tipp are finding it difficult to score at the other, again failing to hit the fifteen-point mark for the fifth successive game.

“Bar in 2016 and in 2020, Tipp never racked up high scores, the odd time we would,” he continued.

“You are always hoping to get to 14, 15 scores. Last year we nearly won a division 4 title on fifteen scores so that is the mark you have to try and get to, and we are well shy of that.

“Especially, against the northern teams who have their defensive systems off to a T and we just find it very hard to break down.

“I genuinely would hate to be an inside forward trying to play against that. Then again, we have young lads out there and it is a learning curve every day they go out.”

However, Browne remains upbeat as there is still four points to play for which would likely see Tipperary safe, with their next opportunity coming on Saturday week when former Tipp boss Liam Kearns brings his Offaly charges to Thurles.

“We have nothing to lose now,” Browne said.

“It is what it is. At the end of the day, no one has died or there is no one sick, it is a game at the end of the day.

“The lads are putting in a massive effort. Obviously, we are getting lambasted here and there because of the way we are playing but that is the way it is. Would the bigger counties be able to cope without a lot of their big players, I doubt they would.

“Training has been going great, the attitude is brilliant, they love what they do so roll on Wednesday night and see where we are at.

He added: “We have a big couple of weeks coming up with Offaly next so that’s a big one to see can we give ourselves a chance on the last day.

“There is still four points to play for in the league and it still might get us safe.”