A Journey into the Unknown on many fronts for the Tipperary Footballers on opening night

By Liam Hogan

Last Saturday’s Allianz Football League Round 1 game between Carlow and Tipperary in Network Cullen Park, Carlow was a journey into the unknown on many fronts.

First of all, it was Philly Ryan’s first test as Tipperary manager. His first team was one of inexperience with only two of the starting fifteen that played against Waterford in last year’s Munster championship on duty, Jimmy Feehan and Cathal Deely. Tadgh Condon also started against Waterford started from the bench on Saturday while experienced players like Mark Russell, captain Steven O’Brien, and Emmett Moloney went through the mill in terms of injuries last season.

Secondly, there was the new rules, and how would they be received. First impressions are one of positivity. One could not take your eye off the ball as it was end to end fare. It was by far the best opening round league game at division four level for some time.

The positive aspects of the rules range from much more foot passing with a lot of quick direct ball into the inside forward line. The long kickout may entice bunching around the middle of the field but the dropping ball adds to the excitement.

The tap & go in terms of taking frees helped very much and the fifty-metre penalty for dissent is a must. Referee Eoin Morrissey didn’t shy back when applying the rules and in the 26th minute punished Tipp for having only two players inside of the Carlow half after a Tipp player strayed into his own half. The penalty was a close range free, converted by Conor Crowley, which was expensive as Tipp fell 1-8 to 0-5 in arrears.

Towards the end of the game, the Carlow bench suggested that Tipp had infringed again but the Waterford official ignored them. Had he agreed with the home-side the resulting free would have been taken in front of goal an easy chance for the winner. Instead, Carlow were awarded a free very near the sideline but Conor Crowley’s attempt off the ground fell short and seconds later the full time whistle sounded.

New era

The Tipp new manager sent out a relatively new team. The former goalkeeper, who enjoyed a sixteen year spell between the posts with the seniors, was facing his first game at the helm. After a disappointing 2024 he need a good start to the year.

Mark Russell heeded the call with an opening point after twenty seconds. The perfect start and Russell went on to play a great game. His midfield partner Cathal Deely caught the eye and up front the workrate of Michael Freaney, Steven O’Brien, debutante Conor Fahey, and Sean O’Connor did not go unnoticed with O’Connor and O’Brien causing endless problems to the Carlow backline which saw centre back Ciaran Moran replaced mid-way through the half.

Both defences had their moments as scores were tied for the fourth time after sixteen minutes before the Carlow attacking quartet of Aaron Amond, Conor Doyle, Ross Dunphy and Conor Crowley really opened up. Doyle was a revelation at centre forward as he selfishly linked up with his fellow forwards time and again. His workrate troubled the Tipp defence who defended as best they could and looked to have weathered the storm until the concession of the game’s first two pointed by Kevin Murphy in the nineteenth minute making it 0-6 to 0-4 in their favour, the start of a great run of scores by the home team as they outscored Tipp 1-6 to 0-1 including Aaron Amond’s penalty goal after Dunphy was fouled.

Tipp looked in trouble but points by Sean O’Connor and Luke Boland made the deficit manageable as the teams changed ends at 1-10 to 0-7.

Philly Ryan made three substitutions at half time as Michael O’Shea, Jack O’Neill and Tadgh Condon came in, replacing two of his full back line in Jimmy Feehan and Emmett Moloney plus Darragh Brennan up front.

Almost from the restart, Michael Freaney scored Tipp’s only goal two minutes in. Despite the concession of a well taken goal by Ross Dunphy in the 38th minute, Tipp were much more businesslike as and after a brilliant two-pointer by Mark Russell plus two O’Connor frees, Tipp were within two points of the leaders.

The Tipp defence were much tighter now. The fresh defenders plus Eoghan Power had really grown into the game well assisted by Luke Boland and Jack Harney. Carlow needed something extraordinary to get back in charge and wing back Mikey Brambrick showed the way with a point after a dazzling run followed by a very good point by Conor Doyle in the 55th minute.

At 2-13 to 1-11 it was Carlow’s last score of the game. Eoghan Power scored a good point from just inside the forty-metre mark. Carlow came knocking at the door and Tipp had luck on their side as Dunphy struck the crossbar. Play was called back for a penalty, but Shane Ryan was equal to Kevin Murphy’s spot kick.

The save boosted Tipp. If anything, they increased the tempo and managed to have the lead down to one after team captain Steven O’Brien secured a valuable two-pointer from a free. Ryan saved from Doyle at the other end and with time ticking away it was left to Sean O’Connor to rescue a deserved equaliser from a close in free.

All was left was confusion as Carlow attacked late and narrowly failed with a free to grab the winner.