Tipp in Catch 22 situation in Munster semi-final

GAA: Munster Senior Football Championship Semi-Final Preview

By Shane Brophy

CLARE v TIPPERARY

Zimmer Biomet Páirc Chíosóg, Ennis

Saturday, 19th April

Throw-in @ 2.00pm (E.T.)

Referee: James Molloy (Galway)

Tipperary manager Philly Ryan has welcomed back sharp-shooter Seán O’Connor to play Clare in the Munster Senior Football semi-final on Saturday.

The League top-scorer has been absent since the Limerick defeat on March 1st and just ran out of time to feature against Waterford in the quarter final two weeks ago.

Steven O’Brien playing fifty minutes in the win over Waterford was a huge boost and his impact on the team was marked in scoring 1-8, but when he exited the game, Tipperary lost control and we left hanging on in the end.

That game was mixed on the injury front as O’Brien was replaced by Cathal Deely who was making his return from a short term period out and would add to Tipp’s midfield options if he is good to go on Saturday.

However, experienced half back Luke Boland lasted just fourteen minutes in his return from injury and must be rated as major doubt for the game, with his Moyle Rovers clubmate Jack Harney or Manus McFadden likely to be the beneficiary of replacing him in defence.

Shane Ryan has settled well in goals while Emmet Moloney and Jimmy Feehan will take on a lot of responsibility in the full back line to try and curb a talented Clare attack which includes Emmet McMahon and the returning Eoin Cleary and Keelan Sexton who missed last years championship when Clare got to the Munster Final and performed well in a defeat to Kerry.

Jason Madigan made his championship debut against Waterford at corner back, but this will be a major step up for the Clonmel Commercials clubman, behind a likely half-back line of Mark Stokes, Paudie Feehan, and either McFadden or Harney.

For Tipperary to cause an upset, they have to have a go as defensively they aren’t strong enough to contain a team like Clare. To that end, midfield has become a hugely important area under the new rules where Tipp have Mark Russell, Kieran Costello, possibly Cathal Deeley and big wing forwards Micheal Freaney and Ben Comerford who might lack in experience, but offer a lot in terms size and workrate.

Steven O’Brien can play there also but considering he still won’t be back to one hundred percent fitness, he is likely to spend most of his time again at full forward, and should Sean O’Connor be fit enough to start, it offers Tipperary an option to go direct to two strong ball-winners who also have the ability to take a score, with Cian Smith and Mikie O’Shea set to make up the starting forwards.

This is the first championship meeting between Tipperary and Clare since 2020 when the Premier County won a quarter final on route to the historic Munster success. That proved to be the nadir for Tipperary football as since then they have dropped back behind Clare in the rankings.

Despite not having the notable success of Munster and also getting to two All-Ireland semi-finals, Clare have been far more of a consistent team than Tipperary over the last decade. Much of that was under the guidance of Colm Collins but since he departed after the 2023 campaign, they haven’t lost any momentum. Kerry native Mark Fitzgerald’s stay as manager was short last year but enough to see them get to a Munster final despite many key players having stepped away from the panel.

Former Kerry senior manager Peter Keane has stepped in and in his first year were mightily unlucky not to be promoted from division 3 in the league as they finished tied at the top of the table with Kildare and Offaly, who pipped them on score difference, despite Clare beating them both in the group stage. However, it was Clare’s defeats against Sligo and Antrim which ultimately cost them in games they were favourites to win so it does expose a potential weakness that they can take their eye off the ball.

While this is a match that Tipperary won’t be expected to win, it’s not one they want to win. Why is that? Throughout the National League campaign, manager Philly Ryan has stated they were building for the Tailteann Cup. However, should Tipperary get past Clare on Saturday and progress to a Munster Final against either Cork or Kerry, they won’t be playing in the Tailteann Cup, they will instead be in the Sam Maguire group stage.

Tipperary aren’t ready to compete against Sam Maguire Cup calibre teams yet. While it might be great exposure to play against the top teams in the country, it could set back their development if they heavy losses which is what likely would happen.

The ideal scenario next Saturday in Ennis is a good performance but coming up just short. It’s a strange situation to be hoping for your county team not to win a match but this might be for the best in the long run.

Tipperary Senior Football team v Clare: Shane Ryan (Clonmel Commercials); Jason Madigan (Kilsheelan/Kilcash), Jimmy Feehan (Killenaule 7), Jack Harney (Moyle Rovers); Mark Stokes (Kilsheelan/Kilcash), Paudie Feehan (Killenaule), Luke Boland (Moyle Rovers); Mark Russell (Aherlow), Kieran Costello (Thurles Sarsfields); Micheal Freaney (Kilsheelan/Kilcash), Cathal Deeley (Clonmel Commercials), Ben Comerford (Grangemockler/Ballyneale 7), Cian Smith (Clonmel Commercials), Steven O’Brien (Ballina, Capt), Darragh Brennan (Ballyporeen).

Subs: Robbie McGrath (Galtee Rovers), Michael Barlow (Ardfinnan), Conor Fahey (Upperchurch/Drombane), Emmet Moloney (Portlaoise), Manus McFadden (Grangemockler/Ballyneale), Jack Nevin (JK Brackens), Sean O'Connor (Clonmel Commercials), Jack O'Mahony (Ballina), Jack O'Neill (Ardfinnan), Mikey O'Shea (CJ Kickhams Mullinahone), Thomas Vaughan (Ballyporeen).