Increased grounds for optimism despite defeat

By Stephen Barry

Compared to the negative spiral that rounded out the National League, Tipperary football has found grounds for increased optimism from the Munster Championship.

Philly Ryan is embarking on a long-term rebuild but facing their best opposition yet in Clare, Tipp were competitive for long enough to carry hope into the summer.

Given their callow pick, the Tailteann Cup was always Ryan’s aim. And especially so after their League tailed off with four consecutive defeats.

This match provided a catch-22 so. The Munster final prize carried the prospect of a series of Sam Maguire mismatches. Their aim of a Tailteann Cup run would only come to pass with defeat in Ennis. Still, they didn’t show any signs of indifference throughout a defiant, if error-ridden, display.

The first positive sign came before any score was registered. Tipp, who had been badly exposed by Wicklow for sitting off their kick-outs, targeted the Clare restart with an aggressive press. They didn’t welcome them into the game with easy outs and that heat limited the hosts to one shot, an unsuccessful two-point punt, until the tenth minute.

Darragh Brennan’s terrific backtracking turnover for Steven O’Brien’s opening two-pointer was equally an early statement of intent.

Tipp quickly identified another route to trouble Clare by floating high passes into the square. They mined three goal chances, plus a half-one, from that approach. Their return of 1-2 should’ve been more.

The penalty came through the air. In a scripted move, Micheál Freaney drifted into the edge of the square. Tipp earned an advantage out the field as the backroom team spotted the opportunity. Luke Boland obliged the roars to kick it in, Freaney won possession, and was fouled before he could shoot.

It was almost a dream start but Steven O’Brien had limped away from his two-pointer and, whether that knock hampered him or not, his penalty strike was much too high and almost missed the target entirely as it hit the upper post.

Another what if to consider… Mark Stokes and Alan Sweeney were black-carded for their roles in the half-time handbags entering the tunnel. Clare forward Aaron Griffin, who was already on a yellow card, appeared to be an instigator. He escaped any further punishment. What would an extra player have done for Tipp’s hopes?

In the moments before the break, Tipp twice threatened to expose Clare with two clever balls over the top. Paudie Feehan was central to both moves.

He burst out of defence for the first, despite being fouled, before Freaney lofted inside for Brennan, who blasted over the bar.

After Shane Ryan pulled off a save at the other end, Tipp countered with Feehan picking out Mikey O’Shea in behind. The late call-up was well stood up by Cillian Brennan, who spent the rest of his day tracking O’Brien, but they recycled for Darragh Brennan’s second.

The Ballyporeen clubman caught fire in those final moments of the half, finishing off with a two-pointer. He didn’t get another shot off in the match but did provide the final high ball that resulted in Seán O’Connor’s punched goal on seventy minutes.

Tipp’s greater use of two-pointers (three to Clare’s zero) kept them in the game, much like it did for Cork in the other semi-final classic later in the evening. The Rebels kicked five doubles against Kerry’s none before falling short in extra-time.

In other areas, Tipp betrayed their inexperience. After the first goal, they allowed Clare to get a grip on their kick-outs for the next four shots, converting three.

After the second, Clare benefitted from O’Connor’s shot dropped short and Cian Smith’s giveaway pass as part of a five-point bonus. Emmet McMahon’s second, in particular, will be highlighted in analysis for the poor turnover and his unhurried kick over a far too passive defence.

The goals themselves also originated from Tipp blunders. The first had a hint of misfortune as Ben Comerford slipped after claiming a kick-out. His ill-advised looping pass backwards was pinched by Eoin Cleary, who sent the overlapping Mark McInerney running clear for a lethal finish.

The second saw O’Brien’s handling error brutally punished with a slick counter-attack as Manus Doherty knifed into space to feed the dangerman.

Not that those were the only cheap turnovers, just the ones which carried the highest tariffs. In total, Tipp conceded 1-7 from turnovers and 1-5 from their own kick-outs.

This remains a learning curve, emphasised by Tipp’s debut count rising to eleven in two games with the introductions of Manus McFadden and Jack Nevin. They will improve for the experience.

Next stop is the Tailteann Cup, beginning on the weekend of May 10/11. The group-stage draw will take place once the line-up is confirmed after the Leinster semi-finals.

The seedings are as follows... Pot 1: Losers of Louth/Kildare, Offaly, Westmeath, Fermanagh. Pot 2: Sligo, Laois, Limerick, Wexford. Pot 3: Antrim, Leitrim, Wicklow, Carlow. Pot 4: Tipperary, Longford, London, Waterford.