Plenty to build on for Tipp going forward

By Liam Hogan

Tipp’s unbeaten run might have come to an end against Cork on Saturday, but they should take some positives out of this contest and had they taken their goals chances the three points would have made it nine out of nine thus making a place in the final all the more likely.

Instead, Tipp must win their final two games against Clare at home and Kilkenny away. A tall order indeed but not impossible judging by this latest performance.

Remember, Tipp have been struggling with injuries and last Saturday’s fifteen started without Mary Ryan, Cait Devane, Ereena Fryday, and Clodagh McIntyre against a Cork side that had thirteen of the side that lined out in last year’s All Ireland final.

In a fast paced and very entertaining encounter, Tipp made the best start and led 0-4 to 0-2 inside the opening ten minutes. Then they conceded a goal, a three-pointer that Denis Kelly and his management would not be happy about when the Tipp defence were caught napping for a split second as Orlaith Cahalane fired home past Caoimhe Bourke.

Caoimhe Bourke was back in goal in place of Aine Slattery and was one of five changes made from the win over Dublin with Eimear Loughman, Karin Blair, Teresa Ryan and Courtney Ryan back on the starting fifteen on a team almost identical to the side that beat Galway except that Ciardha Maher had made the first fifteen instead of Eimear Heffernan.

While Bourke had a quiet day, mainly due to the excellent work of the backline it contrasted with the Cork custodian Amy Lee who was much the busier.

The game was 22 minutes old when Lee reacted quickly to come off the line and smother a Grace O’Brien shot from close range. Tipp trailed 1-5 to 0-5 at the time and dominated the next five minutes with three points, the first a 45 by Amy O’Connor before a poor clearance by the Tipp defence led Fiona Keating scoring the second as the deficit increased to eight after the energetic Cliona Healy scored from the wing forward berth making the 1-8 to 0-5.

Things were looking bleak but Mary Ryan’s arrival in place of Karin Blair who had a suspected hamstring twinge. With Teresa Ryan very prominent at midfield for Tipp they began to move smartly again, and their good work brought the six-point deficit to a more manageable proportions at the break with the scoreline reading 1-8 to 0-7. Karin Blair was doing well before being called ashore it must be said.

At the break, Tipp brought on the experienced Cait Devane and Eimear Heffernan into the action and their recovery continued with the excellent Grace O’Brien finally beat Amy Lee before Devane’s industry plus that of Roisin Howard helped Tipp come level.

A minute later, Eimear McGrath, another player who tormented the Cork defence, might have had a goal but for an excellent save by Amy Lee saw another goal chance spurned.

From that point, the scoring chances, especially goal chances, were less frequent. The Tipp defence had Clodagh Quirke playing sweeper and she did very well. In the first half, Mairead Eviston was equally perfect in the same role although she wore the number eleven jersey. Laura Treacy was doing likewise for Cork at the other end.

With both sides playing a fast pacy game where long striking was very evident but there was the downside when many long clearances went astray with Cork the more guilty allowing Quirke to profit. As a result, the scoring frequency slowed won and through the next ten minutes both sides added a point each to make it 1-10 each with twelve minutes remaining.

Both teams went toe to toe but scoring chances fell more easily to Cork with Saoirse McCarthy taking over at midfield and her point in the 58th minute put Cork two in front for the second time during those closing stages. Karen Kennedy produced two defence splitting runs, but the final piece of the jigsaw failed to fit although she might have received help from referee John Darmody. Grace Moloney reduced the margin to one in injury time but Cork went two in front thanks to one more score by Fiona Keating. The Cork midfield pairing of McCarthy and Keating scored three points from play. In fact, Cork had eight names on the scoreboard as against six for Tipp and that stat speaks for itself.

Overall, the Tipp management will have to be happy with the display. The defence played magnificently with Mairead Eviston and Karen Kennedy prominent with Kennedy’s speed allowing for the occasional brilliant runs which caused all sorts of worry to the Cork side and her link up with Grace O’Brien helped the Nenagh girl score her second point.

O’Brien filled her role at corner forward with excellence especially in the first half but the supply of ball dried up in that channel in the final twenty minutes.

Teresa Ryan created so much trouble for the Cork defence also but she tired in the second half while Tipp’s front six had their moments with Eimear McGrath leading the charge but perhaps she could be a little more selfish and take her scores. She is such a brilliant striker of the ball that no distance should be a problem.

Tipperary take on Clare in their next game in two week’s time. Three more points is very possible leaving the final game against Kilkenny a must win if Tipp are to make the final. It’s all to play for between Tipp, Cork, Kilkenny and Galway and looking at the games to be played it could end up with Cork on top while Tipperary, Kilkenny and Galway finishing up on nine points each. Big winning margins will be vital.