HURLING fans may well have another Kilkenny-Tipperary clash to look forward to in the All-Ireland final at Croke Park on September 9. The big question remains, just who if anyone is going to stop Kilkenny after their 2-21 to 0-9 Leinster semi-final demolition of Dublin at O’Moore Park last Saturday? The reigning champions were awesome as they took Dublin apart.
But if there is a team that just might provide problems for the Kilkenny machine then it just might be Tipperary. Their performance in beating Cork 1-22 to 0-24 in an epic Munster semi-final before 32,568 at Pairc Ui Chaoimh on Sunday would suggest that they are returning to the type of form which has seen them contest the last three All-Ireland deciders.
Manager Declan Ryan needed a big step up from their display in the previous round against Limerick. He got it against a Cork side that also contributed hugely to a wonderful exhibition of hurling.
Cork manager Jimmy Barry-Murphy probably got it right when he said that Tipperary’s extra bit of experience probably made the difference. They were, after all, able to call on Lar Corbett and Eoin Kelly from the bench.
Kelly’s introduction, three minutes from the end of normal time came too late for him to make a difference, but Corbett was brought on two minutes before half time. Predictably, there was a lack of match sharpness at times after his long absence.
But he did crucially play a part in Tipp’s second half goal, laying a pass off for Noel McGrath to find the net with a beautifully struck shot. It gave Tipperary a three point advantage which was just as well as they had John O’Brien sent off for a second yellow card just two minutes later.
So Tipperary had to play from the 48th minute with 14 men. It was a battle until the finish with Tipp just holding out for a one point victory which was just about deserved.
That said, Cork have reason to feel disappointed. They were unrecognizable from the National League defeat to Kilkenny, producing a wonderful brand of hurling throughout.
The fact that they scored 24 points speaks for itself. Their problem was that they lacked the necessary composure to take some goalscoring chances.
That was evident in the dramatic closing stages when substitute Cian McCarthy drove wide from a good position. “Yes, we had opportunites but we didn’t take them.” admitted Barry-Murphy.
“The disallowed goal shortly before half-time was a major factor. It would have given us a five point cushion playing into the breeze in the second half.
“But I couldn’t be more proud of the players because the league final was a debacle for us. Tipperary’s exta bit of experience told in the end.”
The disallowed goal that Barry-Murphy referred to came in the 30 minute. Pa Cronin flicked a dropping ball into the Tipperary net but referee Brian Galvin decided that there was a square ball offence.
That was just one event in an incident packed first half. The accuracy shown from both teams was marvellous with Cork going in at half-time 0-14 to 0-12 in front.
Patrick Horgan, who finished with 0-11, was exceptional. But Tipp always looked capable of a big second half performance, especially as they had the breeze behind them.
No one was better than Patrick “Bonner” Maher. While he may not have scored, he seemed to be involved in everything.
It was his magnificent catch and pass which started the move for the goal. The ball was subsequently moved on through O’Brien and Corbett for Noel McGrath to shoot low into the net.
McGrath finished with 1-4 but the accurate Pa Bourke was Tipperary’s top scorer. He finished with 0-12, a tally which included seven frees and to 65’s.
Declan Ryan could not have been more pleased. “The goal was crucial, it was a real team effort. I was delighted with the way Lar (Corbett) got his pass in there and the way Noel (McGrath) finished it. We needed the goal at the time.”
Corbett was just pleased be back in action. Asked about his decision to pass to Noel McGrath, rather than go for goal himself, he replied: “Whatever percentage chance I had of scoring, Noel had a higher percentage chance.
“The man in the better position gets the ball, and that’s it.” No doubt, Corbett was thinking back to the Kilkenny-Dublin encounter the previous day.
That was only a contest for the first 18 minutes. It was then that Kilkenny got the type of team goal they so often score.
TJ Reid was the man responsible. He combined with Richie Power before hitting an unstoppable shot on the turn into the Dublin net.
Game over. Kilkenny, despite playing into the wind, were 2-10 to 0-6 in front at the interval and then then coasted through the second half against an admittedly hugely disappointing Dublin outfit.
Henry Shefflin finished with 0-10 on his return, while Power got 1-3 and Reid 1-2. Needless to say, manager Brian Cody had few complaints.
“We played very well, no doubt about it. We got two very good goals playing into the strong wind in the first half, which was huge for us. The attitude of the boys throughout the field was excellent.”
Unfortunately, Dublin boss Anthony Daly could not say the same for his team. “We didn’t seem to have a go at all -- that’s the most disappointing thing. Being beaten by Kilkenny isn’t a shock to my system but it’s a shock how poor we were on the day.”
Daly to go home to
Clare for qualifier
CORK have been drawn to face Offaly at home in Phase Two of the All-Ireland Hurling Championship qualifiers with Clare at home to Dublin.
Following their fine performance against Tipperary on Sunday, Cork will undoubtedly start as favorites for the July 7 Pairc Ui Chaoimh encounter but the match between Clare and Dublin, due to take place at Ennis on the same date, is far tougher to call.
The game will see Dublin boss Anthony Daly return to his native county. Wexford and Limerick, meanwhile, moved past the preliminary round of the qualifiers with victories over the weekend.
Wexford beat Westmeath 3-22 to 2-9, while Limerick trounced Laois 6-21 to 1-11. Diarmuid “Gizzy” Lyng was very much the hero at Wexford Park, contributing 0-15.
A year ago Lyng was working in a New York bar as he watched Wexford exit the championship. Manager Liam Dunne is delighted to have him back, stating: “Gizzy was in sparkling form in a good team performance but we must take into account that Westmeath were a long way short of their best.”
Wexford will now face Carlow in Phase One of the qualifiers while Limerick will meet Antrim. They absolutely demolished a poor Laois outfit at the Gaelic Grounds with Niall Moran firing home three goals and a point.
Mayo easily take Leitrim
DOWN and Mayo are through to the Ulster and Connacht Senior Football Championship deciders after very contrasting matches.
Mayo powered past Leitrim in the Connacht semi-final by 4-20 to 0-10 before 14,000 at McHale Park in Castlebar. Predictably though the Ulster semi-final between Down and Monaghan at the Morgan Athletic Grounds was a far more competitive affair.
In fact, Down had to come from nine points (0-11 to 0-2) down to snatch a late 1-14 to 1-13 victory. They were, by their own admission, dreadful in the first half but they emerged a different team for the second period.
Four points without reply in the last five minutes gave them victory and a place in the final for the first time in nine years. Benny Coulter came off the bench to get one of those scores with his first touch.
That received quite a cheer given that Coulter sustained a broken ankle seven weeks ago. Two more Down points from Liam Doyle and Donal O’Hare were to follow before Darren O’Hagan fisted the winning score in injury time.
Monaghan only had themselves to blame. They seemed to be cruising when 0-11 to 0-2 ahead but an Aidan Carr penalty provided Down with some hope just before half time.
Just as Monaghan dominated the first half, Down, inspired by Conor Lavery, dominated the second. The only blip was a controversial Tommy Freeman goal for Monaghan in the 57th minute.
That left Monaghan four points clear but they were unable to hold out as Down came good in the closing stages. Frustratingly for Monaghan supporters Dick Clerkin saw an attempted equalizing point from a good position curl wide with virtually the last kick of the game.
A much relieved Down manager James McCartan commented: “We were headless for most of the first half. I had rent-a-cab waiting for me outside before half-time.
“I just asked the team to put their bodies on the line in the second half and thankfully they responded.”
Monaghan boss Eamonn McEneaney could hardly believe what had happened. He said: “I suppose we might look at the positives but the reality is that we had the game won and we gave it to them.”
Mayo had no such problems after establishing a 2-9 to 0-7 advantage over Leitrim at McHale Park. They simply continued where they left off in the second half to run up an impressive 4-20 total.
The young Leitrim team, to be fair, were competitive in the opening quarter, only trailing by 0-6 to 0-5 after 20 minutes but, once Alan Freeman hit the first of Mayo’s goals, the writing was on the wall. To add to their difficulties, Leitrim had to play the last five minutes with 14 men and Mayo took full advantage to score 1-4.
Encouragingly, no fewer than 14 Mayo players got on the scoresheet, with the impressive Kevin McLaughlin contributing 1-2. But manager James Horan definitely wasn’t getting carried away.
He said: “The substitutes we brought in did very well, so there is good competition for places. But the final against Sligo will, of course, be a different match altogether.”
