Whatever about Limerick’s point-prolific displays, goals remain the richest currency in hurling. Cork banged in seven to eviscerate Dublin last Saturday; Tipperary’s quartet tilted the balance (just about) in last Sunday’s sizzler against Kilkenny.
A day of class and chaos (in equal measure) at Croker, saw Tipperary reassert bragging rights in the age-old rivalry. The Cahill project remains firmly on track, steaming ahead now to the ultimate showdown with unbackable Cork in the final.
It was tense and it was controversial. The scoreboard glitch near the end provides an unwelcome postscript to what was an engrossing battle. Kilkenny’s annoyance at the error and its potential impact on the final few minutes of play is understandable. If Robert Doyle hadn’t saved John Donnelly’s late effort Tipperary would be irate too at a one-point defeat when we appeared to be three ahead.
READ NEXT: Tipperary’s rich food heritage will be celebrated at long table dinner
These blunders are never pleasant but human error is a factor in all activities. With all the statistical data that’s being gathered on games nowadays it’s amazing that the Kilkenny backroom team didn’t notice the error. Tipperary didn’t seem to notice either. Perhaps the sheer tension of those injury-time minutes blindsided everyone to such a glaring mistake.
It’s a pity a controversy casts a shadow over such a great occasion for Tipperary. The game itself swayed this way and that but ultimately, we had the better of events and fully deserved to shade the verdict at the end.
SEE MORE: Roads will be closed for car race in Tipperary
The inexperienced nature of our team was a worry in advance and that concern seemed well founded in the opening quarter. We were off the pace against a fast-settling Kilkenny side. They were winning individual duels, getting to the breaks and chipping away with the points. Worryingly the lead was stretching out, with little retort from Tipperary.
The John McGrath goal was a crucial item, taking some of the sting out of Kilkenny’s points. It had an element of good fortune when Jake Morris’ shot was blocked and the ball squirted out to the unmarked McGrath. The finish was sublime.
We had other goal chances too at this stage. Andrew Ormond had a half-chance but was hooked, with John McGrath free across goal. McGrath himself had another half-chance but with little space the shot was wide. Encouragingly we were creating these openings; we just needed to finish them.
And we eventually did with a two-goal burst. Darragh McCarthy finished the first and then supplied the handpass for Jason Forde’s deft flick for the second. It was a thing of beauty. In between those scores Jake Morris had another goal chance but Eoin Murphy produced a wonder save at the expense of a point.
By now Tipperary were firmly in control. Conor Stakelum’s influence at midfield was huge, chipping in with three points and getting through a major work load. Eoghan Connolly too was a powerhouse at half back, landing three points in an impactful display.
Our defence was a worry against Galway in the quarter-final but not here. Robert Doyle was back to his best and Bryan O’Mara too was in top form, so that Kilkenny were producing little goal threat.
One cameo highlighted our defensive solidity. Eoin Cody threatened a major breach but Tipp had a host of players back to smother the chance at the expense of a ‘65. We were defending in numbers, stifling any openings. Lessons from the Galway game were embraced.
A four-point lead at the break was a modest advantage. Kilkenny were bound to up the gears on the reset and we needed to be braced for the push. There was no dramatic reaction from the Cats but instead a more gradual gnawing away at our lead. Reid remained flawless on the frees – and Tipp began to falter.
Darragh McCarthy missed two frees and there was wayward shooting too from others such as John McGrath and Andrew Ormond. A series of wides was unhelpful, as Kilkenny closed the gap to parity by the three-quarter stage.
Once again, however, Tipperary found a response. Noel McGrath was introduced, followed by Alan Tynan who helped bolster a flagging midfield. Forde took over the free-taking to great effect, landing some really difficult ones which were crucial to our survival. It developed into a tit-for-tat exchange, with little to separate the teams.
A worrying moment arrived on 58 minutes with Darragh McCarthy’s second yellow card for a flick on the hand of Eoin Murphy.
A man down and a point down presented a challenging scenario facing into the home straight. Morris levelled but Martin Keoghan and Cian Kenny soon had Kilkenny two-up after 62 minutes. Shelly prevented another point that would have brought the lead to three. This was a difficult spell for Tipperary.
In the emergency we found the required response. It was gritty, gutsy and gamey. Forde showed incredible nerve to land two massive frees and then from the Hogan Stand sideline he hit what was probably the point of the match to edge Tipperary back into the lead. Martin Keoghan soon levelled again after 68 minutes.
Then came the moment that decided the day’s fate. Oisin O’Donoghue, in for Conor Stakelum, produced a wonder strike to rattle the rigging despite the presence of four defenders. The lead-up featured dogged hustling by Alan Tynan, who intercepted a Paddy Deegan pass and then a little flick on by Noel McGrath to send possession O’Donoghue’s way. But the finish was heavenly.
The rest was chaos and controversy. We thought Noel McGrath had added security to our three-point lead but the umpire signalled wide. The scoreboard operator, however, gave the point and nobody seemed to notice the discrepancy.
A Jordan Molloy score cut the margin and a final flurry by Kilkenny saw John Donnelly fire in a shot that beat Shelly but was batted away by Robert Doyle on the line. It was breathtaking but Tipperary survived for a famous win.
Would the correct score have changed the outcome? Possibly, but unprovable. Earlier Paddy Deegan escaped a red card when the wrong player was booked for a head-flick on Andrew Ormond. Would Deegan’s departure have strengthened Tipp’s position? Again, you’re into the zone of the hypothetical.
The scoreboard error will add to Kilkenny’s angst on a day when their accumulation of errors ultimately proved the difference between the teams.
For Tipperary this was a resounding endorsement of progress made during the season. It wasn’t a perfect performance but it was sufficient unto the day and that’s all that matters. Sunday week will be a different challenge entirely.
The entire effort was commendable but as ever some stood out above others. At the defensive end Robert Doyle was back to his best, the goal-line save a moment of unbelievable importance. Eoghan Connolly too was outstanding, as was Bryan O’Mara in a defensive unit that was far more cohesive than against Galway.
Conor Stakelum was a revelation at midfield while Jason Forde took top honours in attack. John McGrath too was outstanding in that first half, as was Darragh McCarthy; the starting full forward line accounted for 3-9 of our score total. Jake Morris once again pitched in with four points while Andrew Ormond didn’t score but was central to much of the action.
Once more the bench press was crucial to the outcome, especially the input of Noel McGrath, Alan Tynan and Oisin O’Donoghue.
Overall, it was a day to relish as Tipperary head back to an All-Ireland decider for the first time in six years.
Finally, on a blue and gold day at Croke Park the camogie side played its part with a thrilling win over Kilkenny. Clodagh McIntyre was the star turn with that stunning goal but Laura Leenane’s penalty save was critical too. It was a weekend when goals made all the difference.
