Accomplished Tipperary look a team in a hurry
They were – they finished the game after 20 minutes.
If we leave aside the high skill levels and pace that forwards need in the modern game, the most important elements haven’t changed down the years – a fast low ball and some luck.
Tipp’s first goal had those elements – Pat Kerwick hit in a quick daisycutter and Stephen Lucey misjudged it while Eoin Kelly was in the right place at the right time. He was perfectly positioned, allowing him time to adjust, gain possession and score.
The second goal was another gift – a handling error by the normally reliable Mark Foley allowed Kerwick, again in the right place at the right time, to run through and finish strongly.
Limerick elected to travel to Dublin yesterday morning rather than follow the pattern they established two years ago and this may have unsettled them, as players like routine.
Tipp’s full-back line weren’t overly impressive in Munster, but the management will be very pleased after yesterday: Paddy Stapleton was superb at right corner-back while Paul Curran looked far more comfortable in the other corner than on the edge of the square.
2. TIPPERARY have a running forward line that thrives on space and they use their pace to exploit that space. Limerick needed to cut off the space and turn the game into a tough physical, tight battle. They did neither.
They dropped Brian Geary back to operate in front of his full-back line, with Seamus Hickey delegated to mark Seamus Callanan. This strategy forced Limerick to play two in their inside-forward line, with David Breen as a free agent.
But their half-forward line played too far up the field and the strategy afforded Tipp the space they crave.
I expected Limerick to bring a degree of physicality to the game, and Mark Foley hit Pat Kerwick a nice shoulder in the first half which rocked him, but apart from that, I can’t remember any good Limerick tackle.
Limerick also needed an in-your-face type of game where Tipp would feel the pressure, but they never applied the necessary intensity. They hit eight poor wides in the first half, as well as long, high, cross-field angled deliveries – slow ball which favours defenders.
During that crucial first half Limerick failed to get any fast, snappy ball into their full-forward line. They had big full-forwards and the high balls were probably pre-planned, but a change of direction was needed. Confidence was too low to affect that change.
3. Tipp won this game because they are more accomplished than Limerick as a team. Five of their forwards scored from play in the first half (the sixth, Lar Corbett, got 3-1 in the second).
Corner forward Noel McGrath gave a polished performance and at 18 years of age, he has a bright future ahead of him.
Limerick’s future is more of a concern. Speculation will be rife about retirements. Will Mark Foley or Ollie Moran – whose season was marred by injury – continue?
Both these players owe Limerick hurling nothing; they’ve been exceptional over the years, giving their heart and soul for the cause.
They’d be huge losses in terms of experience and spirit. Ollie has spent the last few seasons up front and Limerick can’t afford to lose any quality forwards. A lack of these has been their weakness for the last few years, as was glaringly obvious yesterday.
Yesterday was disappointing for all of Limerick’s proud followers, as Tipp tore them asunder in the second half. The strains of ‘Slievenamon’, Tipp’s anthem, could be heard loud and clear around the hostelries near Croke Park for an hour or so after the game. Twenty-four points was a great winning margin for their fans, conferring bragging rights in border areas for the near future.
The knack will be to reprise this performance against their other neighbours in September – a horse of a different colour completely.
