Reducing Brick effect key to win

1. Diluting the influence of Michael ‘Brick’ Walsh

I WROTE on Saturday that Liam Sheedy would have to have his plans to negate Michael Walsh put into practice rather than just being preached.

Placing Noel McGrath on the 40 was his first ploy and crucially, his half-backs and midfielders sought McGrath out at every opportunity. McGrath’s an accomplished hurler and, more importantly, he’s a highly flexible forward in the positional rather than the physical sense. Long-range scores are well within his compass and by executing the pre-game plan to feed him with accurate ball, Tipp were well on track.