Negating Joe Canning tops Tipperary agenda

I was impressed by how comfortable Tipperary were against Waterford in the Munster final. 

They brought to mind a boxer with a longer reach scoring with long jabs and rolling with the opponent’s punches, secure in the knowledge that their defensive strategy would block any knockout attempt.

Tipp’s defensive strategy is built around the positioning of Brendan Maher. Nominally centre-forward but operating as a third midfielder, he shields Padraic Maher, the centre-half-back. Dropping deep in his defence, virtually free of any marking duties, Padraic Maher operates as a deep-lying sweeper protecting full-back James Barry.