Tipp building up a head of steam

A LET-DOWN for the 6,279 supporters in Thurles yesterday for this top-of-the-bill televised NHL round two clash: a disappointing match — but no fault of the home side as Tipperary added impetus to a growing belief that this could be their year.

An 11-point defeat of last year’s All-Ireland finalists is an impressive enough result, and were it not for keeper Dave Bulfin making one outstanding stop after another, Limerick could have suffered a real pasting.

At the break it was 1-10 to 0-6 for Tipp and it could have been 5-10, with Bulfin called on four times to make point-blank saves as the flying Tipp forwards shredded the Limerick defence.

Corner-forward Eoin Kelly was in superb form for Tipp, notching 1-7 in that opening period and finishing with 1-12 to add to the 1-10 scored against Offaly last week, but Limerick ‘s problems began much further out the field.

What went wrong for Limerick? How about half-forward line, midfield, just for starters?

“We were struggling in those areas the whole game,” admitted manager Richie Bennis. “We tried a few lads today and whether we like to admit it or not, some of them didn’t come up to scratch, and I’m not knocking anyone over that.

“We had only three of the All-Ireland starting 15 out there, we need to experiment, and what better test than Tipperary in Thurles?

“They’re a good team, a lovely blend, a lovely style of hurling, and they’re motoring well. Whether they’re motoring too well, too early we’ll have to wait and see, but I think they’re more organised than last year, looking good — they’ll take a beating this year. They’ve a lot more work done than we have, they’ve had several competitive matches, where this is only our second outing of the year.”

Limerick started with just Stephen Lucey, Donal O’Grady and Andrew O’Shaughnessy from last September, new faces on every line of the pitch, and that inexperience was a major factor.

Nevertheless, this shouldn’t take from Tipp’s performance, the men from the Premier County looked sharp — very sharp — though Liam Sheedy, in his first year of senior management, was for down-playing the result. “We won’t be getting carried away with this,” he said. “In fairness to Limerick I don’t think they came with all guns blazing, they came to find a body or two, whereas we had a lot of our first team there. Richie needed to learn about his panel and I’m sure he did.”

Liam also learned a thing or two himself. For starters Eoin Kelly is back to being the main man up front. Restored to free-taking duties this year, he’s been a revelation so far and he gave late call-up Michael Cahill a torrid time.

Liam will also have learned that 19-year-old Seamus Callinan is becoming more and more worthy of a starting berth; three points the youngster scored on his introduction as a sub last week, in the win over Offaly — yesterday he went one better again.

Ten minutes he got in which to impress, and how he took advantage. As he trotted onto the field Tipp were coasting to an easy win, 1-17 to 0-8 in front, points in the bag. Within four minutes, however, this had all changed.

First up, a Limerick penalty, after substitute Niall Moran was gang-tackled in possession, drilled home by Andrew O’Shaughnessy; next, a 20m free left of centre, again drilled by Shaughs and suddenly it was game back on, 1-17 to 2-8, just six points between them. However, it all turned sour for O’Shaughnessy in the 69th minute when he got his walking papers, the result of a second yellow card.

Just as the Limerick supporters were begin to work up a head of steam, however, in stepped young Callinan and in two minutes, defused the Limerick comeback. First a point, taken with the utmost in cool and maturity, three defenders sent the wrong way, then the killer, a well-struck ball from close range after getting himself into position for an Eoin Kelly pass, a shot that even Bulfin couldn’t stop.

Options, options and more options, that seems to be the story for Liam Sheedy and Tipperary. For Limerick however, for Richie Bennis, a lot of work to do if they’re to build on last year’s progress.

“I don’t like to pick lads out but Dave Bulfin impressed, as did Stephen Lavin, David Clancy and Paudie O’Brien, while Mike O’Brien showed that he has what it takes, when he came on. Other may have doubts about him but we don’t. But look, we’re happy enough, they came back, showed a bit of fight,” said Bennis.

“We did have genuine injuries — Mike O’Brien got a belt in training, we were advised not to start him, Seán O’Connor was injured, Ollie Moran is injured, Brian Begley broke down in training again the other night, Damien Reale is injured, Mark Foley is only on his way back; when we have all those back we’ll be a force again. Three weeks now to the next game, against Clare in the Gaelic Grounds — another derby, another good test.”

Scorers: Tipperary : E Kelly 1-12 (0-6 frees, 0-2 65’s, 0-1 pen); S Callinan 1-1; S McGrath 0-2; C O’Mahony 0-2 (frees); S Butler , R O’Dwyer, J Woodlock, 0-1 each. Limerick: A O’Shaughnessy 2-3 (1-3 frees, 1-0 pen); P Tobin 0-3; A O’Connor, H Flavin, P O’Dwyer (free), 0-1 each.

TIPPERARY: B Cummins; E Buckley, D Fanning, C O’Brien; D Fitzgerald, C O’Mahony, B Dunne; J Woodlock, S Maher; S Butler, R O’Dwyer, P Keswick; E Kelly, L Corbett, W Ryan. Subs: P Curran (O’Mahony inj 35); S McGrath (Maher 35); S Callinan (O’Dwyer 60); J O’Brien (Keswick 60); P Stapleton (Buckley inj 69).

LIMERICK: D Bulfin; M O’Riordan, S Lucey, M Cahill; M O’Brien, P O’Dwyer, D. Clancy; D ‘Grady, W McNamara; S Lavin, H. Flavin, A O’Connor; A O’Shaughnessy, P Brown, P Tobin. Subs: N Moran (O’Connor 43); Mike O’Brien (McNamara 48); S O’Connor (Browne 48); M Fitzgerald (Flavin 52); P Lawlor (Maurice O’Brien 55). Blood sub: Lawlor for O’Dwyer, 18/20.

Referee: D Kirwan (Cork) — fine job.