A brief respite from recent weather brought the fans out of hibernation on Sunday. The atmosphere in Templemore was cold but crisp as Michael Ryan’s managerial reign had its first public roll-out.
It proved to be a decent work-out too for both Tipperary and Offaly as we launch into the January build-up for the start of the league in a few weeks time. Nothing to set the pulse racing unduly, as Michael Ryan suggested afterwards, but still a useful trial at a time when many players are trying to impress their manager.
Tipperary fielded a mix of the tried and trying and I suspect the gaffer will have been pleased enough with what he saw. There was certainly plenty of earnest endeavour in a game played on a heavy, grassy pitch.
The record will show a five-point win for Tipperary. Two first half goals did the business for the locals. The first was a fluke; a mis-hit effort from out the right wing by ‘Bonner’ Maher dropped short but the unfortunate goalie in his efforts to control the sliotar let it spill over the line.
The second had more of a quality mark to it. A raking clearance from John Meagher had the Offaly defence scurrying back but Adrian Ryan got ahead of them and did very well to bat home the goal as the defenders closed in.
Otherwise Sean Curran’s early accuracy from ‘dead’ balls and Conor Kenny’s five-point input were the most significant Tipperary lodgments against an Offaly side for whom James Mulrooney was the most threatening.
It wasn’t a game from which anyone will draw definitive conclusions though a few items were perhaps noteworthy. Interestingly Padraic Maher wore the number seven jersey and was easily our most influential player. That may well be his role for the coming season though the switch presumes we find a capable alternative at number six.
In that regard it was good to see John Meagher at centre back and doing quite well. There were a few fumbles and over-runs on the minus side but the conditions had to be a factor and these were well offset by the positives. Hopefully he gets an injury-free run now to blossom into the player many think he’s capable of becoming.
I liked the hurling of Clonakenny’s Willie Ryan too on a half back line which was our most compact unit on the day. Interestingly Michael Breen was placed at full back where he was competitive until he was replaced by Michael Cahill. He was our stand-out player in the U21 defeat to Limerick last year while playing full back though there’s lots of debate around his optimum position. Joe O’Dwyer’s return to the defence was a welcome development too after his prolonged absence.
Darragh Mooney has been a late addition to the panel and played the second half on Sunday. His cause has been promoted in this column though let’s not presume any influence! Mooney made one superb save from Shane Kinsella and has really put himself into the mix. Nominally he’s number three in the pecking order though he’s surely a strong contender now for number two ahead of Brian Hogan.
One trend I didn’t like on Sunday was seeing an extra man in each defence. Are we to have more of this type of stifling tactic in 2016? Conor O’Brien was our extra defender in the first half. He’ll be disappointed on the Offaly goal, though the others were very slow to cover across when he was rounded out on the wing. In fairness it was a super finish by the Offaly wing forward, Mulrooney.
Midfield was a neutral enough area as often happens; I thought Bill Maher was the better of our starters. Conor Kenny was undeniably our stand-out forward with those five points, four from play. Dan McCormack was noticeable too in conditions which weren’t conducive to getting forwards away from their markers.
Interestingly ‘Bonner’ Maher was positioned at centre forward, the prevailing theory being that he must be centrally involved as the leader of the attack in the coming season. Jason Forde looked very driven when he came on for ‘Bonner’. He then took a heavy hit in one collision and was replaced again by Bill Maher. I see it very much as a year when players like Forde and Conor Kenny and Niall O’Meara and several others need to step up if we’re to progress.
Next weekend there’s a novelty feature for followers with a Thurles CBS All Star side taking on the remainder of the Tipperary panel in an exhibition game at Holycross on Sunday. The All Stars will be managed by Pat Henderson, an ex-Thurles CBS man, and Fr. Tom Fogarty. It’s part of the CBS bicentenary celebrations.
It should be an interesting affair though obviously exhibitionary in nature. The CBS have always drawn players from the Urlingford and Johnston region so there’s a well established Kilkenny connection. It’s expected that players like ex-cats, P.J. Ryan (now coaching Cashel K.C.) and Aidan Fogarty, will line out for their old school. They’ll be accompanied by several from the Tipp panel with the likes of the Maher brothers, Mickey Cahill, James Barry, Cathal Barrett and others being former CBS boys.
It should be more fun than serious, which raises the issue of the wisdom of Michael Ryan’s decision to opt out of the pre-league competition, formerly the Waterford Crystal. Our county secretary was quoted during the past week suggesting that there may be some regret now given the new structure of the Munster league.
There was good sense in opting to by-pass the old Waterford Crystal format, which often involved aimless games with college sides as well as the possibility of just one knock-out fixture away in some remote venue. In its old guise nobody had much stomach for the Waterford Crystal.
However, the revamped Munster league is a different entity. It’s a round robin structure with a guaranteed four games for the other Munster counties – and with colleges excluded. It’s seen as a competitive build-up for the league launch in February. It seems that when the initial decision was made to opt out there was then a reluctance to back-track even when we became aware of the new format. If we make a poor start to the league it will certainly be claimed as a contributory factor.
Ironically we didn’t want to be bothered with games against college teams and then we’ve penciled in a match against Mary Immaculate of Limerick, which is billed for Boherlahan on the weekend after next. Loughmore’s Shane Nolan, with some help from Eamon Cregan, is involved with the Limerick College, whom we beat last year at Dr. Morris Park. Incidentally I’ve heard some suggestions from Limerick sources that this game may not go ahead.
Finally the U21 saga continues with no clear resolution in sight. Mid and North got through their finals last weekend with Sarsfields having too much for Loughmore and Nenagh Eire Og just managing to pip Kildangan. They’re scheduled to play a county semi-final next weekend.
The other half of the draw, however, is problematic. The West clash of Cappa/Sean Treacys and Clonoulty/Rossmore was again washed out last week as was the South semi-final fixture Mullinahone v. St. Mary’s. The West could potentially play a final next Saturday and then a county semi twenty four hours later but something even more drastic is needed from the South to be ready.
I’ve no idea how it will pan out but to any observer it’s clearly a farcical scenario. Ironically it’s a grade that regularly produces marvellous entertainment.
Like others I was surprised to read that Nenagh bridged a twenty-one year gap by taking the North last weekend. Somehow the mind’s eye visualises Eire Og as regular winners at underage level but such is not the case. They’ve been doing it at minor alright, winning seven-in-a-row up North from ’07 to ’13, but the more adult they get the less successful they become.
Three years ago Nenagh beat St. Mary’s in the county minor final; in the same year Holycross won the Mid minor. This time Sarsfields look like having a major say in the U21 outcome – and who knows if Mary’s will even be in the reckoning.
