The View – Tipperary vs Clare Munster SHC Preview
With Noel Dundon
Anytime you visit Ennis, you know what you are going to get. To be more precise, anytime you visit Cusack Park in Ennis, you know what you are going to get.
That very welcoming Clare town, host to the famous St Flannan’s College hurling nursery, has more bad memories than happy ones from a Tipperary perspective. Going there has resulted in many a chastening experience and when it comes to championship victories, you could count on one hand Tipperary’s positive outcomes. It’s like the Galatasaray of the GAA world – ‘Welcome to Hell’ is the sign which greeted a visiting Manchester United team in Istanbul for a Champions League tie a few years back. Cusack Park can be as hostile, as vitriolic and as intense a venue, but thankfully that only adds to the atmosphere and the only real fear is that of losing.
So, it seems slightly unnerving to be heading west on Sunday with a bit of a spring in the step – no better boyos than the Banner lads to leave you with concrete in the boots. Granted their league form didn’t do much to suggest that Clare will be title contenders and perhaps that’s why Tipperary travel with a degree of confidence. However, keen observers of the game would have to agree that Brian Lohan’s men had a far more difficult set of games to contend with in comparison to Liam Cahill’s charges who were high-flying before being burned by the All-Ireland and eventual league champions, Limerick.
League form must be discounted. We have seen all too often in the past, teams who have thrived in the league only to crash and burn in the championship – Waterford, under Liam Cahill last year, are a case in point. From a Tipperary perspective, the great thing is that Liam has that invaluable experience to draw on now and when he turns his side out to meet Clare on Sunday, he will have ticked a few more boxes than perhaps would have been evident to him in 2022.
Many supporters will point to the fact that while Tipperary have tried and tested a lot of combinations and a plethora of players in various positions, there is still a large element of guesswork in relation to every line on the field. No doubt, Liam and his management team are much clearer in their minds of the personnel to be sent out to bat first, but for anyone outside the camp, the speculation is widespread. Will it be Hogan or Shelly for the number jersey for instance? Will Tynan, O’Connor, Sean Ryan or Enda Heffernan make starting championship debuts? Will Bonner start? Seamie Callanan? John McGrath?
The questions go on and on but this should not necessarily be seen as a negative. Tipp’s management have created a very strong core of players who can be called upon – the quandary is when – from the start, or to bring the ship home? That’s the burning question.
You cannot give Clare a stranglehold in this game. If they get a grip the clamp will be vice-like and wriggling free will be very difficult. Remember, Tipp handed them a hiding at home a few years ago – they did the same to Tipp last year too – and Clare people don’t forget. So, if they have the foot on the Premier throat, they will continue to apply pressure and allowing any oxygen to the visitors will not be entertained.
It’s likely therefore that Tipp will put their best foot forward from the off– the strongest starting fifteen possible, with the fresh legs to come on when required to apply the coup-de-gras. That’s called game management and if it works it will be a brilliant plan. The trouble is of course, Lohan and co will have their own game plan too.
With a visit away to Cork a fortnight later, Tipperary’s early games are certainly challenging. And then, Limerick and Waterford to look forward to at home – peachy. One would have to suggest that some points need to be on the board before the visit of Limerick. Whether they are picked up in Ennis or Cork is the big question – that’s if any are to be picked up at all from the first two games. Or, maybe all available points will be?
Considering their form and the kind of positive vibe which surrounds Tipperary right now, you would be very hopeful of getting at least one victory, if not two. That’s not any perceived Tipperary arrogance at play – that’s a judgement arising from critical analysis and introspection. Páirc Úi Chaoimh is not the fortress of old and Tipp are as comfortable playing Leeside as the Rebels are in FBD Semple Stadium. That game on May 6th will be massive for both counties, as they will both feel victory is possible.
Were Tipp to have gotten something from the Ennis visit next Sunday they would be righty set-up for the tilt with Cork. Should it all work out, after two games, Tipp could be out of the province. However, should it all go awry, after two games, Tipp could be practically out of the championship too.
It’s a real tightrope scenario – a brilliant way to have it – and whoever manages to keep the heads at Munster championship altitude, will land safely in the All-Ireland series. There are certain to be a few slip-up’s along the way though.
It’s Munster championship time –the summer is here at last.
By Jonathan Cullen Wed 19th Apr
