On present trends it could be a very tame – and inexpensive! – year for Tipperary GAA. One by one the skittles are falling.
With minor and U21 footballers already consigned to history it was the turn of the U18 hurlers on Saturday last to try and buck the trend. They didn’t. Defeat to Waterford means they now sit on the brink, facing a difficult trip to Ennis on Wednesday week in a bid to rescue the campaign.
Three points was the end margin but it felt like more. Physically we looked out of our weight division, something that Liam Cahill had referenced in advance. These Waterford fellows looked the part, some fine strapping lads with plenty of upper body strength able to break the tackle and lay off to a colleague. By contrast we looked boyish.
And yet it all started promisingly enough when Lyndon Fairbrother laid off to Dillon Quirke for a tonic goal as early as the sixth minute. That should settle teenage nerves and enable us to push on – but it didn’t.
Waterford’s Eoghan Murray (remember the name), listed at number six, played full forward and was soon leaving his mark from play and frees. By game’s end he had landed ten points, half of them from play. By half time Waterford had wiped our lead and slipped two-up. The closest we came to a second goal was when Shane Neville wriggled clear but couldn’t get enough on the shot to beat goalie, Billy Nolan. We’d spend most of the second half chasing the lead.
Briefly on the resumption we matched strokes with the Deise. Fairbrother’s free taking drew us level and Ger Browne, now far more influential at midfield, hit two sweet points as we stayed in tow with the locals. The real game-changer, however, came about midway through the second half. Goalie, Ciaran Barrett, did well to push a dangerous shot away from the base of his left post. However, Neil Montgomery collected in the right corner and from a sharp angle found the rigging. It put the locals six-up and we never looked like retrieving the game from there.
Flawless free-taking by Fairbrother kept our account ticking but we couldn’t muster another goal and in its absence Waterford was doing enough of containment. The sweeper system – that curse of modern day hurling – proved a major obstacle with our forwards unable to find space. Three points was our total from play in the second half.
It’s disappointing for the lads who’ve had a long springtime of preparation for this day. St. Mary’s, Gavin Ryan, was unavailable because of injury and the management positioned Brian McGrath at full back. We’d probably have got much more from him on the ‘forty’ but presumably the management felt they had to juggle available resources for maximum security. Fairbrother’s free-taking was outstanding – in fact both sides gave an exhibition in that department. Cian Darcy hit three useful points but overall we simply didn’t have enough against a more free-moving Waterford who’ve obviously been watching their seniors and embracing the style.
So it’s back to the drawing board for this group for one final fling at qualifying for the provincial semi-finals. Clare lost their opener by six points to Limerick but will have the considerable advantage of home venue for the crunch play-off now with Tipperary. There hasn’t been much between any of the teams in the championship thus far so let’s not give up on it yet.
Meanwhile it was a big championship weekend locally with some significant results from round two of the series. By now positions are becoming clearer though there are still some crunch games to be played. Where to start with all these games isn’t easy so perhaps taking it in group sequence is best. In group 1 of the top tier it’s very tight with two draws at the weekend complicating matters. Bracken’s draw with Drom was one of the stand-out results of the weekend, the Templemore side hitting two injury-time points by Dean McEnroe and Lyndon Fairbrother to share the spoils. It’s one Drom would have expected to win so it rates as a setback and piles pressure on now for the remaining games.
The other draw was between Killenaule and Upperchurch after a hugely entertaining game at Boherlahan. Two early points by Kieran Bergin off James Barry had tongues wagging but the ‘Church man soon warmed to the task and that trend didn’t continue. By half time they were level, 0-9 apiece, and it would remain a tight and thrilling affair.
With ‘Bubbles’ popping points – he finished on eleven, three from play – Killenaule threatened to put some daylight between them but could never shake off the Mid side. A Colm Stapleton goal for Upperchurch was a big score and it all came down to a cliff-hanger of a finish. The Mid seemed to have stolen it with a great Paul Ryan strike but Thomas Keaveney hit a very deserved leveler for Killenaule deep into stoppage time.
It was a fitting outcome to an enjoyable game and leaves that group delicately poised. Killenaule have three points with the others on one apiece but critical games have still to be played: Drom v. the ‘Church and Killenaule; Brackens v. Upperchurch. I wouldn’t be betting on the outcome of this one.
Group 2 is more clear-cut. Sarsfields seem to be in fine fettle early in the season and will surely top the section. They hammered Roscrea at the weekend. With Roscrea propping up the group and looking likely to drop to Roinn 2 the crunch tie for second place was between Annacarty and Borrisoleigh at Boherlahan on Sunday. It was a niggly affair throughout with Borris’ finishing with fourteen men while well in command and eventually winning by seven. Dan McCormack hit 1-3. The loss of Eoin Kennedy this season is a serious blow to Eire Og; the more they pull players back the less they’ve to offer in attack.
Group 3 sees Kildangan riding high and the big story here is the disappointing form of Templederry who prop up the section with zero points from two discouraging defeats. The clash of Nenagh and Mullinahone should decide who joins Kildangan in the knock-outs.
Finally in group 4 Clonoulty are in pole position without really setting the scene alight. Various permutations could arise after the final round of games but on form so far a likely scenario is for Lorrha to drop and either Kilruane or Portroe join Clonoulty in the quarter-finals.
Roinn 2 of the championship also has some interesting scenarios. Pride of place here goes to Carrick Swans who’ve topped their group and are through to the preliminary quarter-finals as well as qualifying for Roinn 1 for 2017. Their win over Moycarkey on Saturday was one of the talked about games of the weekend. Why wouldn’t it be after a major bust-up and a surprise outcome? Moycarkey and Moneygall now play for relegation, the odds favouring the Mid side.
Ballingarry too are well placed for further progress after a pair of impressive wins over Clonakenny and Silvermines, who will now vie for relegation. Ballingarry’s crunch game is now with Ballina where the winner takes all.
Actually the South division is doing well overall in this county series which is good news because we need a better spread of senior teams away from the congested Northern half of the county. Wouldn’t it be great if a town like Clonmel could step up to senior ranks too?
The news is more downbeat for the West division where Kickhams shipped a damaging defeat to Borrisokane on Sunday. This should have been their escape route from relegation but unfortunately they now look set for a battle to avoid the drop. They play Loughmore in their final game. In the last group of Roinn 2 Holycross are best placed after two wins. They’re favourites to qualify now as group winners with Moyne at most risk of facing into relegation. Holycross still need something from their final game with Burgess to guarantee progress.
In the intermediate grade there are interesting developments too. Significantly recently relegated sides such as Boherlahan, Carrick Davins, Cashel K.C. and Golden/Kilfeacle all suffered defeats at the weekend. I saw Boherlahan’s loss to Moyle Rvs. on Sunday evening at Cahir. Peter Acheson scored seven points from play. The All Ireland minor medalist from ’07 is no slouch at this hurling caper. Martin Dunne looked useful too and Stephen Quirke mopped up a lot of ball at half back. For Boherlahan it was an inauspicious start to the intermediate grade.
Finally a novel league final will bring the crowds to Thurles on Sunday. The bookies have Waterford very marginal favourites. As reigning champs they probably deserve that minimal nod. It should be a cracker with the championship clash of the sides a few weeks later adding spice to the fixture.
