Sweet victory against understrength Kilkenny
Tipperary 1-14 Kilkenny 0-13
A Tipperary victory against Kilkenny at any time is not to be sniffed at and manager Liam Sheedy will look to build on the positives following last Sunday's four-point success against the All-Ireland champions at Semple Stadium.
And Sheedy's desire for victory bubbled clearly to the surface in the final minute of normal time when he was involved in a touchline altercation with opposite number Brian Cody, as the pair disputed a J.J. Delaney challenge on Tipp sub Jody Brennan.
Right from the start, Sheedy was animated and drove his players forwards in search of two precious National Hurling League points, which were badly needed after the disappointing defeat to Dublin a week before.
With final spots on offer for the top two teams in a competitive Division 1, Tipp are now back on track but the fixtures don't come any easier this Sunday, as in-form Galway arrive in Thurles for an attractive tie.
The Kilkenny match finally went ahead at the third time of asking after snow had forced two postponements, and with free admission to Semple Stadium 20,254 spectators flocked through the turnstiles.
The Tipperary contingent leaving the ground afterwards will wonder, once euphoria has been replaced by cold, clinical analysis, if the glass is half full rather than half empty.
Sure, it was sweet to beat Kilkenny in the National League for the first time since the 2008 semi-final of this competition and to gain some measure of revenge following last year's League and All-Ireland final defeats against the black and amber.But Sheedy and his players certainly won't be getting too carried away, despite laying down a notable early season marker.
Tipp were more or less at full strength in terms of personnel, except for the injured Pat Kerwick and long-term casualty James Woodlock, while Kilkenny were missing a host of top name stars.
The Ballyhale Shamrocks contingent preparing for the St. Patrick’s Day All-Ireland club final were not involved while Noel Hickey, Eddie Brennan, Martin Comerford and Michael Kavanagh were unavailable too for various reasons.
At full back for Tipperary, All Star Pdraic Maher was majestic but his direct opponent from the start, 2008 Hurler of the Year Eoin Larkin, was playing his first competitive game for Kilkenny since last year’s All-Ireland final.
Larkin is working his way back to full fitness following a recent injury while Kilkenny lost the services of All Star Michael Rice eleven minutes after half-time with a hamstring problem.
Taking those factors into account, Kilkenny will be happy enough to have run Tipp to four points but perhaps a few chinks in the Cats’ armour have been exposed and maybe their perceived strength in depth has been slightly exaggerated.
However Tipperary have their own problems to worry about and, once again, a crippling inability to win clean ball in the half-forward line created problems at both ends of the field.
Kilkenny’s half back line of 2009 - Hurler of the Year Tommy Walsh, the imperious Jackie Tyrrell in the centre and JJ Delaney on the left wing - held sway against their direct opponents.
Noel McGrath did wriggle free to set up Eoin Kelly’s decisive goal before half-time but John O’Brien and Benny Dunne struggled to make any headway.
As a result Tipp’s defence was put under enormous pressure as the ball came back in on top of them repeatedly but the sextet, along with goalkeeper Brendan Cummins, performed heroics throughout.
Kilkenny were held goal-less and managed just ten points from play, with John Mulhall picking off three of those and emerging as the most effective forward on show for the visitors.
Shane McGrath’s influence at midfield for Tipperary grew steadily as the game progressed but after a bright opening, partner Thomas Stapleton faded and made way 17 minutes from time.
Nailing down a regular and consistent sidekick for McGrath, while also sorting out the problems in attack, remain the key issues for Sheedy and his backroom colleagues but there is plenty of time to address them before May’s Munster Championship showdown with Cork.
In a brief cameo role, Upperchurch-Drombane’s Jody Brennan put himself about and shot over a brilliant late score and he will hope to impress when given a starting role in the coming weeks.
Samus Callanan did not start after his Fitzgibbon Cup exploits with Limerick IT while Seamus Hennessy, another half forward line candidate, was rested after inspiring NUIG to Fitzgibbon glory.
Meanwhile, the calls for Timmy Hammersly to be called into the panel grew louder after the Clonoulty-Rossmore man banged over a combined total of 2-24 in the Fitzgibbon semi-final and final.
Despite the bitter cold on Sunday, pleasant sunshine drew a bumper crowd to the Stadium and while Tipp managed just 1-7 from play, it was hugely important for the younger players in the team to taste victory against Kilkenny.
Playing with a breeze blowing in from the Town End in the first half, Tipp looked like they might be going in level at half-time before Kelly struck to open up a 1-6 to 0-6 interval lead.
McGrath’s pass found Kelly in space 20 metres from goal and the Mullinahone ace fired a brilliant effort low past All Star goalkeeper PJ Ryan.
Kelly had missed arguably an easier chance
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Weather for Clonmel
Saturday 04 February 2012
Today
Heavy rain
Temperature: 2 C to 9 C
Wind Speed: 18 mph
Wind direction: South
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Light rain
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