Defence on the back foot.
by Noel Dundon, Tipperary Media
The first weekend of the county hurling championships has thrown up some very eyebrow raising results with proceedings really blown wide open – the way it should be, you might say.
Certainly, any preconceived notions of predictability were dispatched as results caused a stir and left many clubs scratching their heads, while others were thrilled to be off to a flier.
Chief among the unexpected perhaps, was Holycross Ballycahill’s deserved victory over Nenagh Éire Óg at the Ragg, while Moycarkey Borris’ comprehensive rout of Roscrea was also surprising in its extent. Speaking of extent, what about JK Brackens pilfering of 6-26 against Templederry – the north men hit 3-20 and still lost by fifteen points!! Go figure.
Clonoulty Rossmore and Kiladangan was a great contest with the champions proving that they don’t go down easy. Eight in arrears in injury time, somehow they found a way – the retreating Clonoulty Rossmore men did a lot to help them though, losing their shape and their composure at just the wrong time.
Expected victories for Loughmore Castleiney and Thurles Sarsfields, with the Borris-Ileigh win over Toomevara being a real toss-up. Then you have Carrick Swans hitting Upperchurch Drombane for six in the Premier Intermediate championship – the south champions brought their divisional form to the county series to blow it right open. A lot to play for now in the second round games in two weeks time.
Where has all the defending gone?
The opening weekend of the championship saw a whopping 37 goals and 332 points scored in the Dan Breen Cup. The winning teams accounted for 23-182 while the losing sides hit 14-150. You could average that out at 3-23 to win a game while the losers got 1-21.
With all this free scoring fare, one could be tempted to ask where all the defending has disappeared to? Points are being struck from 100 yards now and you would have to wonder if this is actually good for the game. Admittedly, there is great skill in long range shooting, but are shootouts what we really want? Surely closer, lower scoring games can be more tense, more on edge and ultimately, more exciting?
Tipp ladies disappointed in Camogie Semi
It was heartache for the Tipperary ladies in the camogie All-Ireland semi-final but hats off to them for their tremendous fighting spirit. They have made enormous progress in the last few seasons and the key now is for them to push on again. Getting back to the All-Ireland Final has to be the goal – easier said that done admittedly, but one thing is very clear now, nobody wants to play Tipperary at the present time. That’s a big compliment to Denis Kelly, his management team and his squad.
Minor red cards decision – a major scandal
There is just one thing worse than making a major mistake – that’s compelling it by failing to acknowledge the error in the first place. There is no doubt that mistakes were made in the All-Ireland minor hurling final with the sending off of two Tipperary players. That the powers that be have sided with the erring officials is a major worry and something which ought to be taken very seriously.
Effectively Croke Park is saying that both incidents warranted red cards – really? If that’s the case then hurling has a major problem, highlighted by this minor final. Why? Because Croke Park, like the rest of us at this stage, has had the opportunity to view the incidents time and again, from different angles, in slow motion and in normal play, and they still view them as straight red cards??
The referee, in fairness, didn’t see one of the incidents and had to make a decision based on the linesman’s view; and then had a split second to make a decision on the second. They got the decisions wrong and that is bad enough – Croke Park though, that’s a different matter entirely. That they upheld the decisions is pretty demoralising and worrying in fact. If Tipp had lost the game, one could understand the upholding of the decision lest there be a lynching, but this makes to sense at all. None.
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