Croker ‘parked’ as greens power hurlers to history-making final; Camogie joy; Ladies footballers woes.
How the pundits must be choking on their lattes now. Save for Donal Óg Cusack, not one of the usual sages dared tip Tipp hurlers in the All-Ireland senior hurling semi-final against Kilkenny. Sure, most hedged their bets, leaving themselves an escape hatch, but only the Corkman — of all the voices this column read and heard — nailed his colours to the Tipp mast. Now, Donal Óg must wrestle with head and heart as Tipp prepare to face The Rebels in an All-Ireland final showdown for the very first time.
The story of the semi-final was written in green flags and guts — Tipp’s electric first-half fightback, forged in goals. They say goals win games, and Tipp, as they’ve done all season, plundered four. The three first-half strikes proved pivotal — especially John McGrath’s thunderbolt in the 8th minute, which gave the Premier men some breathing space just as Kilkenny were slicing through them at will. At the end of the opening quarter, Kilkenny led nine scores to two. But once Tipp shook off the nerves and began to hurl with purpose, the game turned.
Two goals in three blistering minutes flipped the contest on its head — Darragh McCarthy and Jason Forde’s silky flick leaving Eoin Murphy fishing the ball from his net.
Yet it was perhaps Conor Stakelum who best embodied Tipp’s heart. The Sarsfields warrior did the work of three men and, alongside Willie Connors, helped Tipp dominate a sector that has so often troubled them. Stakelum chipped in three priceless points too — a massive contribution, especially when Tipp were under the hammer & the chips were down.
In the dying moments, it was that same Stakelum-esque ferocity that carried Tipp over the line. Reduced to fourteen after McCarthy’s second yellow, they somehow cranked up the intensity — disrupting, dislodging, dispossessing, and ultimately dismantling Kilkenny. Alan Tynan’s turnover on Paddy Deegan in injury time was emblematic of Tipp’s refusal to yield.
It was far from flawless — both sides made plenty of mistakes. Kilkenny will be asking themselves yet again how they managed not to win — a familiar question for them lately when Tipp are across the field. Once more, they had the numerical edge down the stretch. Once more, they were beaten. Why? Only they can answer that, but the simplest explanation is this: Tipperary out-worked them and out-smarted them.
Mind you, it could easily have swung the other way too — Robert Doyle’s heroic goal-line clearance at the death was pure inspiration, while Rhys Shelly kept his goal unbreached in a frantic finale. But Tipp were the better team — team being the operative word.
Perhaps the furnace of Munster has hardened Liam Cahill’s men for those stormy passages when the tide runs against them — Ronan Connolly’s long-range points in the first half were vital; Michael Breen’s timely interventions; Jake Morris’s dogged ball-winning; Andrew Ormond’s tireless graft; John McGrath’s touch of class.
And then the bench — potent, primed, and once again delivering. Oisín O’Donoghue added that magnificent fourth goal; Noel McGrath brought composure and guile; Alan Tynan flung himself into a brilliant diving block when on as a first half blood sub and then stripped Deegan of possession at the death; Darragh Stakelum won two turnovers. That’s serious bang from the bench — as flagged here last week, it could well be the difference. It was. as Tipp won by three. Or was it two? Ask the ref!!
Ah, isn’t it glorious? An All-Ireland final on the horizon; an era rising from the embers; another chapter waiting to be written in the epic saga of Tipperary and Cork Hurlers. The Rebels are the favourites – deservedly so after their dismantling of a disappointing Dublin on Saturday. That will suit Tipp fine and the final will at last be decided on a level playing pitch – no home advantage for the Rebels Hurlers as in the league and championship; hopefully 15 on 15; hopefully another classic as they seek to bridge a two decade hiatus. Can’t wait for it – bring it on.
Ladies mixed fortunes.
It took the camogie ladies extra time to eventually get over a dogged Kilkenny side – the penalty save from Laura Leenane proving a turning point. On they march, but the end of the road came for ladies footballers when they came a cropper against Meath unfortunately. Progress made certainly, but more to do.