Minors supply a tonic for Tipperary hurling after last weekend's shocking defeat

Writing a weekly GAA column features many variations. There are weeks when it’s a pleasure, other times it can be a chore - and then there are days like this.

To see your team eviscerated so mercilessly in the second half of a crunch Munster tie is hard to stomach. Even for a county fast becoming accustomed to challenging times, this was shocking.

Forget the result – did anyone realistically expect Tipperary to win? – but it’s the nature of the second half surrender that stings the most. Once Alan Connolly dispossessed Cathal Barrett and careered in for his second goal early in the second half it was over-and-out for Tipperary. The energy visibly sapped from players, as Cork played Molly Bawn with the home team for the rest of the match.

Strangely, the first half was so much more positive. Tipperary’s instant goal was exactly what the underdogs craved. The little pop pass from Noel McGrath, Conor Bowe’s shot and save before Mark Kehoe flicked the rebound to the net, all came within seconds of the throw-in and was the perfect launch.

It might even have been so much better if the referee did his job a few minutes later. Again, Mark Kehoe was the central player, taking on his man before heading in for goal and being tripped as he was about to pull the trigger.

A stonewall penalty and black card surely? Yet, inexplicably, the official baulked at the decision, opting instead for a yellow card and a regular free. I don’t know who I’m most annoyed with, the referee or the various commentators who have hummed and hawed about the decision, which to me was straightforward.

Brian Gavin in his Examiner piece made an extraordinary statement: “Had it been deliberate (the trip) it could have been a penalty and black card”. You would imagine that a former referee would know that the rule makes no mention of “deliberate” or “accidental”.

As the half progressed, Tipperary were holding their own. There was a sense that Cork were dangerously finding space in attack but Barry Hogan made a fine save early on from Brian Hayes and otherwise Cork were content with points.

In fairness to Tipperary, they were economical in this half. Players like Kehoe, Morris, O’Connor, Bowe and McGrath were all doing well at this juncture and it was developing into a point-for-point game. The defence was being stretched a bit but so far that rearguard was holding firm.

Matters did take a bad turn before the interval. Ronan Maher’s collision with Ethan Twomey resulted in both needing sideline treatment and in the absence of the Tipperary man Cork hit 1-2 in the lead-up to half- time.

The goal from Alan Connolly was a hurtful item, the forward barging past several players without a decent tackle being delivered. Three-down at half- time was probably worse than we deserved but was still a modest lead.

Five minutes into the second half saw the game turn conclusively one-way. Cathal Barrett was seen clutching his hamstring but allowed to continue before being turned over by Alan Connolly for Cork’s second goal. That was the tipping point.

Thereafter the Tipperary effort fizzled out alarmingly. Cork started playing with even more swagger; Tipperary now indulging in containment that quickly became outright concession. Heads dropped, legs became weary, even score attempts became feeble as shots dropped short or wide.

The Tipperary spirit was broken, which is the toughest aspect for followers to digest. Cork went to town. Luke Meade and Alan Connolly did a neat little one-two for their third goal; Pat Horgan rammed home the fourth. He should have had a fifth, the officials wrongly giving a “square” ball decision. We could be thankful for small mercies.

It was demoralising fare in the final quarter. Those who had played well in the first half faded. Some of the replacements, like Sean Hayes, tried to inject some impetus but by then we were a well-beaten docket.

You search in vain for positives from a second half shambles but this experience doesn’t come out of the blue. We’ve had plenty of previous examples such as the Limerick match, the league semi-final with Clare and from last year the Waterford and Galway games. Upbeat displays, like that against Waterford this year, are the exception rather than the rule.

The stats don’t lie. We’ve played 11 games in the past three Munster campaigns and won just a single match. Since our All-Ireland win of 2019 we’ve played 14 Munster championship games and won just two of them. It’s an abysmal record that places us bottom of the Munster pile.

Something is seriously amiss when Tipperary teams buckle so tamely when opponents gain an edge. Identifying that absent ingredient isn’t easy, though some aspects are clearly part of the story.

The team is at a particular juncture, with the heroes of the past eyeing retirement and the younger generation not up to the job. It’s an unhelpful mix and the worrying feature is that it’s likely to get worse before it improves.

The underage successes of ’16, ’18 and ’19 created a false narrative. They were commendable achievements but standalone items, not indicative of an emerging generation of future seniors. Too many have since disappointed.

Inevitably questions will be raised about our development structures. Cork appear to have responded to modern-day requirements with strong, athletic individuals coming through the ranks. We trail in their wake.

Ultimately a major review of systems will have to be undertaken when the curtain falls on our season this Sunday with the visit of Clare. The Banner side need a result to make sure of a place in the Munster final following their somewhat controversial win over Waterford last Sunday. For Tipperary pride, is the spur.

And it’s a spur not to be underplayed. I feel for management and players who are shipping the flak this week, some of it deserved, much of it vile and venomous, as is the modern social media trend.

We need to show serious intent against Clare, have an uninhibited go in a bid to restore some respect as we bow out of the reckoning. Liam Cahill has hinted that some younger players will be given their chance but this has to be balanced with the need to deliver a creditable performance. Another whipping is certainly not what we need.

Finally, to end on a positive note, a most welcome one, the minors delivered a precious Munster title on Monday evening with an impressive win over Clare at the Gaelic Grounds. Goals from Killian Minogue and Stefan Tobin (the man of the match) proved the crucial strikes.

Seldom has a win been more welcome. These lads lost to Clare in their earlier round but made amends here in emphatic fashion, driving on when it mattered most in the second half. Defiant defending in the final phase denied Clare even a consolation goal. Quite a turnaround to keep Clare goal-less after spilling four to them a few weeks previously. Well done to all involved.

Now, if the Under 20s could only repeat the deed on Friday night in their provincial showdown with Cork, it would certainly help to ease some of the gloom following the senior event. Cork were much fancied in this grade but Tipperary turned them over impressively in their group round.

That will probably matter little when the sides lined up on Friday evening at the Gaelic Grounds. A hand injury to Paddy McCormack in their final group game against Clare was a serious blow in that match and his loss on Friday will be very significant.

Anyway, here’s hoping for an underage double.