Fractious encounter between Tipperary and Waterford proves that the league really does matter

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There are times when you hear talk that the league doesn’t matter – and then there are times when you have games like Saturday night’s at Semple Stadium.

This was a tetchy, throbbing encounter that bristled with intensity. Winning mattered, it seems, and mattered a lot. Eight yellow cards and one red - a busy night for referee James Owens - with plenty of niggle all through. It was fractious and fiery, with both sides determined to lay down some sort of marker.

It never quite boiled over, but it did simmer all through.

Tipp came away with a ten-point win, undreamed of in advance. The margin, of course, flattered. Jamie Barron’s dismissal removed Tadhg de Burca from his influential sweeper role and suddenly the gaps appeared for Tipp to run in those late scores.

Jake Morris completed his hat-trick, showcasing his real forte as a player. Give him an open run on goal and there are no better finishers in the game. It’s what at times draws comparisons with Lar Corbett. The problem for Jake is what happens otherwise, when those openings don’t appear and there’s more mundane business to be done.

From early it was clear that this was going to be a hotly-contested game. Both sides were souped-up for the job. Waterford brought their trademark high-energy, high-running game. On occasions it threatened to overwhelm.

But Tipperary were on high octane too. The workrate would make beavers look like layabouts. The defence was in uncompromising mood, even at the cost of conceding frees rather than letting an opponent pass.

The sight of “Bonner” Maher back deep in his own defence on occasions typified the all-hands-on-deck approach. No slackers need apply.

And it was that energy and industry that kept Tipp alive early on and ultimately laid the foundation for the win.
With the type of shapeless game that Waterford engineer, you need eternal vigilance from everyone. Positions mean nothing, they bring chaos to a new level. Trying to track the movements of individuals in this game was like trying to count sheep in a flock (apologies Babs).

There were times on Saturday when the pitch looked as chaotic as a lunchtime school year. Everyone just seemed to be following the ball. In that scenario training ground drills become almost meaningless. Players have to think on their feet and figure out solutions. Above all, the team has to work as a unit rather than a collection of individuals.

After a slow start we might have had a few early goals, both Seamie Callanan and, later, Jake Morris denied by goalie, Billy Nolan. The one first half goal that did arrive was very significant. Dan McCormack did the approach work, setting up Jake Morris for a smashing finish, low and bouncing past the Waterford ‘keeper.

That strike cancelled Waterford’s early promise and ignited Tipp’s first half push that eventually left a four-point margin at the interval. Gearoid O’Connor was doing really well in that half of a game that was feisty and required players to stand their ground in the exchanges.

In hindsight, always a great ally, Waterford will rue the third quarter. They changed their game, with de Burca now patrolling to great effect as sweeper, closing off the Tipp forward threat.

They also changed the puckout strategy, opting to go short more often and working the ball up field through overlaps and strong running. It was during this spell of Deise dominance that Jack Prendergast and Neil Montgomery had great chances of goal but each in turn flashed the ball wide across the face of the posts.

Looking back at the video of those incidents, one has to admit that they were real let-offs for Tipperary. A goal or two there and the subsequent trajectory of this match could have been quite different.

Ultimately, then, this game turned on a few-minute spell around midway through the second half. First, Jake Morris pounced for his second goal, sniping at a breaking ball and carrying forward before again flashing the shot low under the body of the goalie.

Immediately afterwards Jamie Barron saw red, the reason not very clear. In a game where several players were sailing close to the wind it was, perhaps, inevitable that someone would eventually pay the ultimate price.

As if that wasn’t enough, Tipp then hit for their third goal, Conor Bowe announcing his arrival with a timely run and emphatic finish. That was it.

The remainder saw Tipperary play out time with a comfort cushion that was further enhanced when Jake Morris got free to complete his hat-trick. In truth the Waterford defending at times was woeful.

Don’t be fooled by the end margin, this was no ten-point game. A few minor adjustments in fate and the course of the match could have been entirely different. No matter, we’ll take it and relish a win over a team that had taken our measure in recent seasons.

I suspect the management will be most pleased by the way in which Tipp stood up to the rigours of this game. It was a test of character as much as anything and the players weren’t found wanting when questions were asked.

The Deise discipline record isn’t the best in this league series, something the manager might address instead of getting booked himself on the sideline. Isn’t there something at odds when you’re on national television decrying online abuse and urging respect for referees and then this happens. Whether online or sideline the same message should apply.

Not that we can claim sainthood either. Michael Breen was fortunate to avoid a stronger sanction in the incident with Stephen Bennett. Actually, he’s probably lucky that he got a yellow card because if the incident wasn’t addressed by the referee he could easily face a Croke Park sanction similar to Kyle Hayes recently. All of which will add spice to the championship meeting of the teams later.

Anyway, it’s been a hugely encouraging league series thus far. The Kilkenny and Waterford games were the ones to watch in advance and both have delivered major statements of intent. That league semi-final is secured in advance of the final round at Corrigan Park, a scenario that was most desirable.

What we can say for sure at this stage is that the management has restored county pride after last year. The team is well prepared, organised and above all, driven. The senior elements of the team have displayed renewed appetite while the newer cohort has shown promise and potential.

All is good for now and, yes, the league does matter.

The final league round takes Tipperary north this weekend to Corrigan Park in Belfast for a game that we’ll be expected to win. Our historic league record against the northerners is flawless: played 17 and won 17. Our biggest margin ever was last year at Semple Stadium, 7-29 to 1-17.

The game allows Liam Cahill and colleagues to shuffle the options a bit more, not that they’ve been shy in that regard, irrespective of the opposition. Darren Gleeson is a Tipperary connection to the Antrim side. We’ll obviously expect to win though not, surely, by anything close to last year’s ginormous margin.

P.S. Membership of the Tipperary Supporters Club is now open for business.

You can join online at www.tippsupportersclub.com.