Jake Morris sizzles with style and makes the net shake in Ennis

Jake Morris has been banging in the goals for Liam Cahill teams for years now and today he announced a new era in Tipperary hurling. Alert, focused and driven it was Morris who led the way for a new look Tipperary in this years championship with two first half goals to stamp a new look on the Tipp team waiting far too long for a championship victory.

Born in 1999, Jake was too young to remember a young Lar Corbett lighting up Tipps season in 2001 when the senior side went undefeated across the league and championship. As Jake grew up though, the familiar yellow helmet of the left hander from Sarsfields would be etched on his mind as Lar started firing in goals from all angles under the tuition and coaching of Eamon O'Shea. A hat trick in 2010 cemented Lar Corbett as a name up there with Donie Nealon who, back in 1964, memorably fired in three in an All-Ireland final. Lar was gold for kids scoring spectacular goals off the side of the house a decade ago and now, a decade or so later, Jake is the name kids look up to. 

Today proved why he is the main man now. 2-4 from play against a Clare side rattled from early on. A shaky defence and keeper were beaten five times today, and there is no way back from that. Jake was the primary tormentor of that defence and keeper. Down the other end it was Cathal Barrett, Jakes marker in training, who kept Tony Kelly quiet. Matches flip on such duels. Matches flip on the wrists of Jake Morris too. When the net shakes in Ennis it can quieten or enliven the home crowd, and today it subdued them. Brian Lohan, a full back himself, knows all about the need for a rock solid defence and today Clare were leaky. 

Jake has been scoring goals for years now but he is finally showing the consistency that marks the great players. Way back when Liam Cahill was a rookie minor manager, in need of a run in the championship to stay in the managerial game, Jake shone for him. Hurling midfield when Tipp played Waterford in that championship, he found his natural home in the forwards as the season rolled on. That summer of '16, he hit 1-4 in the Munster minor hurling final as well as being top scorer against Limerick that September in the All-Ireland final. Cahill gets the best from him. Jake was a top player again, banging in the goals, at U20 and U21 before the grade disappeared. Now both Cahill and Morris are in the big time. Their calls decide games. Cahill as manager of the Tipp seniors and Jake as the main man.

Jake shined today striking 2-4 in that lethal stride that would remind you of Lar Corbett in his prime. He was on fire today and like Liam Cahill, his summer is up and running with Cork firmly in sight. 2-4 is not a bad start to a new era.