No second chances in Tipp tangle

Date Published: {J}

STEPHEN GLENNON

When Galway last faced Tipperary in an All-Ireland quarter-final – the 2005 championship – the headline on the preview piece in the Connacht Tribune in the lead-up to the game simply read: ‘Time for Galway to stand up’. For all intents and purposes, that battle cry is just as apt today as it was five years ago.

Indeed, in light of the Tribesmen’s disappointing display against Kilkenny in the Leinster final, what the class of 2010 would give for a similar response – Galway won that ’05 All-Ireland quarter-final joust on a scoreline of 2-20 to 2-18 – when the two counties meet at Croke Park this Sunday (4pm).

To do that, Galway senior hurling manager John McIntyre believes his charges will need to “bring serious intensity” to GAA headquarters. “Tipperary comfortably disposed of Offaly (in the qualifiers) in Portlaoise last weekend (0-21 to 1-12), where it took us two games to get over Offaly, and we were at the pin of our collar to do so,” says McIntyre.

“So, we have it all to do. Tipperary are generally regarded as the second best team in the country, so if we don’t bring serious intensity to Croke Park on Sunday it is going to be difficult to get a result.”

It is amazing to think, though, that given the prominence of these two great foes that this will be their first meeting since ’05. In all, Galway and Tipperary have gone head to head 24 times, with the Premier County securing results on 18 occasions and the Westerners winning just six.

Galway’s first win over the primrose and gold was in the 1924 All-Ireland semi-final. Incredibly, they would not record another victory over the same opposition until Cyril Farrell’s charges edged beyond them, on a scoreline of 3-20 to 2-17, in the 1987 All-Ireland semi-final.

In many respects, that game – a first championship meeting since 1971 – reignited an old rivalry. Since 1987, inclusive, Galway and Tipperary have faced each other 10 times, with each claiming five victories apiece. That alone would suggest there will be little between the sides this weekend.

There is also the fact that both counties have failed to fire in the current championship, with Tipperary losing to Cork in their Munster opener, before easing beyond subdued Wexford and Offaly sides in the qualifiers, while Galway stumbled beyond the same opponents before surrendering meekly to Kilkenny in the Leinster decider.

Indeed, it will be intriguing to observe the manner in which Galway respond to that defeat to the All-Ireland champions. Since then, they have taken a week-long break, returning to their respective clubs for championship action, before regrouping for a training camp away at Johnstown House, Enfield last week.

“The training camp went well, but it is inside those four white lines that it has to count,” states Galway boss McIntyre. “Tipperary is our next big game and it presents us with an opportunity for redemption after the defeat to Kilkenny. It is an opportunity that we are determined to take.”

For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.