Tipperary in dire trouble as Rebels catch fire in Thurles

Inside Track with John McIntyre

The bottom has fallen out of Tipperary’s hurling world in the space of a month. Smashed up by Galway in the National League final in late April, the All-Ireland champions endured more misery when losing their provincial crown to a revitalised Cork in a thrilling struggle at Semple Stadium last Sunday.

Widely perceived as the team to beat again this year, Tipperary’s hopes of retaining the McCarthy Cup for the first time since 1965 are now hanging by a thread as their demoralised camp face a massive challenge in trying to reboot their championship ambitions through the qualifiers. They did manage that feat in 2010, but back then they also didn’t have to cope with a crushing league final defeat.

Tipperary would have done a lot of soul searching in the wake of that unexpected thrashing by the Tribesmen. Their cards had been marked and any complacency in their ranks would have been removed. Most observers through it was at timely reality check, but I was of the opinion that they had been seriously holed below the water line and that it would leave them vulnerable in the championship.

They were still strong favourites to get over Cork and though Tipperary produced a far more vibrant display than against Galway, the defensive woes which were so ruthlessly exposed at the Gaelic Grounds came back to haunt them again. Loose marking and a lack of pace allowed the Revels to run riot, while the sector didn’t possess the required physicality either. Conceding a staggering 5-48 in two big matches tells its own story.

Sure, Tipperary still possess terrific forwards and at times, Michael Breen, especially, Noel McGrath, Dan McCormack, Seamus Callanan, second half, John McGrath, and John O’Dwyer conjured up some great scores, but they were simply leaking too much at the other end where the influential Maher brothers just couldn’t provide the necessary leadership or stability.

It was clear from early on that the Rebels were up for the fight, particularly their five newcomers, but when John McGrath drove to the Cork net after a brilliant cross from Callanan in the 55th minutes, you sensed it was Tipperary’s time to turn the screw. This is what champions generally do at crucial stages of big matches, but within seconds the superb Conor Lehane had levelled and from there to the finish, Cork just wanted it more.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.