Blue murder in Thurles as Callanan and Tipp put dire Dubs to sword
THEY might not be truly ‘back’ just yet, but All-Ireland champions Tipperary produced a much-improved display to batter Dublin by 22 points.
In a game that’s sure to be Ger Cunningham’s last in charge, his Dublin team shipped a heavy beating at Semple Stadium in this All-Ireland SHC round 2 qualifier, with Seamus Callanan collecting 3-11 as Tipp booked their place in the quarter-finals.
Dublin felt aggrieved at having to travel to Thurles, and while they had a point, the nature of this display was chaotic.
Tipp, without ever having to hit the really high notes, cut through them at will to win pulling up.
Callanan was excellent but he was aided and abetted by John ‘Bubbles’ O’Dwyer — who squared unselfishly for his colleague’s hat-trick goal in the final minute.
Tipp looked vulnerable defensively at times in the first half, particularly in the full-back line, but still led by 4-11 to 1-10 break, a ten-point advantage.
By half-time, Callanan and John McGrath had helped themselves to a brace of goals each, but much of that was down to dreadful Dublin defending.
Callanan looked particularly sharp early on and with less than eight minutes on the clock, he had already posted 1-3, including 1-2 from play.
His direct marker, highly-rated Eoghan O’Donnell, was struggling to cope in humid conditions but after Tipp moved 1-4 to 0-2 clear, Dublin hit back to level.
Their goal arrived in the 15th minute, Cian O’Sullivan’s super run rewarded with a shot across Darren Gleeson that found the net.
Gleeson was recalled to the starting line-up after Daragh Mooney, who was out for the warm-up, was ruled out of a starting role with an injury.
Having got level at 1-4 each, that was as good as it got for Dublin, as Pádraic Maher had time and space to deliver quality ball inside from deep positions.
Despite their obvious vulnerabilities, Tipp were helped along the way by Dublin’s deficiencies.
John McGrath’s 19th minute goal, his first, was case in point, as Dublin failed to clear a raking long ball and when the ball broke, the Loughmore-Castleiney man nipped in to poke it home.
Three minutes later, Shane Barrett was on the end of a thundering Callanan hit while in possession, before the Tipp man picked out McGrath with a defence-splitting pass.
The finish was sublime, as McGrath lifted the ball deftly over Conor Dooley’s head and into the net.
The fourth goal resulted from a poor Dublin re-start but Patrick ‘Bonner’ Maher still had work to do as he advanced on goal.
Maher cleared a path and while his handpass to Callanan was slightly overcooked, the forward swept a groundstroke to the net from a tight angle.
The half-time lead may have flattered Tipp somewhat, as Dublin spurned a couple of other decent goal chances, while also registering seven wides.
Callanan should have had a hat-trick of goals in the first half, too, but Dooley did well to keep him out.
Tipp put their foot to the floor in the second half — hitting 1-7 without reply on the resumption.
Michael Breen collected the Premier County’s fifth goal just 19 seconds after the restart and Tipp were home and hosed, not that there was any doubt at half-time.
It was a procession for Tipp as they won the second half by 2-15 to 0-9, with Callanan continuing to shoot the lights out.
Dublin were best served by David Treacy, who picked off three of his eleven points from play, but he was curiously substituted late on.
Over-worked Dublin ‘keeper Dooley was careless with many of his restarts but made some good saves nonetheless.
Tipp march on to the weekend of July 22/23 — and with a renewed pep in their step. They’ll still take stopping.
Tipperary: D Gleeson; D Maher (M Cahill 56), T Hamill, J Barry; Joe O’Dwyer, R Maher (S Kennedy 45), Pádraic Maher (T Fox 66); B Maher (N McGrath 49), M Breen; J Forde, Patrick Maher, D McCormack (S O’Brien 49); John O’Dwyer, S Callanan, J McGrath. Scorers: S Callanan 3-11 (0-7f); J McGrath 2-2; J Forde, John O’Dwyer 0-4; M Breen 1-0; S O’Brien 0-2; Pádraic Maher, B Maher, D McCormack 0-1. Wides: 6 (1+5) Cards: D Maher (35+2), Pádraic Maher (57). Dublin: C Cooley; C O’Callaghan, E O’Donnell, F Ó Riain Broin; S Barrett (J Madden 24), C Crummey, S Moran (T Connolly 50); B Quinn, N McMorrow (F Whitely h.t.); D Treacy (R McBride 58), L Rushe, E Dillon; C O’Sullivan, R O’Dwyer, D Burke (D O’Callaghan h.t.). Scorers: D Treacy 0-11 (8f); C O’Sullivan 1-1; L Rushe, R O’Dwyer 0-2; C Crummey, D O’Callaghan, R McBride 0-1. Wides: 7 (6+1) referee: A Kelly (Galway)