TIMELY TIPP
Sheedy’s side beat Clare in League opener but boss says that red card for Kelly made all the difference
TIPPERARY manager Liam Sheedy admitted that the straight red card issued to Clare’s Tony Kelly was harsh and had a huge impact on his side’s opening League win. Sheedy’s side were well beaten by the Banner in the Munster League earlier this month but fought back after Kelly (left) was dismissed. ‘Paudie (Maher) was coming out. It was absolutely accidental. It was unfortunate for Tony. But it (red card) had a massive bearing on the game,’ said Sheedy, who last led Tipperary to AllIreland glory in 2010.
CLEARLY the Munster Hurling League filleting was all part of Liam Sheedy’s grand plan.
It’s only a fortnight ago that Tipperary were cut apart and served on a platter by Clare, the concession of 4-19 to go with a 10-point defeat generating editorials about the need for the new manager to tighten things up at the back and find an out-and-out No3.
Not for the first time, a result in early-season competition turned out to be unreflective of the more serious competition of League fare.
A two-goal burst from Seamus Callanan around the 50-minute mark wrapped up the points here, the Drom and Inch attacker deprived of a hat-trick when he fired a late penalty over the bar on what looked like instruction from the sideline.
And yet Clare will point to the disputed dismissal of their talisman Tony Kelly not long before Callanan’s double goal strike. Kelly’s challenge on Padraic Maher – who was starring in a sweeping role at the back – was certainly hefty and not within the bounds of the law. But a straight red? It took plenty by surprise.
From a point where Clare had a seven-point half-time deficit pegged back to just four, with Kelly leading the charge, the momentum completely shifted, Callanan’s double strike safeguarding the win.
With the benefit of a strong breeze blowing down into the town end, Tipperary looked to put early daylight between themselves and Clare. In only the third minute, a long free in from goalkeeper Brian Hogan dropped into the hands of Callanan on the edge of the square. As he rounded one tackle, Jason McCarthy wrapped him up and wrestled him to the ground. The Tipperary forward dusted himself down and took the penalty himself only to see Donal Tuohy make a superb reaction save down to his left, the force of the shot actually breaking his hurley in two. Just to make up for it, the hosts rattled off three points in a row.
Noel McGrath cut a sideline over the bar early on and showed quick wrists to split the posts after Jake Morris set him up with a little chip kick of the sliotar into his path. The other score came from a Callanan free, one of five he hit that half.
With Clare pulling a forward deep, it suited Tipperary to have the influential Paudie Maher operating in a sweeper role.
As Tipperary eased into a 0-6 to 0-1 lead midway through the half, Clare needed a response.
John Conlon won a ball out in front and stuck a point over from wide out on the right. It was Clare’s only score from play in the opening 29 minutes, the only other coming from a Niall Deasy free.
The same player slotted a penalty in the 29th minute though to give his side a much-needed lift. Deasy’s top-spin effort kept Clare in touch as Tipperary hit four of the last five scores to take a 0-13 to 1-5 interval lead.
There was a bit of cut to the second half, as Peter Duggan and Barry Heffernan both picked up bookings. After a long stoppage, Kelly cut a sideline over the bar.
And then came the most contentious moment of the game. As Padraic Maher thundered out once more, it was Kelly who barrelled into him. The challenge flattened the Tipperary defender. After consulting with the sideline official, Colm Lyons produced a red.
Tipperary sensed blood and went for the jugular. Jake Morris showed a lovely touch to get away from his man and get a pass away to Robert Byrne. Instead of taking the point he fizzed a quality pass across to Seamus Callanan at the far post and he rattled the net.
Barely 60 seconds later, Morris showed his good hands to pull a ball down and play in Callanan who slotted his second goal. From a position where Clare had been trailing by just four and with their tails up, now they were a man down and suddenly 11 points down, Tipperary all but wrapping the game up leading 2-14 to 1-6.
Podge Collins drew a cracking save from Brian Hogan deep in injury time. Tipperary: B Hogan; C Barrett, Padraic Maher, D Maher (K O’Dwyer 71); A Flynn, R Maher, B Heffernan; M Breen, R Byrne (C Darcy 73); D McCormack (N O’Meara 70), N McGrath (M Kehoe 62), Patrick ‘Bonner’ Maher; Willie Connors, S Callanan, J Morris (J O’Dwyer 64). ScorerS: S Callanan 2-7 (6fs, 0-1 pen), N McGrath 0-3 (1 s-1), J Morris 0-2, A Flynn, W Connors, M Breen, R Byrne 0-1 each clare: D Tuohy; J McCarthy (C Galvin h-t), D McInerney, J Browne; A McCarthy, C Cleary, C Malone; S Golden, T Kelly; D Ryan, N Deasy (P Duggan h-t), R Taylor (M O’Malley 52); C Guilfoyle, J Conlon (I Galvin 64), M O’Neill (P Collins h-t). ScorerS: N Deasy 1-1 (1-0 pen, 1f), P Duggan 0-4 (3fs, 1 65), T Kelly 0-2 (1 s-l), M O’Malley 0-2 (1f, 1 65), J Conlon, P Collins 0-1 each referee: C Lyons (Cork)