TIPP SNATCH SHARE OF CLASSIC
TJ Reid goal treble sets up a tense finale as hurling’s Super 2 turn on the power
IN THE week the last member of Tipperary’s famous ‘Hell’s Kitchen’ full-back line was laid to rest, the All-Ireland champions were keen to identify with a time when Tipperary were kings. And Kilkenny played the role of vanquished foes.
Already this year, it has been well referenced that the team that Michael Maher featured in in 196465 was the last time Tipperary successfully defended an All-Ireland.
When Henry Shefflin compared the strength in depth of the Tipperary squad to that of All-Ireland football champions Dublin, there surely was an element of the 10-time medal winner hopping a ball with Kilkenny’s fiercest rivals.
Last night at Semple Stadium was about adding a bit of value to Shefflin’s assessment. Except Kilkenny, as is their wont, had plenty to say.
This was another minor classic in keeping with the rich modern rivalry. If football is besotted with talk of ‘Super 8’ right now, hurling still boils down to its own ‘Super 2’.
Tipperary played some eye-catching hurling and did most of the running yet TJ Reid bagged a hat-trick. In an enthralling finale, it needed Steven O’Brien to tie things up right at the death.
The Kilkenny full-back line started with a nervousness reminiscent of that last meeting, coughing up a goal after just three minutes. It stemmed from a soaring catch by Ronan Maher in his own defence before the ball was delivered long.
When it broke in around the Kilkenny square, Paul Murphy looked to have it covered, only to fumble it. From there, it bounced around before breaking to John McGrath who doubled it to the net.
A poor, scratchy goal to give away, especially so early.
Reid responded in kind just minutes later, deceiving goalkeeper Daragh Mooney by picking his spot audaciously when it looked like he was just going to pop it over.
Almost immediately, Kilkenny breached the Tipp cover again, Richie Hogan stepping inside but his unusually tame shot was easily controlled by Mooney.
Already though, Tipperary were moving like a well-oiled machine.
John McGrath showed a sublime first touch to control and turn in one movement, and then fire the point over his own shoulder.
Dan McCormack was busy making a mockery of his water-carrier status in a front line of gilded stick merchants, hitting two classy points at full pace on the burst.
Fourteen minutes in, Séamus Callanan was heading for goal when he was cynically hauled down by Conor Fogarty just far enough out not to concede a penalty. That James Owens didn’t even produce a card only compounded the insult. Little wonder the goal-scoring rate in Division 1A is so low.
With the aerial ability of the Maher brothers Ronan and Padraic, Kilkenny were forced to bring Walter Walsh out to centre-forward.
Tipperary nabbed a second goal though and it was a thing of beauty. John McGrath’s steal off Paul Murphy created it. He passed to Bubbles O’Dwyer who had the vision to pick out Niall O’Meara stealing in behind. The pass went straight to his hand and O’Meara arrowed a shot to the far corner.
At 2-7 to 1-2, Reid led the fightback, hitting two frees and a score from play and adding a penalty after Michael Cahill was penalised by Owens for playing his man and not the ball. Tipp tagged on a few points to turn 2-11 to 2-7 up. John McGrath created another goal chance with a breathtaking pass off his stick to O’Dwyer who must have had Goal of the Year on his mind. With time to catch and strike, he doubled on it only to see it easily blocked. Cillian Buckley was manfully bringing the fight to Tipperary around the middle but Tipperary’s slick stick-passing created chance after chance, Bubbles O’Dwyer, Niall O’Meara and John McGrath keeping Kilkenny at arm’s length.
Until the 56th minute when Hogan’s point attempt came back off the upright and Liam Blanchfield was pulled down for a penalty by the back-tracking Padraic Maher. Cue Reid’s hat-trick. Level.
Callanan came alive with two majestic points from out on the New Stand sideline before one rollicking passage of play summed up the manic intensity. Hogan’s second half was of the same level, his third and fourth points from play levelling it once more. Then Cillian Buckley tore through the middle for the umpteenth time and put Kilkenny ahead for the first time.
After hitting a string of wides, it took substitute O’Brien to ensure a share of the points. Tipperary: D Mooney; J O’Keeffe, J Barry, M Cahill (S Kennedy 58); T Hamill, R Maher, P Maher; S Curran, M Breen (K Bergin 36); D McCormack (J Forde 55), N O’Meara (S O’Brien 68), N McGrath; J O’Dwyer, S Callanan, J McGrath. Scorers: S Callanan 0-6 (3fs, 1 65), J McGrath 1-2, N O’Meara 1-1, D McCormack 0-2, S Curran 0-2, N McGrath, P Maher, S O’Brien, J O’Dwyer 0-1. Wides: 2 (10) KilKenny: E Murphy; P Murphy, P Walsh, C O’Shea; C Fogarty, S Prendergast, J Cleere; P Deegan, C Buckley; R Hogan, TJ Reid, C Fennelly; A Murphy (J Maher 40), L Blanchfield, W Walsh. Scorers: TJ Reid 3-5 (4fs, 2-0 pen), R Hogan 0-4, C Buckley 0-3, W Walsh 0-2, Wides: 3 (7) Yellow card: A Murphy 38. referee: J Owens (Wexford) aTTendance: 14,763