HURLING ANALYST: PARKING THIS terrible spectacle, and from a purely hurling perspective, we have got the correct All-Ireland final, which, arguably, has not been so apparent in the previous two seasons.
This is the final most people wanted and practically everyone expected. The season now seems to have just been about getting Tipperary into a September showdown with Kilkenny, so from that perspective we can gloss over what happened yesterday.
It is very difficult to take much from what we just witnessed, mainly because it became a non-event quickly – and before that it wasn’t much good either.
Initially, Tipperary looked nervous, and a few wides confirmed as much, but the Limerick tactics looked flawed. Pulling an extra man into defence meant they failed to rattle the Munster champions, who were clearly struggling with the weight of expectation.
Lar Corbett, Eoin Kelly and Séamus Callanan crashing into each other all going for one ball should have lifted the Limerick team, but when all signs of confidence slip the result tends to be brutal.
Mark Foley and Brian Geary were hitting plenty of ball out of defence, but there was nobody to be found out the field.
In the quarter-final, Gavin O’Mahony had put his name up in lights with a fine display of free-taking at the expense of Dublin. His fortunes reversed dramatically here and, really, he should have been relieved of these duties much earlier.
Stephen Lucey’s mistake led to a goal, then Mark Foley made another, and before we settled into the event the contest was over.
Limerick’s embarrassment will be acute this morning. It is disappointing for all the people who made the trip up to watch an All-Ireland semi-final. Without getting over-dramatic, it was damaging for the game of hurling.
It should also mark the end of a Limerick team that peaked with the 2007 All-Ireland final appearance. This is a shame, considering the hopes built up in the years since the three under-21 All-Ireland titles. These teams produced men like Lucey and Geary, who have provided a tremendous service to Limerick.
Withdrawing Lucey seemed pointless considering what was happening all around him. Along with Foley, at least Geary performed in what may be their last appearance on this grand a stage.
Others failed to follow their leadership and commitment. This disjointed performance came out after a fairly handy qualifier route, only punctured by a decent win in Wexford Park.
Niall Moran’s finger might not have been right, but it marked a symbol of Limerick’s day that he scored one of their points only to be immediately taken off. Moments later, O’Mahony had to be informed a sideline was in fact a free. It all seemed an indication of players lacking the focus required for any championship match, never mind this high level of competition. The haphazard, short puck outs were another example.
For Tipperary, the primary goal of maturing into a team capable of jumping the semi-final hurdle was finally achieved.
And there are a few positives. Their hurling improved in the second half despite the game being over as a contest. The changes in defence worked, with Paddy Stapleton and Declan Fanning doing well throughout, while Conor O’Mahony was a powerhouse at centre back. Brendan Maher has brought a balance to the unit by his inclusion at wing back.
The impact of recent minor All-Ireland winners such as Stapleton and Pádraic and Brendan Maher has been immediate and is in stark contrast to Limerick’s reliance on their senior players.
Another polar opposite is Tipperary’s ability to score freely. Noel McGrath and Corbett combined fantastically for McGrath’s goal.
But Lar’s third goal was the day’s crowning moment. McGrath won a ball he shouldn’t have before Callanan and Micheál Webster combined with slick passing to allow Corbett finish to an empty net.
It was their best score, but it was into an empty net. Such an image will not be repeated in three weeks.
On the negative side, consistently winning clean ball remains a problem for the Tipperary forwards. Foley and Geary highlighted this and it is a genuine concern considering the amount of dominance they displayed elsewhere. Also – and it may be a brief and fixable glitch – but both midfielders were replaced.
At least Tipperary should be more comfortable with Croke Park on their next visit. They did what was required of them and they are were they should be.
A big All-Ireland decider awaits.
