NATIONAL HURLING LEAGUE/Division 1B: Having extolled the virtues of acquiring a winning habit during last year's double run, Tipperary manager Nicky English will be hoping that the reverse doesn't apply. Having lost their first competitive match in 20 months last week to Limerick, the holders went down to a more comprehensive defeat at Wexford Park yesterday.
It was the first Allianz National Hurling League fixture to be staged at the impressively refurbished venue, and the home side marked the occasion with gusto. Having applauded the All-Ireland champions onto the field, Wexford proceeded to blow them back off it for long periods.
Tipperary contested as best they could, but still looked rusty, a point conceded by Wexford manager Tony Dempsey afterwards.
But Wexford were a revelation. They simply rolled up their sleeves and let fly. In the face of a furious onslaught, Tipperary wilted. But they didn't help their cause by conceding three preventable goals.
English reflected that it underlined the value of Brendan Cummins, who was replaced by one of his understudies, Darragh Rabbitte, for this match.
To be fair to Rabbitte, it's not the first time Tipperary have conceded three goals to Wexford in the past 12 months, but they were undoubtedly soft scores - all the result of high, dropping ball into the goalmouth.
The first set the tone for the match. In the sixth minute, David O'Brien, who started and finished the match well, drifted in a sideline cut which looked like an attempt at a point falling short. But instead it deceived Rabbitte and floated into the net, leaving Wexford ahead 1-2 to 0-1.
So the spectacle unfolded. Wexford's defence was particularly good. Darragh Ryan and Declan Ruth - who also pointed two long-range frees - provided a robust axis. The home crowd love Ryan and he obliged with a number of big catches and surging clearances.
Elsewhere at the back, there were other fine displays. Liam Dunne and Darren Stamp provided finesse on the wings, whereas in the corners David "Doc" O'Connor maintained the form of the summer and newcomer Malachy Travers had an encouraging debut, joining in the spirit and driving clearances up the left wing.
The second goal came in the 18th minute when Mitch Jordan's dropping ball was touched into the net by Larry O'Gorman.
As the ball ricocheted all around the field, Wexford took some nice points, the pick of which was Barry Lambert's stunning effort from the left corner to where he'd moved after a switch with Jordan.
In the maelstrom of Wexford's traditionally direct approach, Tipperary actually picked out some good opportunities. But the shooting was woeful and 12 first-half wides were the evidence. (The quantity in the second half was reduced, but the quality of Mark O'Leary's wide from about 20 metres after he had soloed clear drew baffled comment from English afterwards.)
Paul Kelly tried to inject a bit of urgency into the team, but although Liam Cahill clipped a couple of points before the interval they trailed by nine points, 0-4 to 2-7, at half-time.
For the second half Tipperary took the opportunity to introduce a couple of the A team. John Carroll had made a major impact against Limerick, coming in as a substitute, and Lar Corbett was getting his first run of the league.
They restarted reasonably well and within 10 minutes John O'Brien drove home a goal after the two substitutes had created the opening. That cut the margin to six, but it was as close as Tipp got.
The sides swapped points in more or less equal measure with the irrepressible O'Gorman - who took two goals off Tipperary in the championship last August - snapping two of them to bring his total to 1-4.
The champions brought on Tommy Dunne and John Enright to try to prime the pumps, but although each bagged a couple of points the match never looked like eluding Wexford.
For emphasis, they nicked another goal when Jordan was on hand in injury-time to glance another dropping ball, this time from Lambert, past Rabbitte and off a goalpost and over the line.
Dempsey was pleased afterwards that he had uncovered some new players and discovered some versatility in others - such as Rory Mallon's assured display at centrefield - and happy that the win keeps Wexford in with a shout of the play-offs.
WEXFORD: D Fitzhenry; D O'Connor, D Ryan, M Travers; L Dunne, D Ruth (0-2, both frees), D Stamp; A Fenlon, R Mallon (0-1); D O'Brien (1-2, goal from sideline), D Caulfield, L Murphy; B Lambert (0-4, two frees), L O'Gorman (1-4), M Jordan (1-0).
TIPPERARY: D Rabbitte; T Costello, P Maher, P Ormonde; E Corcoran, D Kennedy, P Kelly; N Morris, E Enright; M O'Leary, M Ryan, J O'Brien (1-1); L Cahill (0-2), E O'Neill (0-1, a free), E Kelly (0-2, frees). Subs: L Corbett for E Kelly (half-time), J Carroll for Enright (half-time), T Dunne (0-2, both frees) for O'Neill (47 mins), J Enright (0-2, one free) for Cahill (54 mins).
Referee: P Neary (Kilkenny).
Wexford ... 3-13
Tipperary ... 1-10
