IN THE 2001 All-Ireland final, we faced a Hercules-type figure in the form of Galway’s Joe Rabbitte.
Here was a guy who could win primary possession and bring other players into the game.
We knew that Galway would place Joe on our own Paul Ormond, as Paul wasn’t as tall.
And so if Joe won primary possession, our tactic was to have two bodies around him and swarm the Galway bulwark as he tried to make progress with ball in hand.
It was a bit like conceding possession at the lineout in rugby and then attacking the ball carrier.
I don’t think that Joe was ever blown as much for overcarrying.
There was one ball he caught with 15 or 20 minutes left and we got bodies around him.
The referee blew for a free out and it lifted our crowd.
Joe banged the hurley off the ground in frustration and gave out to the ref. It was a huge moment psychologically and these are the tactics that Tipp should employ against Johnny Glynn in Sunday’s semi-final.
The problem for a big man is that if he doesn’t get the chance to build up a head of steam, he’s left isolated and the ref will give a free out.
These are the little victories during the course of 70 minutes that add up to the bigger package.
It could be a hook or a block on Joe Canning too but there’s massive pressure now on Glynn’s shoulders.
He’s still very young and won’t be used to this level of attention and expectation now resting on his shoulders.
Still, I thought his post-match reaction and dropping the F-bomb after the Cork game was telling.
We gained an insight into the thinking of the other Galway forwards. They’re now fed up with Joe being centre stage and this is what has ignited the Galway revival after the Leinster final defeat to Kilkenny.
The other Galway forwards now believe that it’s their time, not Joe’s.
It’s not something they’ll talk about within the group but there’s something buried in the heads of these players. ‘I can be better than Joe, there’s more than him playing and I’m going to show you.’
As a result, we’ve seen exciting young forwards coming in and making their mark, the likes of Glynn, Cathal Mannion, Jason Flynn and Conor Whelan.
Even Cyril Donnellan has assumed more a leadership role this summer. They’re fed up of the media and the public obsessing about Joe. Everywhere they go the question is ‘how will Joe play on Sunday?’
They’d rather be asked how they will go themselves and that kind of thing can grate like a stone in your shoe.
Joe is still the main man but if he wants to be mentioned in the same conversation as Henry Shefflin or Eoin Kelly, he will have to bring consistency to his game.
He’s now in a position where other forwards are playing well and that means defenders have more players to watch.
That suggests to me that it’s now or never for Joe, there can be no excuses.
Before, he was the only Galway forward worth talking about but now other household names are popping up around him.
That should free up more space for Joe and he can’t have any complaints about being double-marked or coming in for special attention.
For many, this game will bring back memories of the 2010 All-Ireland quarter-final, when the counties last met at Croke Park in the championship.
Five years ago, we beat Galway because we had more belief in ourselves – and that allowed us to make better decisions under pressure.
We came from two points down in the closing minutes to win by one.
As the stewards walk around the pitch to take up their positions for full-time, that signals panic in most teams. It’s a sign that the game is drawing to a conclusion.
This is when a close championship match is won and lost. It’s a signal to a player that his time in the championship is nearly up.
The sight of those orange and yellow bibs can lead to better or worse decision-making in key moments. That day, we made better decisions and we won the match.
This time, many are expecting a high-scoring shootout.
We thought the same last year when Tipp met Cork but the Tipp defence brought an aggression that Cork couldn’t cope with.
I’m sure both of Sunday’s backlines will have something similar in their mind, looking to bring increased levels of intensity and aggression.
More so than last year, goals will be a deciding factor. As spectators, we might have to live with the frustration of watching players go for goal when they get within 30 yards of the opposition’s goal.
They won’t be content with taking points, even though fans will be wondering why a player didn’t take the handy score.
Both managers will instruct their teams to go for the jugular and the clear edict from Eamon O’Shea and Anthony Cunningham will be to hunt for goals.
This leads us to the prospect of either team playing a sweeper.
When you’re not used to playing with one, it can be very difficult to change.
If Galway go down this road, they can potentially nullify the impact of ‘Bonner’ Maher.
This happened in the Munster final when Waterford’s Tadhg de Búrca clogged the channels that Bonner loves to attack.
Galway will be hoping that Iarla Tannian will be that man but Tipp have proved that they can unlock the sweeper system.
Does this deter or encourage Anthony Cunningham to employ a spare man? The problem is, however, that you can only contain an opponent with a sweeper system, you cannot overcome.
The use of the bench will also prove a deciding factor, and both teams are as strong as each other in this regard.
Lar Corbett had a huge impact in the Munster final when he came on and was involved in three scores.
Galway have plenty of players that they can call upon too and Conor Whelan was parachuted in from nowhere for a start against Cork, providing a real X Factor.
For the managers, O’Shea and Cunningham, this is a massive game.
O’Shea has already decided to pass the baton to Michael Ryan at the end of the season but Michael will be left on a sticky wicket if Tipp fail to reach this All-Ireland final.
In the other dugout, defeat for Cunningham would leave him staring into the abyss if it all goes wrong for Galway once again at Croke Park.
I’m backing Tipp to get the job done because their potential matchwinners have been showing more consistency under pressure.
That’s why my head and heart is edging towards Tipp. ‘Bubbles’ O’Dwyer, Seamus Callanan and Lar, off the bench, will have too much for Galway.
