1. McGrath double act takes flight
THERE’S SOMETHING MAGICAL about a pair of brothers lighting up a game together in their county colours.
Hurling is no stranger to a talented set of siblings. The Dooleys, the Rackards, the Lohans, the Bennis’ and the Whelahans are some of the legendary family names that have gone into small ball folklore.
In recent years the sport has given us Michael and Colin Fennelly, Ollie and Joe Canning, Ben and Jerry O’Connor, Sean Óg and Setanta Ó hAilpín and Padraic and Ronan Maher.
But it’s been quite some time since we’ve witnessed an attacking duo like Noel and John McGrath. Noel has been on the scene since 2009, winning an All-Star and Young Hurler of the Year in his debut campaign at just 18.
John was 21 by the time he broke into the Tipp senior side at the start of 2016, but he’s been in electric form ever since. The duo share an intuitive understanding on the field and when they catch fire it’s like watching poetry in motion.
That was the case in Nowlan Park today, as they scored 2-2 apiece from play.
Noel’s scoring rate has significantly improved since John joined him in the Premier attack. It can’t be a coincidence.
Just wait until younger brother Brian, who captained Tipp minors to All-Ireland glory last September, joins the senior ranks. Three McGraths sharing the field is a frightening prospect.
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2. Tipperary eventually strike gold
With ten minutes to play, Wexford were two points down. They had the momentum and the wind at their backs.
Tipperary looked to be going through the motions at times and the 19,000-strong crowd began to believe an upset was on the cards.
Like any great team would, Tipperary sensed danger and put the game out of sight. They simply clicked through the gears and blitzed Wexford in a devastating five-minute spell.
Bang. Bang. Game over.
The Premier posted an unanswered 2-4 in a devastating spell ebtweeen the 59th and 65th minute. Here’s out it played out:
- 59 mins - Ronan Maher collects a long Wexford clearance and delivers a booming pass to the edge of the D. It breaks to Dan McCormack who draws a defender as John McGrath wheels away unmarked to his right. McCormack pass is accurate and McGrath’s finish rattles the net. Tipp lead by 5.
- 61 mins - Padraic Maher intercepts an angled ball into the Wexford full-forward line and drives the ball 80 metres down the field. McCormack gathers possession and feeds the onrushing Noel McGrath who splits the posts. Tipp lead by 6.
- 62 mins - The Wexford puck-out falls kindly to Jason Forde and the midfielder picks out John McGrath in oceans of space at midfield. Another point. Tipp lead by 7.
- 63 mins – Another Wexford puck-out goes astray and Michael Cahill’s clearance finds Bubbles O’Dwyer on the left flank. O’Dwyer arrows a tantalising ball on top of Noel McGrath at the edge of the square. Seconds later the umpire is reaching for his green flag. Tipp lead by 10.
- 64 mins - Liam Ryan sends a long-range effort wide for Wexford. Darren Gleeson’s restart is plucked from the sky by John McGrath on the 45. He turns and fires over. Tipp lead by 11.
- 65 mins - Cahill works hard to disposses David Dunne in the middle and neatly flicks the ball into the path of O’Dwyer, who arrives on the scene at pace. O’Dwyer manages to twist his body as he collects the sliotar and leave two defenders in his wake. His shot flies the bar. Tipp lead by 12.
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3. Wexford mix the good and the bad
Wexford needn’t be overly negative leaving Nowlan Park tonight. Sure, they went down by 11 points, but closer examination of the game will show plenty of positives for Davy Fitzgerald to take from the game.
Tipperary are out on their own as the best team in the land and Wexford pushed them hard for an hour.
It’s been an extremely productive league campaign for Fitzgerald’s men and the experience of going toe-to-toe with the Premier will stand them in good stead later in the summer.
That five-minute blitzkrieg says as much about Tipperary’s fire-power as it does Wexford’s defence.
On the other hand, conceding five goals and 5-17 from play raises question marks about the efficiency of Wexford operating with a sweeper. From the 59th minute to the finish, Wexford were outscored by 3-6 to 1-3.
For a team who had far more fitness work done than their opponents, that’s a worry statistic. Then again, you also have to factor in the quality of subs Michael Ryan could bring in comparison to his opposite number.
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4. Contrast in creativity stakes
Galway produced a miraculous finish to defeat Waterford in the quarter-final, but their win today was a far more straightforward affair.
The winning of this game boiled down to the gulf in class between Galway’s forward unit and Limerick’s attack.
The Shannonsiders hit 17 wides in total and they struggled to deal with Galway’s physicality at either end of the field. While Barry Nash had a positive impact from the bench, they had just 1-9 on the board by the 56th minute and the game was as good as over.
Limerick posted just 1-6 from play in the 70 minutes.
In contrast eight different players scored , Conor Cooney picked off 1-4 in an efficient display, while Joe Canning clipped over a seven-point haul without ever needed to get out of second gear. Cathal Mannion finished the game with 0-4, while Conor Whelan added a brace off the bench.
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5. Who needs to win the league final more?
It’s an interesting question. Tipperary are a team on a mission this year and last September’s Liam MacCarthy success hasn’t been enough to quench their thirst for silverware.
Retaining the All-Ireland is top of their agenda in 2017, but picking up a league crown on the way is good for business. The great Kilkenny side of the last decade used league titles as a springboard to attack the summer and Tipperary will view it as a chance to do likewise.
After a stop-start league campaign, a victory on the national stage would really ignite their championship prospects. Galway have beaten Kilkenny and Tipperary in the championship over the past five years, but have failed to lift the All-Ireland.
They would really benefit from winning the league and it would give them enourmous belief if they face the All-Ireland champions later down the line.
Only a point seperated these teams in the 2015 and 2016 All-Ireland semi-finals. We’re in for another intruiging battle.
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