1. Will Brian Cody’s formidable replay record continue?
SINCE CODY TOOK the reigns in Kilkenny and turned them into the most dominant team in the land, replays have been their specialty. They’ve played five and won four. The only defeat arrived in the 2013 Leinster semi-final replay against Dublin.
The Cats were involved in two drawn All-Ireland finals in the last four years, winning both. Cody doesn’t have a sports psychologist working with the squad, instead taking it upon himself to influence the minds in his camp.
“In my opinion, a manager must always apply his own psychology to a situation because he knows his players and their mindset and the circumstances which made them what they are,” he once said.
Cody’s real talent for replays is in recognising what went wrong the first day and suitably adjusting the second day out.
2. Can Waterford find a goal?
The only thing that was missing from Waterford’s display on Sunday was a goal. The kept their wide count to a reasonable 10, while man of the match Pauric Mahony nailed every one of his placed balls.
But Waterford’s failure to find the net and put Kilkenny away ultimately cost them. They left the door slightly ajar and before they knew it Walter Walsh had the sliotar dispatched past Stephen O’Keeffe.
TJ Reid’s goal in last year’s semi-final swung the game in Kilkenny’s favour. Walsh’s three-pointer had a similar effect last Sunday. A goal for the Deise would be worth so much more than what it contributes to the scoreboard.
3. Will Galway get their match-ups right again?
Michael Donoghue showed his tactical acumen in the quarter-final win over Clare. It’s easy to forget now that the Tribesmen were outsiders to win that game.
Ger Loughnane provided the Galway players with plenty of motivation with his “gutless” comments, but they won the game because Donoghue got his match-ups spot-on on the day.
Johnny Coen lined out around the middle as did Joe Canning before dropping very deep to protect the lead. Aidan Harte’s selection as a sweeper gained the manager plaudits.
Tipperary’s attack brings a different threat than Clare. They like to go direct and will ask different questions of the Galway rearguard. Donoghue will have to keep a close eye on Seamus Callanan, who almost handily beat Galway last year with his tally of 3-9.
Daithi Burke may find himself following Callanan on man-marking duties.
4. How will Tipperary adapt to the 5-week break?
Tipperary come into this game facing a couple of challenges. They’ve yet to be truly put to the pin of their collars in the championship. How would this team react to going five points behind? We may well find out tomorrow.
It’s been 11 years since a county won the Munster and All-Ireland titles in the same year. The five-week gap has caused big problems for sides from the southern province in All-Ireland semi-finals in recent seasons.
Tipperary (2015 and 2012), Cork (2014) and Limerick (2013) all failed to make it to the All-Ireland decider. From ’14 to ’12, the Munster champions lost those semi-finals by a combined total of 35 points.
Ten of the last 16 Munster champions have fallen at the last four. That’s the big test facing the Premier County.
5. Will the Premier prove they are the real deal?
On paper, Tipperary appear to be motoring along nicely in the championship. They’ve a very settled team, made all the more physical by the changes Micheal Ryan has brought about this year, with Michael Breen proving to be a powerhouse in midfield.
Defensively, Tipperary have shored things up and they’ve conceded just one goal in their three championship games so far. This Tipperary side has flourished under Ryan’s direct approach in attack, highlighted by their 21-point mauling of Waterford in the Munster final.
With Kilkenny looking far removed from their great sides of the past under Cody, Tipperary know they’ve an massive opportunity to win a first Liam MacCarthy Cup since 2010. Time to show just how good they really are.
