A CONTRAST IN dressing-room moods in Semple Stadium.
At half-time yesterday, Michael Ryan considered the bleak outlook for his Tipperary hurling team as they stared at a nine-point deficit against Cork, a week after slipping up in their opener to Limerick.
At full-time the Tipperary boss was enthused after witnessing his team’s comeback to grab a draw after the late intervention of teenager Jake Morris.
A week after opting for silence in the Gaelic Grounds, the 2016 All-Ireland winning supremo was in a talkative mood after his team kept their summer dreams alive.
“Look it was a horrible first-half for us. Cork were all over us and we were literally chasing shadows all over the pitch. We didn’t get to express ourselves or take control of any part of that first half. It was Cork, Cork, Cork.
“We were in dire straits and I’m sure that’s how it looked to ye guys. They had answers for questions we didn’t even ask.”
So then what were the words of inspiration that Ryan imparted at the break to transform a game where they trailed 1-15 to 1-6?
“Some of it can’t be printed,” laughed Ryan.
“But, look, what do you ever say? you’re appealing to the character that’s in them. The majority of that team that we’ve been supported for 10 odd years, they’re made of way better stuff than that.
“To be honest, I just thought that second half effort was a total team effort. Loads of mistakes made but the positives outweighed them. To get back in the mix – and look, we’re the ones who salvaged a draw.
“It feels like a win almost. But it’s not, it’s a draw. We have to be very real about this – there’s a lot of hurling to be played. But we’re still alive.
“We weren’t in the least bit happy at half-time, the bucket was holed everywhere. Only the collective could turn that around and I thought we saw that in spades. They put their bodies on the line, they committed to every single ball.”
Two games in and Tipperary are still chasing their first provincial championship win of 2018. But this result changes the complexion of their Munster run ahead of next Sunday’s trip to the Gaelic Grounds to face Waterford.
Is Ryan still concerned about his team’s form?
“Well, yeah is the honest answer to that. I’d love to have four points at this stage but we don’t. We just have to look ahead, we can’t do anything about last Sunday’s result.
“We’ve just got to fight it out as hard as we possibly can. Any surprises that it’s this tight and ebbing and flowing in the Munster championship? Absolutely not.
“No, we wouldn’t give in – that team would not give in. And it wouldn’t be in our DNA to give in or to accept it. We’ll fight to the very end, to minute 73 or 74 or whatever it takes in the fourth game.
“We will be working as hard as we possibly can trying to stay in this championship and that’s what we are trying to do. And it’s the same as the other four teams in Munster, we are all trying to fight for our lives.”
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They have some neck.
@Patrick Breen: Could still go to the DRA after this and maybe even a court case, who knows?
@Patrick Breen: they’re dead right. Why not just replay the last free again, the idea they have to replay the whole game is a fair solution is madness.
@Paul Mallon: the fact that they blatantly cheated and think they should get away with it is madness.
@Paul Mallon: replay the last free, seriously. So we’ll just make up a new sport..
@Patrick Breen: the more I think about this I’ve changed my mind from it’s 100% a replay to it only warrants a fine! Realistically the chances of a goal with the last kick of the game is unlikely, especially when it’s a 45 with the packed defence fully set up. And it’s telling that the referee allowed the 45 to be taken before the substitutions had been complete properly – Kilmacud will argue that as the subs were not being managed correctly! Players off players on before 45 can take place – clearly ref was going to allow it be taken quickly which added to the panic & confusion. In my view KMc won this game and an extra man on for 24secs over 70+ mins had NO bearing on the outcome. If this was reversed I don’t general public wud be questioning if Glen won it
@BMJF: It’s not really about the likelihood of a goal. Nobody knows what effect the 16th player had, direct or indirect, even as a distraction to the player in possession. The real issue is what happens if there’s no real sanction. Teams will be making substitutions and making sure the player being replaced is at least very slow leaving the pitch. Now we see Glen have pulled out of the appeals process because a replay is unworkable.
@BMJF: especially when it’s an overpacked defence.
@Thomas O’ Donnell: don’t be silly. The GAA will simply learn to make substitutions like every other sporting organisation!! That’s what will happen. Play will pause before a free is taken etc and Players will have to come off before the replacements go on and ref won’t restart the game until they’re in position. It’s not rocket science. GAA should have accepted some responsibility, read their rules and issued a hefty fine the next morning and that would have been the end of it
I’d watch a live stream of that hearing
Hope they throw the book at them and just award the final to the other team.
@Reggie: haha, don’t know about that now Reg. Certainly interested to hear what their grounds for appeal will be though…..seems cut and dried to me that the rule was broken and one of the consequences have been invoked.
The tone of the anti Kilmacud comments is telling. An anti Dub vibe off them. I’m guessing that If this was reversed and Glen had 16 men for 24secs over a 70+ min game, defending a 2point lead with last play of the game, the general public wud be saying that on balance Glen should remain the winners, and that the extra man for 24 secs didn’t really impact the outcome! But because it’s a big Dub club everyone has knickers in a knot!!
If GAA had issued a fine quickly I think Glen would have accepted the result , as their manager did straight after the game
@BMJF: I would say the opposite, the Ulster team (as always) are being portrayed as the bad guys here… maybe I’m wrong
Kilmacud won fair and square on the field of play. Glen will be looked upon as sore losers. There’s no way Kilmacud will replay the match. They are prepared to hand the cup over to Glen. If the Glen club wants to avoid the lasting legacy of poor losers they really should withdraw the objection and gear themselves up to trying to win the title next year on the field of play. That would give the club a lot of respect.
@Brendan Daniel Naughton: ‘fair and square’, hahahaha, are you well.
Great stuff