WHAT A DIFFERENCE 70 minutes can make. On their way into Thurles yesterday, Tipperary hurling fans didn’t quite know what to expect.
There was some wailing and gnashing of teeth last Friday evening when manager Michael Ryan’s first championship team was announced.
Four debutants were included. One of them, John McGrath, was a shoo-in on the back of an impressive League campaign and Seamus Kennedy’s inclusion had been flagged last week.
But Sean Curran and Dan McCormack were also handed starts, as previously established stars such as Patrick ‘Bonner’ Maher, Jason Forde and Niall O’Meara had to make do with spots on the bench.
Kennedy slotted at right-half-back once it became clear that Barry Heffernan would be ruled out with concussion. Ryan could have moved Brendan Maher back there, and played Kieran Bergin in midfield, or handed Bergin the number 5 shirt.
He didn’t, he went with Kennedy and the man who played senior championship football for Tipp last year didn’t put a foot wrong.
In attack, Curran and McCormack worked their socks off and their efforts ensured that Cork’s half-back line could never create a platform from which to build attacks.
In came Forde to score a point, ditto Bergin, while O’Meara and ‘Bonner’ Maher were also introduced.
That’s a pretty impressive bench to call upon and Ryan now finds himself in the pleasant position where he has over 20 players competing for 15 starting slots.
Ryan’s selection was brave and bold, in keeping with his promise last year that Tipp would be more direct under his watch and bring more physicality to their play. It was also in line with our prediction that he wouldn’t be afraid to ruffle a few feathers in the quest for success.
Any of the aforementioned players left out of his starting line-up can’t have been happy at being omitted. If they were, there’s something seriously wrong. As our headline suggests, Ryan now has his players exactly where he wants them.
He’s rewarding players on form and form alone. Reputation and what’s gone in the past counts for nothing. The 15 who started on Sunday know they need to maintain those high levels to stay involved.
Those on the outside looking in realise they must redouble their efforts in an attempt to break in. Ryan stated as much in his post-match interview:
We have a very committed, honest, hard-working bunch in there, each of them fighting for their dear lives to get some time on the pitch, or stay on the pitch as the case may be.”
Players who had underperformed throughout the League flourished. Captain Brendan Maher enjoyed his best game in ages while John ‘Bubbles’ O’Dwyer stepped up to the plate in attack.
Seamus Callanan missed the vast majority of the League injured and after returning for the latter stages of that campaign, there were some concerns about his form.
But Callanan’s a proven championship player and he delivered once again in a pressurised situation.
Cork’s defensive game-plan was obviously designed to upset the Drom & Inch forward but time and time again, he still managed to break clear of Damien Cahalane’s shackles.
Could young John McGrath step up and deliver on a championship Sunday? Of course he could. He may have scored just a point from play but Christy O’Connor’s statistics indicated just how much of an influence the Loughmore-Castleiney player exerted.
One swallow doesn’t make a summer, of course. Cork were poor, desperately poor, but as the old saying goes, Tipp could only beat what was put in front of them.
And Ryan was defiant at full-time, insisting that Tipp’s sights are firmly set on summer silverware.
His post-match quotes were far more positive than we had heard from him during the League, when he spoke about how Tipp would learn more from defeat. His musings at the time were construed as defeatist but now, Tipp will learn from victory and push on to Limerick on 19 June.
Of course, Ryan realises that Tipperary fans are a demanding lot.
His stock is high now but would plummet if Tipp don’t clear their next hurdle and book a provincial final against Clare or Waterford.
But he insisted: “Look, we’re never too concerned about external comment, really and truly.
“We’re far more concerned about how happy we are with the level of work that’s taking place here, the level of progress that’s taking place within the squad.
But look, there’s no denying a win in a Munster Championship is essential. We didn’t want to be in a situation where we were going to have to wait for draws and wait for qualifiers. It’s not part of the plan.
“The plan for us is just to try and keep winning match by match and get the most we can out of this Munster Championship, including competing in the final and win the final.
“We’re very open about what are aims are here and that is to keep winning.”
So far, so good, but the bigger tests lie in store. Ryan knows it but he has a group of players who will fight tooth and nail over the next four weeks to make sure they’re in the starting team for the visit of Limerick to Thurles.
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Mcgrath Best Furlong Ryan Toner Cj O’brien Heaslip Murray Jackson Earls Henshaw Ringrose Trimble Zebo
https://media.giphy.com/media/GjYjLvGErsggg/giphy.gif
I STILL think Kearney shouldn’t be starting
Team I would go with …
McGrath, Best, Furlong
Ryan, Toner
Stander, Heaslip, SOB
Murray
Jackson
Trimble, Henshaw, Ringrose, Earls
Zebo
R: N Scannell, Healy, Bealham, Henderson, JvdF, Marmion, R Scannell, O’Halloran
In terms of the team that will start Joe will go with that first 15, bar Kearney at FB. On the bench he’ll probably go with Treacy, Keatley & Zebo instead of the brothers Scannell & O’Halloran.
He loves Kearney can’t see him being dropped
Zebo isn’t coming off the bench. Either 11 or 15
@John Kelly: I was going to post my team but this is pretty much it.
I think its a toss up between this team and Kearney at FB with Zebo on the wing and Earls on the bench
McGrath, Best, Furlong
Henderson, toner,
VDF, Heaslip, Cj stander,
Murray, Jackson
Henshaw, Ringrose,
Earls, OHalloran , Zebo.
1. McGrath
2. Best
3. Furlong
4. Toner
5. Ryan
6. Stander
7. VDF
8. Headlip
9. Murray
10. Jackson
11. Earls
12. Henshaw
13. Ringrose
14. Zebo
15. O’Halloran
McGrath Best Furlong Toner Ryan Stander O Brien Heaslip Murray Jackson Trimble Henshaw Ringrose Zebo O Halloran.
1. McGrath 2. Best 3. Furlong 4. Ryan 5. Toner 6. Stander 7. Van den flier 8. Heaslip 9. Murray 10. Jackson 11. Zebo 12. Henshaw 13. Ringrose 14. Trimble 15. O’Halloran 16. N Scannell 17. Healy 18. Ryan 19. Henderson 20. O’Brien 21. Marmion 22. R Scannell 23. Earls
1 Jack m
2 Rory B
3 T Furlong
4 toner
5 Ryan
6 CJ
7 SOB
8 Heaslip
9 Murray
10 Jackson
11 Earls
12 Scannell
13 henshaw
14 Trimble
15zebo
Bench Scannell, Healy, John Ryan, Henderson, JVDF, Marmion, Keatly. Ringrose
O halloran, zebo, ringrose, Henshaw, Earls, Jackson, Murray, heaslip, vdf, stander, toner, Ryan, furlong, best, ma grath
McGrath, Best, Furlong
Henderson, Toner
Stander, Heaslip, SOB
Murray
Jackson
Zebo, Henshaw, Ringrose, Earls
O’Halloran
R: Scannell, Healy, Bealham, Ryan, JvdF, Marmion, Scannell, Trimble
1. Tiernan O’Halloran
2. Andrew Trimble
3. Garry Ringrose
4. Robbie Henshaw
5. Simon Zebo
6. Paddy Jackson
7. Conor Murray
8. Jack McGrath
9. Rory Best
10. Tadgh Furlong
11. Billy Holland
12. Dan Leavy
13. Jamie Heaslip
14. Keith Earls
15. Ian Keatley
16. Cian Healy
17. Finlay Bealham
Great half back combo , and the centres will be hard to stop on a crash ball .
I love that phrase “crash ball” Always reminds me of Kevin Maggs for some reason.
1 McGrath
2 best
3 furlong
4 dillane
5 Henderson
6 Stander
7 VDF
8 Heaslip
9 Murray
10 Jackson
11 Earls
12 Henshaw
13 Ringrose
14 Trimble
15 Zebo
16 Scannell
17 Healy
18 Bealham
19 Ryan/ Toner
20 SOB
21 Marmion
22 Scannell
23 O’Halloran
It absolutely amazes me that you think we should drop our best second row for Iain Henderson (who barely plays at all) and Dillane (who’s been injured for a while now)
Now 2nd rows need to be more athletic. In my opinion Toner offers nothing else other than a line out option. In the 6Ns you have Itoje, Kruis and Johnny Gray all extremely athletic and mobile 2nd rows. In my opinion Ireland should go with Dillane and Henderson due to their mobility and athleticism but saying that I do think Schmidt will go with Toner and Ryan
I’m meant to be working so don’t really have the time to reply to that, but this article pretty much sums it up for me
https://dementedmole.com/2017/01/08/ireland-second-rows-in-2016-the-post-paul-oconnell-era/
And I should be studying for my Leaving
Oisin if your right and toner and Ryan offer nothing apart from lineout ( our major source of tries) why may I ask will joe pick those two statues?
Wow excellent article
Kearney will start as he generally delivers for Joe. I’d be one of his biggest critics but in fairness he delivered against NZ. Ryan and SOB will start imo with Henderson and vdf coming off the bench around 50mins to inject pace into game
About 40 comments and McCloskey hasn’t even been mentioned as a bench option. Ulster have been terrible but McCloskey has performed better than most. Not sure I’d start him over Ringrose but considering the calls for him 12 months ago I’m surprised he hasn’t even been named.
Johnny 5 we have 3 centres playing better and for winning teams. RS is the only player who’s got a chance of breaking the partnership of henshaw and ringrose.
@Johnny 5: Boooo! McCloskey’s defensive errors were woeful against Clermont, always coming out too quick, not drifting, and he certainly didn’t imrpove on his mistakes when playing against Exeter.
My advice to McCloskey, lose the top not and try to get some advice from Andy Farrell
O halloran earls ringrose hesnhaw zebo Jackson Murray stander VDF SOB Henderson Toner furlong best McGrath
McGrath, Best, Furlong,Toner, Henderson, Stander, SOB, Heaslip, Murray, Earls, Henshaw, Ringrose, Zebo, O’Halloran
Any 10?
Popplewell-wood-claw-o’connell-mc bride- o’brien-slattery-foley Murray-campbell-geoghean-gibson- O’driscoll-ringland-o’reilly.
@sean byrne: Campbell for Kyle, are you mad?
McLaughlin, Wood, Millar, O’Connell, McBride, J O’Driscoll, Slattery, Duggan, Murray (on form, needs to do it consistantly for legend status), Kyle, T O’Reilly, Gibson, O’Driscoll, Ringland, T Kiernan.
1. McGrath, 2. Best 3. Furlong, 4. Ryan, 5. Toner 6. Stander 7. O’Brien 8. Heaslip 9. Murray 10. Jackson. 11. Zebo 12. Henshaw 13. Ringrose 14. Trimble 15. O’Halloran 16. Healy 17. Scannell 18. Ryan 19. Henderson 20. Van der Flier 21. Marmion 22. Scannell 23. Earls
Team I want:
mcgrath, best, furlong
toner, hendo
stander, heaslip, van der flier
murray, jackson
marshall, henshaw
earls zebo trimble
scannel, finly, ryan, dillane, o’brien, marmion, scannel, kearney
Team that will be picked:
mcgrath, best, furlong
toner, ryan
stander, heaslip, van der flier
murray, jackson
henshaw, ringrose
zebo kearney trimble
scannel, healy, finly, hendo, o’brien, marmion, scannel, earls
Stick to the Fulham Dacourt!
1 McGrath 2 Best 3 Furlong 4 Ryan 5 Toner 6 Stander 7 O’Brian 8 Henderson 9 Murry 10 Jackson 11 Earls 12 Henshaw 13 Ringrose 14 Trimble 15 Zebo 16 N Scannel 17 Healy 18 Belham 19 Henderson 20 VanDeflier 21Marmion 22 R Scannel 23 Kearny
Henderson will start , we need at least one 2nd row who can carry the ball forward and make defensive hits . And at 6ft 7in tall he’s a great lineout option.
1 Mc Grath
2 Best
3 Furlong
4 Toner
5 Ryan
6 Stander
7 Van Der Flier
8 Heaslip
9 Murray
10 Jackson
11 Earls
12 Henshaw
13 Ringrose
14 Trimble
15 Zebo
16 Scanell
17 Healy
18 Ryan
19 Henderson
20 O Brien
21 Mc Grath
22 Keatley
23 Kearney
McGrath, Best, Furlong Toner, Ryan Stander, SOB, Heaslip Murray Jackson Henshaw, Ringrose Earls, Trimble Zebo R. Scannel, Healy, Bealham, Henderson, JVDF, Marmion, Scannel, TOH
McGrath, Best, Furlong, Toner, D Ryan, Heaslip, Stander & O’Brien
Jackson & Murray
15 Kearney, 14 Zebo,13 Henshaw, 12 McCloskey & 11 Trimble (12 is likely to be Ringrose)
Subs: Healy, Tracy, J Ryan, Henderson, van der Flier, Ringrose, Marmion, Keatley (if Ringrose starts Earls on the bench)
N Scannell and Conan to get opportunities over the course of the championship. It’s a pity Byrne and O’Loughlin didn’t get a shot ahead of Gilroy and Bowe (past form vs current form)
Treacy doesnt even start for leinster why would he make irelands subs?
I say the only real choices are:
Who partners Toner in Second Row?
Trimble v O’Halloran…
I think it is fair to say that Schmidt is looking at the Henshaw-Ringrose center pairing…
The Front Row is nailed down… Back row of CJ, Heaslip, SOB is one of the strongest in the world… The All Blacks would fear them…
I would loved a winger like Healy or Kelleher… A guy with real gas… Gilroy has a fair bit…
1. Healy
2. Best
3.J. Ryan
4.Henderson
5.Toner
6.Stander
7. Van der Flier
8. Heaslip
9. Murray
10. Jackson
11. Earls
12. Mccloskey
13. Henshaw
14. Bowe
15. Zebo
16. Tracey. 21. L. Mcgrath
17. Mcgrath 22. R. Scannell
18. Furlong. 23. O’ Halloran
19. D. Ryan
20. Conan
I had a look at who started in previous games, if schmidt hasnt changed his mind in the last few months then the depth chart is:
15: kearney, Zebo, OHalloran
14/11: Trimble, Earls/Zebo, Gilroy, the rest(Z started vs NZ, but E started the last game vs Aus)
13: Ringrose, Marshall
12: Henshaw, McCloskey/Scannell
10: Jackson, Keatley/Scannell
9: Murray, Marmion, McGrath
8: Heaslip, CJ, Conan
7: SOB, VDF, TOD
6: CJ, POM, Leavy
5/4: Toner, Ryan, Henderson, Dillane, Holland
3: Furlong, Bealham, Ryan
2: Cronin, Tracy, Scannell
1: McGrath, Healy, Kilcoyne
Again, this is purely based on who Schmidt picked in previous games. Not based on my own preferences
McGrath Best Furlong Toner Ryan Stander O Brien Heaslip Murray Sexton Earls Henshaw Ringrose Trimble Zebo Bench Scannell Healy Ryan Henderson O mahony Marmion Jackson Bowe
No sexton scannell 22 and Jackson 10 and van den flier on the bench
Looks like Trimble might be out though.
15. Zebo
14. Earls
13. Ringrose
12. Henshaw
11. Trimble
10. Jackson
9. Murray
1. McGrath
2. Best
3. Furlong
4. Toner
5. Ryan
6. SOB
7. VDF
8. Stander
16. N Scannell
17. Healy
18. Bealham
19. Dillane
20. Heaslip
21. Marmion
22. R Scannell
23. O’Halloran
Healy,
Scannell
kilcoyne
Dillane
Henderson
Van der Flier
ODonnell
Conan
Marmion
Jackson
Bowe
mcLoskey
gilroy,
Trimble
OHalloran
Reinstate the Probables V Possibles match!!
Zebo, Bowe, Trimble, Ringrose, Henshaw, Jackson, Murray, Heaslip, Stander, O’brien, Toner, Henderson, Furlong, Best, Mcgrath
15-Zebo
14-Trimble
13-Ringrose
12-Henshaw
11-Earls
10-Jackson
9-Murray
1-McGrath
2-Best
3-Furlong
4-Henderson
5-Toner
6-Stander
7-O’Brien
8-Heaslip
16-Tracy
17-Healy
18-Bealham
19-Dillane
20-van der Flier
21-Marmion
22-Keatley
23-O’Halloran
1. McGrath, 2.Best, 3. Furlong
4. Toner, 5.Ryan
6. Stander, 7. O’Brien, 8. Heaslip
9. Murray, 10. Jackson 11. Zebo 12. Henshaw 13. Ringrose 14. Earls 15. Kearney
Replacements;
Treacy, Belham, Healy
Henderson, J VDF,
Marmian, Scannell, O’Halloran
Dillane & Trimble not fully fit so I’m ruling both out. A chance that Zebo starts at 15 with Bowe at 14 to add some experience & no place for Kearney