PREVIEW: Premier class to Tipp the balance

Peter McNamara looks ahead to Sunday's battle between Tipperary and Galway.

PREVIEW: Premier class to Tipp the balance

By Peter McNamara

Ever since Séamus Callanan was denied a potentially title-defining green flag from a penalty against Kilkenny in the All-Ireland SHC final last year, there has always been the sense the Drom & Inch clubman was bound to be on a mission this term.

Séamus Callanan will be key to the outcome of Sunday's game.

He has been. And it has epitomised the attitude and focus of the entire Tipperary unit.

Their journey to the last four of the All-Ireland series has been understated off the field and systematically emphatic on it.

Limerick were swatted aside as if a virtual nonentity while Waterford were subsequently worn down, eventually, by the experience of the Premier County men.

Presently, Eamon O’Shea’s brigade are one leap from another September showpiece with Kilkenny.

Galway, a reconfigured outfit and one that has expanded its scoring capabilities beyond a certain attacker by the name of Joe, represent the blockade to Tipp’s ambitions of lining up alongside Brian Cody’s side once more on the biggest occasion of all.

Joe Canning.

The westerners have been relentlessly bullish regarding their Championship prospects.

In an unusual twist, Anthony Cunningham and co have opted to talk themselves up to the breaches of Cloud Nine and have, thus far, generally backed up their confidence with performances of substance.

Of course, the words ‘Galway’ and ‘substance’ rarely align in any one sentence but maybe the Tribesmen are sick to their teeth of hearing phrases such as ‘perennial underachievers’ and ‘also-rans’. Maybe!

And if so, who could blame them?

Yet, as refreshing as their brazen approach has been, bare form may not be entirely on their side.

Galway dismissed Dublin, in a replay, and Laois but were fended off by Kilkenny before defeating Cork.

However, Dublin’s subsequent exit at the quarter-final juncture to a Déise outfit that would be dumped out by Cody’s charges suggests Cunningham’s team may not be able to take as much from beating the Metropolitans as first thought.

Additionally, the distinct lack of intensity in their game with the Rebels may count against them while tasked with shoving Tipp to one side.

Attackers such as Johnny Glynn and Jason Flynn have alleviated the scoring burden from Canning.

Galway's Jason Flynn.

Andy Smith and David Burke are energetic and marshal the middle-third effectively too.

Still, on Sunday Galway will encounter a challenge unlike what they have seen before, a Tipp side blessed with a balance of power and grace only Kilkenny can match.

O’Shea, particularly, has an unrivalled ability to concoct offensive tactics that has left even the best of Kilkenny’s rearguard baffled previously.

Therefore, it would not surprise one iota to witness Galway’s defenders struggling to come to terms with the interchanging movements of their direct opponents.

Outside of the aforementioned Callanan, John ‘Bubbles’ O’Dwyer and Jason Forde have too responded to O’Shea’s tactical requests and Patrick ‘Bonner’ Maher will run himself into the ground again, no doubt.

The background presence of Noel McGrath, a player that could feature at some point at headquarters, will only serve to intensify Tipp’s motivation levels as well.

If, as he is expected to do, McGrath enters the fray, the stand covers at Croker will be blown off as Tipp begin to turn the screw on Galway.

Cunningham has assembled an outstanding team, and a robust one at that, but Tipp are still further down the road in terms of their collective development.

“We live in the now because it’s the only time we have,” O’Shea has interestingly said today.

Tipp are one step from a coveted final spot. And their time is about to arrive.

Key men: Séamus Callanan/Pádraic Maher

Verdict: Tipperary.

All-Ireland SHC semi-final

Tipperary v Galway

3.30pm, Sunday, Croke Park

more courts articles

Man (25) in court charged with murdering his father and attempted murder of mother Man (25) in court charged with murdering his father and attempted murder of mother
Man appears in court charged with false imprisonment of woman in van Man appears in court charged with false imprisonment of woman in van
Man in court over alleged false imprisonment of woman Man in court over alleged false imprisonment of woman

More in this section

Back-to-back titles for Spioraid Naoimh after win over 14-man Clonakilty Community College Back-to-back titles for Spioraid Naoimh after win over 14-man Clonakilty Community College
Adam O'Sullivan missed final due to Cork U20's upcoming Munster championship Adam O'Sullivan missed final due to Cork U20's upcoming Munster championship
Monaghan v Armagh - Allianz Football League Division 1 Kernan doesn't want return of Armagh 'handcuffs'
Sport Push Notifications

By clicking on 'Sign Up' you will be the first to know about our latest and best sporting content on this browser.

Sign Up
Sport
Newsletter

Latest news from the world of sport, along with the best in opinion from our outstanding team of sports writers

Sign up
Cookie Policy Privacy Policy Brand Safety FAQ Help Contact Us Terms and Conditions

© Examiner Echo Group Limited