The match at Walsh Park turned out to be quite a spectacle last Saturday, despite several instances of errors and numerous wides. In its final moments, the game was still up for grabs. It was a shocker when Waterford had a four-point lead in extra time, making a Tipperary comeback seem far-fetched.
However, Seán Keneally managed to score a well-executed goal during injury time. Subsequently, a free was granted to Alan Tynan by James Owens, who suspectly had an erratic match. Despite Tipperary adeptly earning it by maintaining ball possession and applying defence pressure, it’s dubious whether the free would have been given at another point during the match.
On evaluating the overall gameplay, Tipperary was perhaps fortunate to have secured a draw. Waterford seemed to have the upper hand at several junctures in the game and exhibited a consistent capability to score goals, maintaining a three-point lead.
Tipperary’s lack of threat against the goal until the critical injury-time was striking, save for an effort by Darragh Stakelum in the opening half. Comparatively, they demonstrated a commendable fighting spirit during the match, especially in generating points to keep up with the goal-scoring rivals.
Their resilience alone would make it difficult to deny them the draw. Ronan Maher was exceptionally strong, particularly in the latter half, though Mikey Kiely also had his moments. The competition was fierce around the middle, with Waterford likely winning that battle and establishing their platform.
Tipperary succumbed to a penalty almost instantly and would’ve been disappointed with the decision consistency as their player, Mark Kehoe didn’t get a similar penalty shout to Kiely’s.
The unusual incident of the referee crossing Barry Hogan’s line of vision in the Tipperary goal area during the penalty was quite an eye-catcher. Stephen Bennett was on such a roll that even a retake may not have impacted the result. This peculiar event could have ended differently if Bennett had attempted on the other side, possibly hitting James Owens.
In the aftermath of noteworthy performances against Cork, Tadhg De Búrca and Calum Lyons once again proved their skill and determination, even amidst the alarming early accidental harm to Conor Prunty, who left only seven minutes into play. Prunty has been instrumental to Waterford regaining their top form owing to the defensive stability he provides. There may be regret about the missed score here, particularly with challenging visits to Ennis and Limerick on the horizon.
Waterford’s league game versus Wexford was the initial indication of the Leinster team’s progress. I recall engaging in conversation with folks from Wexford around the time of the Cheltenham festival, commenting on the promising signs – emerging talent and robust physical condition.
The two terribly underwhelming championship games prior to the weekend, where they squandered significant advantages against Dublin and Antrim (a precarious proposition), made Saturday’s contests in Wexford imperative. The team, to their credit, executed a splendid counter-reaction.
As the contest reached its conclusion, Galway fielded Jonathan Glynn and Jason Flynn as the chief forwards, reminiscent of a desperate “Back to the Future” manoeuvre. Their trajectory is increasingly difficult to decipher, as they no longer resemble All-Ireland contenders, and even the prospect of a Leinster final is far from certain.
Throughout the day, their puck deliveries faced intense pressure due to players not adequately presenting themselves for the ball, causing mounting frustration for Henry Shefflin. The decisive blow came when Adrian Tuohey intercepted a puck delivery on the stand side, only to be hooked by the incredible Rory O’Connor, who subsequently scored.
Both O’Connor and Lee Chin outclassed Galway in the entirety of the game, demonstrating true leadership. Damien Reck also exhibited command in defensive roles, and they welcomed the return of seasoned players like Liam Ryan and Jack O’Connor.
Their relentless pressure under every ball had the opposition on the ropes, and they hardly seemed in trouble by the game’s end.
Despite having the wind in their favour in the latter half, Galway couldn’t withstand Wexford’s timely breakthrough. Rory O’Connor’s goal, with an assist from the skillful Richie Lawlor, extended their lead, maintaining it comfortably till the last quarter even after Cian Byrne’s dismissal due to a reckless high challenge. It was challenging to discern who had the player advantage.
Initially, Galway appeared considerably threatening, with Conor Whelan and Brian Concannon particularly standing out. However, as the match progressed, Concannon was substituted out, and Whelan, despite a few decent scores, became less integral to the action, a marked change from his usual role as key player when he and the team operate at their optimum.
There’s considerable tumult in Leinster and Wexford can enter the remaining round-robin phase with confidence. Based on their past performances against Kilkenny, they could be serious challengers for the final. If that’s not achievable, the All-Ireland stages could be within their reach.