
They sometimes say in sport that you should never go back to a club that you have served before. It may be only January but this was a chastening loss for Galway in Pearse Stadium.
Tipperary fully deserved this win. Their work rate, hunger and ability to create space with effective distribution from the middle third to the fore as ten Tipperary players registered scores.
January in Salthill Pearse Stadium is quite the experience. It is a combination of keeping concentrated on proceedings while trying to stay warm from the Atlantic Ocean breeze coming off Galway Bay.
The rain abated but there was a significant breeze that Tipperary enjoyed in the opening period. Galway started well with points from Fahy and Lohan but once Tipperary found their inside full forward line, the dynamics of the game shifted.
Darragh McCarthy finished with 1-6 to his name. An exciting talent and a deadly accurate free taker. His penalty was emphatic. Dylan Walsh lively throughout and was fouled for the McCarthy penalty goal.
Tipperary perhaps should have been further ahead as the middle third dominated. Wille Connors impressive with his distribution and running from deep. His three points haul is a good season statement of intent.
Galway only seven points down at the break were dealt with a body blow as Gearoid O’Connor pulled on the ball to score Tipperary’s second goal. The goal knocked the spirit out of Galway quite quickly which will be duly noted by new management.
Tipperary continued to control affairs in the middle third. Ronan Maher orchestrating at half-back. Connors impressive in the midfield area. All the half-back line scored during this fixture. Tipperary’s forward line movement posed too many issues for an overworked Galway defense.
Tipperary’s inside full forward line threatened another goal and it came as the impressive Dylan Walsh fired past a beleaguered Eanna Murphy with ruthless efficiency.
Galway did close out the game with two late goals from McLaughlin and Fleming but the spirit and work rate of the players on duty for Galway was below the standards required. A bad day for the Galway players looking to impress management.
Tipperary showed massive appetite for the battle today in difficult pitch conditions. Liam Cahill will be pleased with the result and another win against Wexford would create a solid platform to allow management to experiment further in the league.
The task that awaited Michael O’Donoghue was significant. This performance from Galway today after some decent prep games only emphasizes this point. Galway travel to Kilkenny next looking for a result, otherwise a relegation battle is on the cards which may limit management’s ability to experiment further.