Tipperary empty the bench to spare the horror show

GAELIC GAMES:STUDIES INTO quite what explains the popularity of horror movies tend to find their way to one of two conclusions. Either people are not actually scared by what they see but rather are excited and confuse that excitement for fear. Or else they willingly go through terror in order to experience the euphoria that comes with the relief of everything being okay in the end.

Tipperary supporters leaving Semple Stadium yesterday would have nodded their head at the latter notion, for they had to stare long and deep into the abyss against Limerick here before being sure of their survival.

They won by 2-20 to 1-19 in front of a crowd of 22,068 but a four-point margin tells you nothing about the nature of the win. With 17 minutes to go, Limerick led by seven points and had all the momentum.

They’d scudded from the blocks after half-time, scoring six unanswered points and forcing Tipp into some serious rejigging just to keep them in sight. Eoin Kelly was called to the bench on 42 minutes, Gearóid Ryan followed soon after.

Their replacements, Bonner Maher and Séamus Callanan, both had big says in the Tipp comeback but nobody could deny that there was a touch of desperation in the roars that greeted their introduction.

The changes worked, however. In the closing 15 minutes, Tipp doubled the 1-10 they already had on the scoreboard. Brian O’Meara appeared on the edge of a scrum in the Limerick square to flick the decisive goal to the net six minutes from time and Tipp saw it out from there.

A real fright, no doubt about it. Whether the relief was worth it is another story.

“It was looking dodgy from a Tipp point of view with 15 minutes left,” said Declan Ryan.

“Limerick were hurling with their tails up, with typical Limerick spirit, but our lads kept battling away and we tagged on a few points.

“I’m delighted with the way we finished the game.

“Limerick came with great hope today and anytime Limerick and Tipp play you know Limerick will battle to the very last, as they did today.

“I’m delighted with the way our guys battled there and showed a lot of spirit.”

For John Allen, there was no great mystery in what turned the game. Once trouble raised its head, Tipp emptied the bench to see it off.

The difference between champions and challengers.

“Ten minutes after the game you haven’t the hindsight of looking at the game maybe on video,” he began.

“But for me the subs that Tipp made, made the difference. Bringing on Bonner Maher, Shane McGrath. We saw Eoin Kelly going off and it looks like they’re under big pressure now.

“I’d be hugely proud of the effort we put in because it was heroic for most of the game. They just had a stronger bench and that was the difference between the teams.”