Tipp will survive this but not by a whole lot

GAELIC GAMES:The change of management could well be a positive for this Tipperary side, writes NICKY ENGLISH

TIPPERARY DON’T have a great history of defending All-Irelands but this is only the second time that the county has been champions in the qualifier era. I remember when I was manager in 2002 that there was a difference in the way we approached the season. In 2001 we really went for the league, but the following season couldn’t make up our minds whether we wanted to win it.

I thought at the time that losing the Munster final would sort us out and it did to an extent but we lost to a good Kilkenny team in the semi-final. But it’s worth saying that the qualifiers make a big difference. If you go back to 1990 when we lost to Cork, a second chance back then would have been the making of us.

This is the first chance to see Tipperary in the championship under new management and I’ll be really interested to see how they play. They’re not likely to be as unfocused as they were for Cork last year. That defeat in Páirc Uí Chaoimh still haunts some of the players; it was mentioned after the All-Ireland – the shock of the first 20 minutes in Cork.

On the day you could feel it in the stands. After a steady start, with every ball that went in on top of the full-back line, confidence ebbed and goals were inevitable.

Tipperary will be very ready tomorrow. I’m sure of that; in fact I’d be concerned that they’ll be too ready. It’s still the end of May and over the past couple of years there’s been steady improvement with the best hurling reserved for Croke Park later in the summer. There’s still a long way to go after tomorrow.

The full-back line is intact from last year. For once, though, there’s not a surplus of wing backs, as between Declan Fanning’s retirement and injuries to Conor O’Mahony and even Brendan Maher, who has played there, Tipp aren’t as well stocked.

You’ve effectively two debutants tomorrow with David Young (who had some game time last year) and John O’Keeffe coming in and that leaves quite an experience deficit. I think O’Keeffe will be an outstanding player but this weekend he’s making his debut. He’s talented and intelligent and uses possession really well, if at times he plays too much short ball.

Brendan Maher’s a loss but Gearóid Ryan at midfield is fine. This is his position. Tomorrow’s forward line, however, is ultimately the same as last year with five of the six not having a lot of success.

Bonner Maher is the new face and he’s become very important as a ball winner when Tipp have been under pressure. There hasn’t been a mention of the problem since he was brought into the half forwards. Noel McGrath has done major damage but Bonner’s role in harrying, putting himself about and winning ball has been a big factor. He’s lacking practice at the moment but he had to start.

Séamus Callanan had a nice cameo in last year’s All-Ireland but for a player of his huge talent 2010 was an (injury-) subdued season for someone who was such a rising star the year before. They’ll be expected to make the play for the inside line where John O’Brien has really come on since 2010, even in the league.

Lar Corbett has been out nearly since the All-Ireland and there’s danger there for Tipp because the full forwards got no change last year – and Stephen McDonnell has strengthened the Cork full-back line.

Because Tipperary are winning All-Irelands roughly only once every 10 years it becomes a big deal with all the consequences of that. Lar Corbett and Eoin Kelly have borne the brunt of the inevitable distractions but it’s time for the distractions to be put aside. Both of them have the experience to do that.

The change of management could well be a positive. Liam Sheedy had achieved his goal so he – and maybe the team – wouldn’t have been as hungry this year. It does create pressure on Declan Ryan, who has taken on a team that’s won an All-Ireland and has 99 out of 100 people saying that they’re going to win it again. There has been a difference in the panel beneath the first team, numbers 16 to 24 so Declan’s shown that he’s been willing to put his mark on the team.

Last year you couldn’t see Cork winning without goals and on the day they’d enough scored by half-time. This is a bigger test for Cork than last year. Tipperary will be more careful and I don’t think Cork have the same goal threat. But there is a freshness to them. Luke O’Farrell is a very promising player, as are William Egan and McDonnell. It’s the middle generation – Pa Cronin at midfield, Pa Horgan and Paudie O’Sullivan – who need to step up.

The backs are as good as you’ll find although I wouldn’t be surprised to see Brian Murphy switch with Shane O’Neill. I see Tipp surviving this but not by a whole lot.

In Croke Park, Dublin are the team of the year so far in hurling. A year ago you’d have been very worried for them in a game like this but this time around, Offaly have had a poor league and noticeably haven’t been as good. They’ve also too many injuries but they’ll relish a match like this.

They’ve a better chance than some think but not as much as a lot of people are giving them.