Craig Morgan relieved to lift monkey off Tipp's back
Saturday evening in Ennis bridged a gap of two years, two weeks, and three days to the county's most recent Munster championship victory. The interim period, as Morgan hinted at, was not particularly kind.
There were nine provincial outings and not one win. There was a 15-point hammering away to Limerick. There was an 18-point humiliation at home to Cork. There were another four goals conceded and another double-digit hammering at the hands of Cork this year.
Throw in their brief involvement in the 2023 All-Ireland series and Tipp boasted a solitary win, over then Joe McDonagh-card holders Offaly, from 11 championship outings.
It is despite all these results that Tipperary, winless in the province for 748 days, were able to go to the home of the All-Ireland champions and secure a victory that gives their own championship campaign a pulse. It is despite all these results that winless Tipperary were able to summon a winning four-point response, into the wind, when Clare successfully wiped out an earlier 12-point deficit to restore parity on 63 minutes.
'We have huge belief in ourselves and huge belief in the players in the team. We have had a few setbacks, a lot of setbacks, over the last two years, and we knew that we'd be in a tough situation against the All-Ireland champions in their home ground.
'We knew they'd come back at us in the second half, but we showed great character to dig deep in the last five minutes. Even the subs that came on really showed the character and belief that's in this team,' said Morgan, who started at centre-back at Cusack Park as Ronan Maher went to right half-back to stand beside Clare puckout target Peter Duggan.
'In the Munster championship, every team, on any given day, can beat any other team, so we knew that Clare were going to come back and that not to panic, stay brave, stay hurling the way we can, and execute our game-plan, and that's what we did.'
Morgan made his championship debut in 2022. Started all four games of that year's Munster round-robin. Subsequent cruciate ligament rupture rendered him unavailable for the 2023 round-robin.
Saturday was Morgan's 11th Munster championship start and first win. A box ticked for him personally and a monkey off the back collectively.
'Of course it is,' he says with regard to the latter. 'A draw or loss wouldn't do there today. We knew that was knockout hurling. It was only a win that was in our minds, that is what we went after, and that is what we achieved. We knew that win kept us in the championship and obviously we were showing emotion after the game.
'I wasn't playing that day in 2023, so this is my first win in Munster. To get that win there was great for me, personally. 100%, I'll remember that one. Probably is a monkey off the back.'
The 4-18 to 2-21 triumph in the backyard of the champions returns Tipp to the championship conversation. A first championship win over Waterford in six years this Sunday will secure them a top three spot ahead of the final round of games the weekend after. A draw could also prove sufficient, but that would leave their fate in the hands of others on that final weekend. And after wrestling back control of their own narrative in Ennis, they're of no mind to let it go again.
'This doesn't matter if we don't reproduce next week, that's all we are focused on now.'
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Irish Daily Mirror
6 hours ago
- Irish Daily Mirror
Kenny raves about St Pat's ace and lauds 'incredible football intelligence'
Stephen Kenny has hailed Jay McClelland for stepping out from the shadows and into the European spotlight for St Pat's. McClelland was the Saints man-of-the-match in Thursday's tense 1-0 Conference League win over nine-man Kalju, a result that puts St Pat's in control going to Estonia. And if they hold their rivals at bay on Thursday, the Inchicore men will face the loser of the Europa League tie between Besiktas and Shakhtar Donetsk. As it stands, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's Besiktas are the most likely opponents as they lost Thursday's first-leg 4-2 at home. McClelland, 28, has been at St Pat's since 2020 but hasn't always been a starter and when he does play, he could be deployed in any number of positions. Lately, the attacking midfielder has been playing at left-back but has also popped up on the left wing and in the middle of the park. Click this link or scan the QR code to receive the latest League of Ireland news and top stories from the Irish Mirror. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice . But Kenny has hailed McClelland's professionalism for refusing to cave when opportunities were hard to come by, after becoming a key man in Europe this year. Ex-Ireland boss Kenny said: 'No, he hasn't (always been a starter), and hasn't always been in the squad - he's been in the stand in the past. He's had to bide his time but he's just having a run of form and his innate football intelligence is incredible. St Pat's Jay McClelland and Daniil Tarassenkov of Kalju (Image: ©INPHO/Ryan Byrne) 'He can see great pictures and has the technical ability to execute really intelligent passes and crosses. He's a very intelligent player. The physicality maybe wasn't his strongest point but he has adapted that to his game to help him play there. 'He's worked on aspects of his game which weren't his strongest points where you might get exposed as a left-back, in your one-on-one defending and your heading. 'He's got much better at those facets of the game and his distribution is very inventive. It's a competitive area for us. Anto Breslin has never let us down, he's always been a terrific full-back at the club. 'At the start of the season we probably wouldn't have factored Jason playing at left-back but when people take their opportunity you have to reward that.' McClelland only started five league games last season - he came on another 16 times - but already has 12 Premier Division starts this year from his 21 league appearances. At no stage since Kenny took charge 14 months ago has the Dubliner ever knocked on the manager's door demanding to leave. St. Patrick's Athletic's Jay McClelland (Image: ©INPHO/Dan Clohessy) Kenny said: 'He was out of contract last year but I made it clear to him that I wanted him to stay. His versatility is important. Even when he's not in the team, he's super fit and that's a challenge because players find it hard to stay at the level when they're not in the team- they get demoralised.' Ryan McLaughlin, the former Liverpool and Northern Ireland player, is another who has stepped up to snatch a starting role. He was behind Axel Sjoberg as Kenny's right-back option, but has now wrestled the shirt off the Swede. Kenny continued: 'Ryan and Jason didn't start any of the European games last year and they're in the positions now. "You see the passing, Ryan to Jason and then Jason back to Ryan. You don't see that much in matches, those touchline to touchline passes from full-backs. But Ryan has that in his locker and the in-joke in the group is that he showed Trent Alexander-Arnold how to do it! Meanwhile, Kenny won't rule out signing a midfielder before Monday's 11pm transfer deadline for contracted players, as Romal Palmer remains on the long-term list. But Chris Forrester is nearing a return to the starting line-up after stepping up his comeback from injury of late, and scoring the all-important late winner against Kalju. Kenny said of Forrester: 'He's been a great player, a regular in nearly all of my games since I took over but he was out for eight weeks. 'That's two months and you can lose a lot. He needs to work hard. He's had a few weeks' training and is coming on so he definitely comes into our thoughts.' Get the latest sports headlines straight to your inbox by signing up for free email .
Irish Examiner
6 hours ago
- Irish Examiner
Bowling: Shane Crowley retains Munster U18 title
Shane Crowley retained his Munster U18 road bowling crown in a show of power and awe against Cathal Creedon at Bantry. Once he hit his stride with his huge second bowl, he quickly took control. Creedon had opened with a brilliant bowl, straight over the sop, towards McSweeney's lane. Crowley's reply was well right of his sop. That handed, what turned out to be, the only lead of the night to Creedon. Crowley wiped out the deficit immediately with his second throw. Creedon did well to miss that by just eight metres. Creedon's next bowl broke left, but still reached McSweeney's farm. Crowley beat that by 70m. That turned into almost a bowl of odds when Creedon beat it by just 45m with his next fourth shot. Crowley was now in full flight. He delivered a searing bowl up the middle towards Harrington's that put him well over a bowl in front. His next one was below par, but he immediately clicked back into top gear. A sensational sixth bowl to light at Casey's cross pushed him two bowls clear. Even a beauty from Creedon past Cronin's cross, could do little to stem the tide. Crowley followed with another massive bowl past the hedge and that brought the curtain down on the contest. Eoghan Kelly was an impressive Munster U14 winner. He defeated last year's All-Ireland U12 champion, Fionán Twohig, by two bowls of odds. This final followed a very similar narrative to the U18 final. Twohig opened with a huge bowl to win the first tip comfortably. Kelly then got a great second bowl, which won him a big lead. He was never again headed. He increased his lead with a great third throw towards the crush. He then produced the score defining bowl. It scorched down the left and ran all the way to Cronin's cross. That catapulted him two bowls clear. It also closed off almost any chance of Twohig regaining a foothold in the score. Still Twohig managed to contain the odds. He had it back to an even two bowls of odds after nine and 11 to the fuchsias past McSweeney's farm. That was as close as he got as Kelly increased his lead again in the run-in.
Irish Daily Mirror
6 hours ago
- Irish Daily Mirror
Lionel Messi hit with MLS ban and will miss Inter Miami's next game
Lionel Messi is set to miss Inter Miami's upcoming match against Cincinnati after being slapped with an MLS suspension. The football maestro has been penalised for his absence from the MLS All-Star Game. Messi, who recently lifted the World Cup trophy, did not participate in the showcase event and no explanation was provided at the time for the star player's no-show. Inter Miami's coach Javier Mascherano later attributed Messi's absence to exhaustion. According to MLS regulations, any player who misses the All-Star Game without a legitimate injury must serve a one-match suspension. Discussing Messi's condition, Mascherano remarked that he "showed normal fatigue from the number of games and minutes he's been playing. Look, players always have discomfort, especially when they play every three days." Messi's team-mate Jordi Alba, who was with him at Barcelona back when Pep Guardiola was in charge, is being subjected to the same ban after also bypassing the game. Zlatan Ibrahimovic was suspended for skipping the All-Star Game in 2018. Miami played nine games in a 35-day span between the FIFA Club World Cup and MLS regular season - during that period Messi played every minute. MLS commissioner Don Garber said earlier this week: "We do have rules, and we have to manage through that as well. We would have loved to have Leo here. We'd love to have every player that was selected for the All-Star team here. After this All-Star Game, we'll figure out what needs to happen. "I was told this morning that neither Jordi nor Messi practiced today (Wednesday). Jordi came off with an injury in last game, and we'll have to manage through what Miami is going to say about that." Despite being without Messi and Alba the MLS squad secured a 3-1 win against Mexico's Liga MX All-Stars in Austin, Texas. The 38-year-old, an eight-time winner of the Ballon d'Or, has scored 18 goals in as many appearances for Inter Miami in the MLS. Since making the move to Florida Messi has helped his team, co-owned by David Beckham, win the Leagues Cup in 2023 and the following year they landed the Supporters' Shield. Inter Miami currently sit seventh overall in the MLS but are fifth in their Conference. (Image: Chris Arjoon/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
