Liam Cahill's crucial switch and how Tipperary undid Kilkenny to hit four goals

Irish Daily Mirror

17 hours ago

Tipperary deserved this victory for their fight, spirit and attitude, but Kilkenny will feel aggrieved about the scoreboard error.
It's a big mistake to make and someone should have corrected it. Normally the stats people would be on that too.
My honest opinion is the game is won on the field and knowing Kilkenny as I do, they are the type of team that I don't think will contest it.
I can see their annoyance that if they'd known the proper scoreline at the time, they would probably have shot a few points and they could have got back into the game, rather than going for a goal. That shouldn't have happened in an All-Ireland semi-final.
If I was Kilkenny I might also be a small bit aggrieved at a few soft enough frees, particularly in the second half
But credit to Tipperary, their work rate and fitness has been incredible all year and you could see more evidence of it here.
Kilkenny will be kicking themselves. They won't be happy with certain things They dominated the first 15 minutes, but they had a number of wides that should have been over the bar.
John Donnelly was effective going back deep, while Cian Kenny and Billy Ryan were going well, and it looked good.
But goals changed everything and Kilkenny seemed porous at the back. Huw Lawlor was decent but he was pulled out of the middle a number of times and that exposed them.
If there was a transfer market in hurling one of the first defenders I would go after is Mikey Butler, but he wasn't his usual self here and was at fault for a couple of the goals.
Tipp could ever have had another goal or two, but when Paddy Deegan went back there after half-time they looked more solid. Deegan only made one mistake and it led to Tipp's fourth goal when he threw up the ball.
Kilkenny allowed Tipp that short puck out and it led to the second goal with Bryan O'Mara delivering the ball inside. When you get a short puck out like that away, you are able to avoid the opposition half back line.
Tipp were getting it short and their goalie, Rhys Shelly was driving it over the half back line, or they were getting it short to midfield and getting a score. Kilkenny let that happen for the whole game and you can't do that.
Tipp's off the ball running was incredible though. They ran at goal, and when Jake Morris goes at you, you are in big trouble.
I thought one of the best things Liam Cahill did all day was putting Jason Forde on the frees. His very first free was a tough one, out on the sideline and it went straight over the bar. He was impeccable on the frees after that.
Darragh McCarthy missed two that he shouldn't have missed. He is a really good player, but one thing I've noticed is he's making a few flicks and chops that he doesn't need to make. The one bit of advice you'd give him is battle hard and work hard, but get that out of your game.
He's done it a few times now and he doesn't need to do it but he will be back to play in the biggest game of the year.
Kilkenny's puck outs in general were a disappointment. They won very few long ones, which is very unlike Kilkenny. Maybe they should have brought TJ Reid out to the half forward line for them.
They started the second half pretty well with Eoin Cody and Mossy Keoghan doing damage.
But when Tipp had the man sent off I was shocked at how many long balls Kilkenny hit. They seemed to be pumping ball inside for no reason.
They've adapted their game over the last few years and were running more ball. I was surprised they didn't work the ball more, especially for the last 15 minutes with an extra man.
In general you have to say, fair play to Liam Cahill. He has turned around a situation where Tipp were not competitive.
His head was on the block in Tipperary. He has responded and got the team to play really well for him and that's some turnaround and achievement.
The introduction of Noel McGrath and Oisin O'Donoghue was important. I rate O'Donoghue. He's a big strong lad and he can finish. Again, that Tipp bench made the difference. .
Cork will be favourites for the All-Ireland. No doubt about that, but Tipperary have shown all year that they will fight hard and it will be no different in the final.