Tipp are in a weird scenario where they have some very talented forwards who are just very easily held in a lot of positions. Jason Forde, John McGrath & arguably Noel McGrath too are all best-suited to playing at 11. In the full-forward line, they can be held by the better corner-backs (although obviously can pick off scores easily if they do get the ball in hand).
He gets criticised a bit but Tipp actually need more Jake Morris-types. He’s got pace, he can carry the ball and he scores goals. Maybe his work rate could be a little better but inside, you just about get away with it. If Mark Kehoe really kicked on, that would be huge but they seem to have a let a lot of those type of players fall by the wayside.
GOC is a fine player though and exactly what they need out at HF, think they were very slow bringing him in tbh.
And if I was Cahill, I’d be going with Bowe & Breen as my wing-backs for sure.
A lot of sense there. I feel John McGrath’s days as a top forward are behind him unfortunately. I’d agree with regards to Jake Morris. He’s the first forward whose name I’d be putting on the team sheet. Breen and Bowe might work out at half back. I’m not so sure. I’d imagine it’ll be more of a ‘horses for courses’ set up depending on who they’re playing but the likelihood is the backs will be some combination of Barrett, Maher, Morgan, Breen, O’Mara and maybe Bowe especially if Kennedy out for season. Barry Heffernan the other most logical option.
They’ve tried a heap of lads midfield. Willie Connors looked sharp there earlier in league but out injured now.
Re GOC, he’s been pretty much a mainstay since Cahill came on. I wouldn’t have been sure three years back that there was a senior hurler in him, but he’s getting more and more impressive.
Everything is cyclical. This Limerick cycle will end eventually. Cork are next in line to profit. But I’m not as convinced now that those underage prodigies are going to dominate at senior.
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I still reckon moving from u21 to u 20 hurt the game in general. There’s a huge difference in being an u 21 progressing to senior and an u20. It takes time to adjust from an S&C perspective and going straight from u 20 to senior in today’s modern game is a daunting task. Add to that, they might have to ship another few beatings in the next couple of years before they finally get to grips with it and a lot might lose interest
Bowe is not great defensively. Breen did ok in the 1st half, made a few poor decisions in the 2nd including batting the ball straight to Peter Casey for a score.
Jake Morris spent most of the game hurling from behind, can’t have that, his insistance on taking the ball on the hurley first is very frustrating at times.
Mark Kehoe is too inconsistant.
Puck outs were disastrous for Tipp last night.