It is all about context. When Tipperary suffered a meltdown in the third quarter against Cork 12 months ago and blew an eight-point lead, their recovery in the last 15 minutes was held up as the mark of champions. Raised intensity and a blitz of turnovers by their forwards characterised a gear-change that left Cork trailing.
If you were to watch the last 15 minutes from last Sunday in isolation, divorced from the rest of the match and Tipperary’s uneasy winter, the outcome was dictated by the same fundamentals: a surge in work rate by their forwards, monopoly of possession around the middle third and a change of gear. But context colours everything and Tipp’s generally lethargic and sloppy performance last Sunday was seen to be symptomatic of a team that have lost their way.
Can that change? Absolutely. It begins with the management. Their assertiveness last Sunday and their demonstrated capacity to make big calls has strengthened their position.
Replacing Eoin Kelly after just six minutes of the second half had a practical impact on the match but it was also hugely symbolic. Kelly has not only been the most important Tipp player of the last decade but a huge presence in the dressing room. A minute before he was replaced referee Barry Kelly ignored Kelly’s obvious claims for a penalty and in that instance there was a hint of the risk that the Tipp management were taking: there was still only four points between the teams and whatever about Kelly’s contribution in general play he retains the capability to bury a 21-yard free in any circumstance. They made a bold call, though, and they were right. Kelly has scored just once from play in his last three championship matches — a point against Dublin in the first half of the All-Ireland semi-final last August. He struck the ball in open play just four times last Sunday; he was responsible for two turnovers, missed two frees and was blocked twice. Delete the name from the data and he was certain to be called ashore.
Is he finished? The next three weeks will tell a lot. When the captaincy moved from him to his clubmate Paul Curran at the start of the year it wasn’t generally interpreted as a threat to his place on the team. On reflection, it was far more significant that Pa Bourke was given the lead role on dead balls last Sunday.
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Galway did something similar with Ger Farragher a couple of years ago when it was perceived as an attempt to generate a greater contribution in general play from Joe Canning. If that was Tipp’s thinking it didn’t work.
It was suggested after last Sunday’s game that all five of Tipperary’s substitutes would have to start against Cork but that is the kind of glib response that never stands up to much scrutiny. The player who must return to the starting 15, though, is Patrick ‘Bonner’ Maher.
Unquestionably, he made the greatest impact of all in Tipp’s comeback. From eight possessions he was directly involved in 1-3 and he was fouled on two other occasions when no free was given. His contribution to Brian O’Meara’s goal was reminiscent of Ginger McLoughlin’s try at Twickenham in 1982 when the prop seemed to carry the whole English pack on his back; the critical difference, however, is that Ginger got the glory of the touchdown when the glory for Maher is usually vicarious.
He came through with a golden generation of gifted Tipperary players but in that milieu he has always known his place and his function. When they routed Galway 5-22 to 0-12 in the 2010 All-Ireland U21 final, for example, Maher was the last of the forwards to score from play 11 minutes into the second half, even though the self-service buffet had been open since just after throw-in.
Over the last couple of years he has consistently made a positive contribution in Tipp’s biggest games. In their comeback against Cork last year he played a key hustling role in two or their goals; in the All-Ireland final a year earlier he reduced Tommy Walsh to five pucks in open play; Walsh played a lot more ball in the 2011 final but seven Tipperary scores came directly from Maher’s play.
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In a transfer market other members of the Tipp forward line would command far greater fees but the value of a player such as Maher is incalculable. Ask yourself if Brian Cody would like him on his panel? The answer is yes. The qualities that Cody places above all others are selflessness and team play. In his carriage and his use of the ball Maher brings to mind Liam McCarthy, a contributor to Kilkenny’s All-Irelands in early 90s, when his primary job was to feed DJ Carey, Eamon Morrissey and Adrian Ronan.
That Kilkenny forward line couldn’t have functioned properly without him and Tipp are in the same position with Maher now. With him back they will be better.