It wasn’t just the prize,it wasn’t just the opponent – the manner of it mattered as much to Michael Ryan as anything.
Tipperary will face old foes Kilkenny in the All-Ireland final on September 4th after beating Galway in a nervy semi-final – coming out on the right side of a one-point margin against the team who defeated them at the same stage last year.
The Munster men won 2-19 to 2-18, despite rarely leading in the game before John McGrath scored their second goal with seven minutes remaining.
Having been bested in a dramatic shootout 12 months ago the theory was expounded that Tipperary could not win these tight games. Sure they could blow teams away (like they did to Waterford in this year’s Munster final), but when a game goes to the wire, Tipperary lose their nerve.
Ryan, in his first year in charge, was delighted to come out on top against a Galway team that lost talisman Joe Canning and defender Adrian Tuohy to injury on the stroke of half-time.
“We are delighted to be in an All-Ireland final, the Holy Grail which is the aim of every team in January,” he said.
“It is well documented we have struggled to win those games. Whether you like your team being associated with those results or not, it is a fact. To turn one around and win a tight one is nice because the prize is great.”
John ‘Bubbles’ O’Dwyer was introduced in the 46th minute and his goal was the catalyst for a Tipperary comeback, however Ryan wanted to pay tribute to the likes of Jason Forde, Seán Curran and Tomás Hamsill, who also made a contribution from the bench.
They gave Tipperary an added impetus as Galway appeared to flag in the closing stages.
“Other than we had a good strong bench to come in and make strong contribution we would have been in trouble there,” said Ryan.
“I don’t need to tell you the talent that bubbles O’Dwyer has. He is a hugely talented player. But it was a collective effort.”
After McGrath’s goal Tipp did not score again, hitting four wides as nerves possibly got the better of them. Ryan admits Galway were close to catching them.
“If that game went on another two minutes it could have ebbed and flowed and we could have been on the wrong end of a one-point margin.”
