Disappointing Defeat for Tipperary

National Hurling League Div 1A Round 2:

Kilkenny 2-17; Tipperary 0-18

Tipperary suffered a disappointing 5 points defeat in yesterday's game against Kilkenny, played at Nowlan Park, when the latter struck for two late goals. This defeat, following a good win over Dublin the previous weekend plus the fact that Kilkenny have had little intensive training so far, is a setback for Tipperary.

The losers missed at least three good goal-scoring chances due to a lack of cuteness in the art of striking and placing the ball. The backs were at fault for the two goals due to poor positioning. Some players made some wild challenges resulting in frees and a raising of morale for the opposition rather than tight contact without fouling.

The obvious lack of thought in the poor structuring of Tipperary club competitions down the years, coupled with what seems to be a poor level of coaching from under-age up, has been the prime cause of the stop-start nature of Tipperary hurling, especially at senior level, since the great days of the 50's and 60's. The sad demise of the art of ground and air-striking, which was always Tipperary's forte, is another contributing factor.