Danger, danger Meath's about

Laughed at comments by Paul Bealin, the former Dublin player, now involved with Carlow when he said that Meath were "very dangerous opponents".
I thought at first Bealin was referring to the Parnell Park row between the Royals and Dublin or maybe it was the local championship game which led to six players being sent off.
Wondered had he been showing his players highlights of the 'action' and was on the point of offering him the services of our good friend and coach Darren Corbett, former European boxing champion who puts our club players through their paces.
Big Darren watched the scenes at Parnell Park and wasn't impressed and he told our players so.
He said the Royals had no jab, their body work was sloppy and their efforts to land the big one wouldn't have won a row at St Gemma's. Bring back the Lyons brothers and Martin O'Connell I say!
Now I was never much good at the noble art myself so I'll take the big man's word for it and I thought that maybe Paul Bealin was overacting.
However, realised soon enough it wasn't the 'dabbing' he was worried about at all but the Meath full forward line, or what's left of it anyway.
Yea, they're very dangerous too!

Premier men need ruthless streak

One thing did strike me about the Tipp performance today which has bothered me.
The Premier men still lack a little ruthlessness and that was their undoing in last year's battles with Limerick when they had them beaten on at least two occasions and let them off the hook.
There was still a hangover from that in today's Tipperary performance.
I felt that Tipp had the edge throughout the game but the one thing they failed to do was to put Galway away.
There were times when the Premier men were on top that they hit a few poor wides and Galway to their credit hung in there never too far away.
Even when Tipp hit a real purple patch right after the Lar Corbett goal which saw them open up a seven-point gap they missed a couple of chances which would have put the game out of sight.
In fairness to the players they will get better as they become fitter and faster and their touch improves by the time championship comes.
However, Tipp have upped their game, they work harder and are a lot more competitive, but Kilkenny and Cork rarely let anyone off the hook when they get on top, they put you down.
If anyone wants to steal their thunder they need to match their ruthless streak

Great league final, bring on the real thing

Just coming down after enjoying a great league final.
Tipp were good value for their win even though there was only a score between the teams at the end of the game.
Felt heart sorry for Galway keeper james Skehill who made one dreadful mistake costing his side a goal near half time and it ended up being the difference between the sides.
Many a young keeper's career has been wrecked by one error in a big game and I hope Skehill will get past it.
The Premier men had heroes all over the field. I thought that Paul Curran was fantastic particularly in the first half, keeping Joe Canning almost anonymous.
Eamon Corcoran was another who really got stuck in when Damian Hayes was giving him all he wanted.
Shane McGrath was inspirational again in the middle of the field but the mobility of the Tipp full forward line caused Galway problems all day.
Lar Corbett (above) had one of those days when you think what a player, he just needs to do it more consistently, while Eoin Kelly kept the score board moving from frees and play.
Corbett's goal was the real turning point of the game coming within seconds of Galway spurning a goal chance at the other end. The Tribesmen found themselves five behind instead of being a point ahead.
Tipp's work rate was impressive throughout and they have added a bit of steel to their side.
Their defence was uncompromising even though it was undone by the Galway attack on three occasions.
Liam Sheedy's team will take a lot out of this performance, a National title will give his younger players many of whom were winners at the underage level a lift with a senior title already under their belts.
Tipp could go on from here, unlike Waterford who made the breakthrough in last year's league they are not in the last chance saloon and they will take this result with them into the championship.