By Peter McNamara
1 Michael Breen
Ballina’s Michael Breen was selected on the Bord Gáis Energy All-Ireland U21 Hurling Team of the Year last year at full-back.
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[/raw]Michael Breen engaged Beast Mode this afternoon in Thurles, if the highlights are anything to go by. #AllianzLeagues
— Michael Brophy (@mickbrophy) March 20, 2016
However, partnering Brendan Maher at midfield this season with Tipperary could lead to a senior All-Star nomination later on this year if he can produce more high-octane displays such as the one he inflicted on Cork on Sunday.
Breen was magnificent as Michael Ryan’s outfit engineered a 12-point success in their final regular-season fixture in the Allianz NHL Division 1A, defeating the Leesiders.
Breen scored a goal as a sub last summer against Limerick in the championship and seems to have a knack of raising green flags.
The goal he scored in Semple Stadium on Sunday was expertly executed and stemmed from the fact he is a runner so difficult to contain while powering forward.
His performance reminded us of Michael Fennelly in his pomp and Breen could be a seasonal-defining asset for Tipp in 2016.
Ryan stationed Ronan Maher in the No 6 role and was rewarded with a calming input from the centre-back.
Arguably, the biggest plus for Tipp at present is that they have scores in their team from over two-thirds of the positions.
2 John Conlon at full-forward
Limerick supporters would argue John Conlon took far too many steps before scoring a goal inside the opening minute of their tussle with Clare in the promotion stakes of Division 1B.
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[/raw]@mlverney slow it down - twas 13...at least! #wouldn'thappeninfootball
— Shane Scanlon (@ScanlonShane) March 20, 2016
However, if anything it was a blatant penalty which probably would have been scored anyway so their argument would lack conviction.
That moment though set the tone for what was an outstanding performance from Conlon.
It was interesting to note that in the one truly must-win game Clare have had in the year that Davy Fitzgerald implemented this particular tactic of having Conlon at the edge of the square.
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[/raw]John Conlon channeling his inner "Incredible Hulk" for @GaaClare in the Allianz League! #GAA pic.twitter.com/CYykff3mIh
— Sportsfile (@sportsfile) March 20, 2016
The 6ft 2” Clonlara powerhouse tormented Limerick’s full-back line throughout the meeting, especially in the first-half.
Both Richie McCarthy and Tom Condon were bamboozled by Conlon who was, essentially, unmarkable.
If you didn’t see the match yourself, think Seamus Callanan at his best and the damage he can cause opposing defensive lines.
Conlon did rotate between that front-line attacker berth and wing-forward on occasion.
Yet, there is no doubt as to where his future lies this season.
His strength will lead to him being fouled regularly in advantageous areas too.
He seems an ideal attacking fulcrum.
3 Waterford’s shortage of goals
In the two most important matches of Waterford’s season last year – the Munster final against Tipp and All-Ireland semi-final tie with Kilkenny – the Déise failed to raise a green flag.
Granted, five were pilfered in games against Cork (three) and Dublin (two) in the 2015 Championship.
However, Tom Devine’s major in Thurles is the only goal Waterford scored in their five regular-season outings in the competition.
Unless this statistic is improved upon in their remaining matches in the League at the knock-out stages you would have to question if Derek McGrath’s charges have truly progressed at all from last year.
Now, Waterford could hit Wexford for two or three goals in the League quarter-final.
Yet, it is in contests while challenged by top-tier teams that the point is being made.
And if you have seen Waterford during the League you will agree that it is not as if they are creating umpteen goalscoring opportunities and missing them.
Of course, with Pauric Mahony returning to action as a sub in their draw with Galway, Waterford do have another attacking option for the months ahead.
However, they need to start generating goalscoring chances!
