Lessons to be learned from league semi-final defeat for Tipperary hurlers

Defeat by Limerick in the Allianz National Hurling League semi-final meant that the thoughts of Tipperary manager Liam Cahill could focus fully on the opening Munster Senior Hurling Championship game against Clare in Ennis on Sunday April 23, shortly after the final whistle at the TUS Gaelic Grounds last Saturday night.

“We have four weeks now to fix it before we have a massive task in Ennis in the first round of the Munster championship,” he said. “These learnings tonight are coming at a right good time for us”.

When asked to comment on his team’s failure to create any goal chances against Limerick, despite scoring 14 goals in their five group games, he said “That’s something to work on. We were well into the 20-point bracket as well tonight, but when you play the likes of Limerick you need to be putting on three or four goal opportunities and maybe converting two or three minimum to bring up that point tally that you might be lacking.

“That would be a worry and concern for me alright tonight. It’s a major worry but it’s nothing that can’t be fixed.

“We’ve a good, intelligent group of players and they will be quick to self-assess themselves and put this thing right and make it better for when we need it come the end of April in Ennis.

“I’ll be looking to make sure that we arrive in Ennis on April 23 right. Tonight was a very physical game, so we’ll have to make sure that everyone recovers well from that.

“We really only have eight or nine proper sessions between now and Ennis so we need to get at least two or three really good hurling sessions into us, and make sure that our hurling is right and that some of the things that let us down tonight are corrected”.

When asked about the injured duo of Seamus Callanan and Cathal Barrett, who attended Saturday night’s game in Limerick in their civvies, he said they were on the road to recovery.

However, he added “Whether they will be back in time for Ennis I’m not sure. They’re still a little behind the timeframe but they’re working hard to get back”.

Regarding Niall O’Meara, another injured player, he stated “Niall is starting to get a block of training together, and hopefully will be able to get involved in contact training fairly soon, and maybe have a chance of putting his hand up for a place in the panel come April”.