REACTION: 'We have no excuses' said Brendan Cummins in the wake of Limerick performance

After watching his team lose narrowly to Limerick in their opening game in defence of their Munster U20 hurling title at Thurles last Tuesday evening, manager Brendan Cummins said that he would be looking for a reaction to that setback when they meet Cork in Cork this Wednesday night in round two.

With thirteen of those who saw action in last year’s successful campaign in the side, Tipperary were strongly fancied to record an opening win but on the night they were undone by the energy, pace, and drive of a Limerick team that ought to have won by more than the 2-13 to 0-17 margin. 

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Limerick might have had two more goals and ended with twelve wides to Tipp’s three, a reflection of the chances they created compared to Tipp.

A disappointed Cummins said afterward: “We just did not get out of the blocks. Limerick were getting on the breaks and were sending a far better ball into their forwards. 

“The reality is that Limerick were that bit better than us tonight. The boys are very disappointed but they will just have to pick themselves up. 

“We go to Cork next week and then Clare in Sixmilebridge, so we are under serious pressure but that is the Munster championship and that is what we love about it.

The former All-Star goalkeeper acknowledged that expectations for this team are very high and said: “We just have to deal with that. The question is what do we as a management team do to help the lads navigate this situation. We will face up to that and we will not be found wanting.

“We have no excuses. Limerick were just better than us so we need to find that spark to get us moving again and we will do that. 

“We need to be going at it one hundred miles per hour. We will be having a management meeting later tonight to focus on this. What has happened has happened and we cannot do anything about it now but look ahead to the coming games.

The availability of players who are also in the senior squad who will be meeting Cork in the final of the National Hurling League the following Sunday is not an issue for the U20 manager who is confident he will have a full selection to chose from for what is now a crucial must win game for the defending champions.

“We are under pressure but that is the Munster championship. What we will be looking for is a reaction from the boys. We will be having a chat with them about this and we will see then where it goes”, he said. 

Captain Sam O Farrell’s second yellow card towards the conclusion of the game will not rule the Nenagh man out for the visit to Cork and Tipp also appeared to come through the Limerick game without injury worries – some positives for Tipperary from an evening they will want to quickly put behind them.

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