REACTION: “It’s unforgivable at this level”, says Tipp boss Cahill on missed chances in draw

Liam Cahill admitted Tipperary were left to rue missed opportunities as their Allianz National Hurling League campaign ended with a high-scoring draw against Kilkenny at FBD Semple Stadium on Saturday evening.

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In an open and entertaining contest, Tipp created enough chances to win the game, but Cahill pointed to key moments that ultimately proved costly.

“Look, happy that we didn't lose the game, I suppose, first off. Could have maybe, you know, could have won the game, to be honest, yeah.

"But a couple of goal chances maybe went begging and that would have put a decent bit of daylight between the teams. But when you don't take them, you pay the price with Kilkenny because they never go away and they did typically what Kilkenny do.”

The contest was an enjoyable spectacle for supporters, though Cahill acknowledged there were aspects of his side’s play that will need improvement ahead of championship.

“Yeah, I mean, it was a great game. From a neutral perspective, it was a great game to watch. Up and down, both teams having the right go at it.

"It looked that on the line, they seemed to be fairly free-flowing. Yeah, I'd say it was a game that had quite a number of handling errors and mistakes in it as well.

You know, we would be disappointed with some of our handling issues, which hurt us in hindsight. But all in all, a good, fast, competitive game and, you know, first bit of good weather coming into play as well, which is great.

"Yeah, and, you know, it just shows that when the ground is getting better and the ball is getting drier, the hurling gets better as well from both sides. So, yeah, a good workout leading into Championship.”

Despite defeats earlier in the campaign, Cahill believes the league has been beneficial overall, particularly in terms of squad development.

“Yeah, I would have been disappointed, obviously, with, you know, the two games that we lost. Disappointed, really, I suppose, with the Limerick game here on the night, just with our energy levels on that particular occasion.

"But I think the league, again, has been great. It's been really beneficial to us getting, you know, opportunities into players that are coming onto the scene.

"And I suppose towards the latter stages of this league, we've got some more experienced players back on the field after being laid up with little injuries and that.

"So, yeah, we're just coming in at the right time now to really go after our touch work and our last bit of sharp fitness work leading into the first round of the Munster Championship.”

Players returning from injury, including Ronan Maher, Alan Tynan and Brian McGrath, were among those to get valuable minutes.

“Yeah, they were all, you know, just start-stop with injuries.

So, you know, you can train, you know, training has been great. The lads have been training really well, but there's no substitute for playing in an environment like that tonight.

"We've got a good bank into them. We will have one or two maybe workouts now again before the Championship. But as I said, it's good to have got that bank of work into those players in particular.”

Jake Morris impressed with 1-5 on the day, despite the recent passing of his grandfather.

“Yeah, look, Jake was excellent again today. And he's, you know, a key player for us in Tipperary. And I suppose, you know, it was a tough night for him as well after the passing of his grandfather, Jimmy.

"And we send all our deepest condolences to the Morris family and everybody in Nenagh GAA club as well on the passing of Jimmy late last night.

"But Jake was adamant that Jimmy would request him to play the game. And, you know, he was always very, very proud of Jake. And he can be very proud of him again tonight.”

With attention now turning to the Munster Senior Hurling Championship, Cahill confirmed Tipperary will use the coming weeks to sharpen up key areas.

“Yeah, it looks like a lot of the heavy work is banked. So we will be really going after our hurling, you know, that sharpness in our hurling. By the end of the month, we'll have the long evenings, new time will be in.

"So we'll be ready to get a good bit of daylight into training sessions. So we'll be hoping to really sharpen everyone's touch-up. And, you know, based on tonight, we really need to because we (the coaching team) are always encouraging our lads to be brave on the ball.

"But tonight, we were a little bit silly on the ball. You know, there's a big difference between being brave on the ball and being silly on the ball.

"So we definitely need to re-look at that and make sure that our hurling is suitable to the risk we want to take, especially when we go to work that ball out.

"Obviously, after tonight, when it comes to putting away goal chances as well, we really have to go after that because you just can't miss three or four goal chances from point-blank range. It's unforgivable at this level.

"They're all the little areas we go after. But in general, we're, you know, in a decent enough place. But need a bit of luck now over the next three or four weeks to get through healthy and well for the 19th of April.”

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