Retaining All-Ireland title isn't at the top of Tipperary's list of priorities

“I can genuinely say, every night we’ve come into training since we commenced last November, there’s never been a feeling around the expectation of doing back-to-back All-Irelands," says Tipperary manager Liam Cahill, as his team prepares for Sunday's Munster Senior Hurling Championship first round game against Cork in Thurles.

"It’s something that is bandied about out there but for us, and I would be the first to feel it personally, we will come into training every night, I prepare behind the scenes, in relation to having the squad ready, and having all the logistics side of it done. And that (back-to-back) never enters our head, it’s always about trying to keep consistent in our performances, and keep trying to improve.

“It doesn’t really feel that we won the All-Ireland last year, it genuinely doesn’t. We still have the same appetite to keep proving ourselves, both as players and management. And once you’re feeling that I think you’re in a good place to try and get results. That has been the overall feeling of the group over the last number of months, since we commenced training in November”.

The manager has also spoken about the double-edged sword that is winning the All-Ireland final.

“It has been more difficult to get your early work done, because of the commitments that come with being successful last year. It is a huge ask of players and management to work around what comes from winning the All-Ireland from every aspect, from getting out and about meeting people through schools and various fundraisers, and benefit meetings, to the corporate side of things as well.

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“But I have to say since we came back at the end of November into training, the players have shown a huge appetite and a real accountability to one another to say, look it, there’s nothing guaranteed here but we’re going to give ourselves every chance, and they’ve prepared really well. The backroom team have been rowing in behind them, straight away.

“Complacency is something that hasn’t been an issue. Again, I would be the first to know and I’d have that feeling in your gut if something wasn’t right. I do know over the last number of weeks we have been preparing really well behind the scenes, that we’re in a good place.

“The players are starting to come into really good form, fitness-wise we’re very happy where we’re at, and we’re just hoping over the last couple of sessions, through the last bits and pieces of the work we have to do before April 19 that we come through them unscathed, and have a healthy panel to pick from. We’re happy we’ve done what we can do to be ready for what’s coming”.

The Tipp manager has also spoken about captain Ronan Maher, following his recovery from surgery on a groin injury.

“He missed quite a bit of the league but he’s a guy who has come through this kind of process before. He’s a hugely determined man, I don’t have to explain much in relation to Ronan’s resilience and availability to get himself right for the big day.

“He’ll arrive ready like he always does in a Tipperary jersey and he’s training really well at the moment, and I’m very happy with where he’s at. We’ll be hoping that Ronan will be ready to hit the ground running and obviously we’ll need Ronan and everyone else in the same fettle to get the job done”.

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