Jason Forde reacts - 'I said to Liam we couldn’t leave things the way they were'

After helping Tipperary reclaim the All-Ireland title with a stirring win over Cork, Jason Forde spoke about the journey from last year’s low point to hurling’s biggest stage - and why walking away was never an option.

Despite a tough championship campaign the previous season, the Silvermines star felt a deep responsibility to stay involved and help rebuild.

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“After the season finishes, you’re meeting a lot of people and they’re wondering if you're going back. People are nearly writing you off,” Forde admitted.

“I said to Liam (Cahill) we couldn’t leave things the way they were. Having played with Tipp for 13 seasons and won All-Irelands to leave on that note wouldn’t have been right.

“You could see the glimmer of hope with the younger players that were coming. There was no one talking about winning All-Irelands, it was about getting pride back in the jersey.”

That pride came flooding back in Croke Park, and Forde credits the remarkable turnaround to the steady progression under manager Liam Cahill and the impact of several newcomers who lit up the championship.

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“This is Liam’s third year with this group of players. And the couple of younger lads we are after finding, exceptional players in Darragh (McCarthy), Sam (O’Farrell) and Oisín (O’Donoghue) that we didn’t have last year.”

The foundations of this title run were laid on the training ground. The work ethic and fitness levels, he said, gave them the edge in the tightest moments.

“We just went back to the grindstone and we trained really, really hard. We’ve been finishing the games really strong and we put that down to the work our S&C has done. When it comes down to the last 10 minutes we have the legs. The boys coming off the bench finish the job as well.”

Recalling the sting of last year’s exit, Forde admitted that the players had to take collective responsibility and find the answers themselves.

“We were so hurt after last year. Tipp is obviously such a mad hurling county and a lot of us are living close to the big towns and meeting people.

"I remember meeting Jake Morris a couple of weeks afterwards and you’re nearly ashamed walking around after the manner we went out.

“We said as a group all year there is nobody going to come and save us. We had to go back and put in the work and drag ourselves out of it. And thank God we did.”

A pivotal moment on the road to the final came with a thrilling win over Clare in Ennis - a game that signalled Tipp were beginning to reconnect with their fanbase.

“Munster is so tight, that Clare game and the Tipp crowd cheering us into the stadium. We were starting to reconnect with the supporters. To go down to Ennis, it is a really tough place to go to the All-Ireland champions.

"That game was in the melting pot with five minutes to go. A couple of big scores got us over the line. After that game things were starting to open up.”

From the bitterness of a humbling exit to the euphoria of lifting the Liam MacCarthy Cup, Forde’s words echo the resilience and unity that defined Tipperary’s resurgence.

PICTURES: Tipperary players bask in All-Ireland victory with proud partners and families