Tipperary hurling manager Liam Cahill looks on the bright side of league semi-final defeat

Despite their six-point defeat by Limerick in the Allianz National League semi-final there were “massive positives” to take from Saturday night’s game at the TUS Gaelic Grounds, according to Tipperary manager Liam Cahill.

“We’re under no illusions in Tipperary that this is long-term,” he stated.

“The goal for us is that we want to stay winning matches, we’ve done that throughout the league up to tonight.

“But the big positives for me are the likes of Alan Tynan, Gearoid O’Connor and many others throughout tonight, who showed real ability that they are able to step up to that type of tempo and intensity.

“So there was a lot to like about us as well in the first half, that we will have to try and build on and really get in behind what didn’t work for us in the second half.

“We did reasonably well in the first half, we went in (at half-time) four points up and looked to be executing what we spoke about.

“I thought we dealt with what Limerick threw at us early on in the first half reasonably well.

“We spoke about starting the second half well, but Limerick found their flow there for a ten or fifteen minute period and typical Limerick, they just put you to the sword, and they seemed to be coming in wave after wave.

“We struggled to control our own puckout, we struggled with breaks in key areas around the middle of the field and the half forward line.

“They ran at us at pace and when you have big players like that with composure and All-Ireland medals under their belt consistently over the last couple of years, they make good decisions on the ball and win frees, and with Aaron Gillane scoring frees at vital stages in the second half that put the icing on the cake for them”.

When it was put to him that his team did very well in the first half trying to stop Limerick’s second pass, in that they couldn’t get the third runner moving up the field, but that Limerick were more successful with that tactic after half-time, he said “We’re not alone in Tipperary in trying to stop Limerick and how they do that.

“We did quite well for 35 minutes but then struggled after that.

“You need big fitness levels, big physicality, a good hurling brain, everything that’s required now in the game and Limerick seemed to have it in abundance.

“John Kiely tonight had the luxury of having five All-Stars on the bench behind him as well, and Darragh O’Donovan didn’t start the match.

“They don’t look like stopping any time soon, to be fair”.

Tipp are now setting their sights on the Munster Championship, when they aim to improve upon last year’s dismal record when they failed to win a match. They play Clare in Ennis in the opening round on April 23, followed by a trip to Cork on May 6.

Their third game is at home to Limerick on May 21 and they conclude the campaign at home to Waterford on the following Sunday, May 28.