Kennedy injury blow, but Tipp can bounce back against Cork, says Heffernan

Tipperary lost out to Waterford in the first round of the All-Ireland Camogie Championship

Tipperary senior camogie manager James Heffernan admitted his side were second best to Waterford in Walsh Park on Sunday, but insisted there is plenty of belief within the Premier camp as they prepare for another crucial championship outing against Cork next weekend.

A month after defeating the Déise in the Munster final, Tipperary found themselves on the wrong side of the result in their opening Glen Dimplex All-Ireland Senior Camogie Championship group game, with Waterford emerging three-point winners on home soil.

Reflecting on the defeat, Heffernan was honest in his assessment of the performance and felt Waterford deserved their victory.

"Yeah, sure, I suppose where do you start? I just have to give credit to Waterford. They really kind of, I suppose, outfought us. Out-hurled us probably for a lot of it. We just never really got a foothold into it.

"Even though we showed some glimpses in the first half, the ball handling stuff didn't quite stick, our first touch didn't quite stick.

"I think you have to give us a bit of credit. We kind of fought hard in the second half, but we kind of stayed in the game. We stayed within probably two or three points for most of the second half, but never realistically looked like winning there.

"So look, very disappointed, but we just have to recover now and go again for next week."

The defeat leaves Tipperary facing another major test when Cork visit The Ragg next weekend. The Rebels arrive on the back of an impressive victory over Galway and Heffernan knows his side will need an immediate response.

Despite Sunday's setback, the manager remains confident in the character and resilience within the squad.

"Look, I suppose Cork's back is to the wall now next week and Waterford's back was to the wall today.

"We just have to come out fighting, and there's a great fight in our dressing room. Everything doesn't go out the window because you lose one game.

"It was all kind of positive there for most of the championship. We felt we kind of stepped up in training, but we just didn't live with Waterford today.

"But look, our basics kind of let us down. That's all kind of fixable in a game. Your first touch, showing for puck-outs, that's all kind of stuff that can improve in the space of a week.

"There's very little we can do now in the week. It'll be all recovery with some sore bodies, but yeah, look, there's loads that we can take from it."

"They seemed to get in behind us a good bit in the second half, whereas we didn't really get that.

"We had one really good goal chance in the first half, but obviously the idea was to get the ball in fast and early and it probably didn't happen enough for us.

"Maybe our shot selection at times, we could have been taking our scores and we tried to maybe work a goal, but I could never criticise anyone for trying to create a goal chance.

"Being a point up realistically with that breeze wasn't ideal, but we still kind of stayed in the game regardless.”

There was also concern for talismanic players Karen Kennedy, who was forced off through injury, with Heffernan fearing the experienced defender could face a spell on the sidelines.

"It looks like a pretty serious calf injury. Regardless of what it is, it'll probably be a couple of weeks anyway.

"Karen will try her level best to get back as soon as possible.

"You're going to pick up injuries, you're going to pick up knocks, and you just have to focus on who you have available for every game. That's going to be the case again for next week."

Tipperary now turn their attention to Cork knowing that another huge championship challenge lies ahead, but Heffernan is backing his players to respond after a disappointing afternoon in Walsh Park.