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Callanan: 'We were after losing enough'

Seamus Callanan pictured at the launch of the National Concussion Symposium at Croke Park.

Seamus Callanan pictured at the launch of the National Concussion Symposium at Croke Park.

By Cian O'Connell

"It was important, we were after losing enough," Seamus Callanan's crisp answer about just how relevant it was to win a second All Ireland medal.

Since 2010 Tipperary hurlers have endured plenty of painful defeats so this year ended in delightful and dynamic fashion. "The panel we have together, we have a very, very talented group," Callanan stated. 

"When you have a group like that, you need to put a few All Irelands together. It is disappointing when you don't when you feel you have a good enough panel to do it. 

"Now we will push on again, the year is over, the celebrations and the cup will be there. It is down in the history books, but now we have to move on to make a bit more."

Kilkenny had beaten Tipperary in the 2009, 2011, and 2014 deciders, but Callanan acknowledged the class of the striped outfit.

"I wouldn't mind losing to Kilkenny, there was never any shame in losing to that Kilkenny team. It was the greatest team that was ever around, there was no shame in that. 

"For ourselves, as any team, you don't like losing nevermind losing an All Ireland Final. You don't like losing any game, it was time to put down more."

Seamus Callanan scored 0-13 for Tipperary in the All Ireland Final.

Seamus Callanan scored 0-13 for Tipperary in the All Ireland Final.

Eamon O'Shea's coaching influence on Callanan's career continues with the Drom - Inch attacker stressing the role the former Tipperary manager played. "Definitely, in fairness all of the lads, Liam (Sheedy), Eamon, and Mick (Ryan). 

"With Eamon I was coming off not starting for two and a half years, Eamon at the start of the year said there are the frees, he gave me responsibility, he showed trust in me. 

"When someone does that you do all you can to repay that trust. He saw something in me which gave me great confidence then. We haven't looked back since. Mick was a selector in that set-up, now he is the manager and he is doing the same. It is all positive at the moment."

Callanan reckons Tipperary are better placed to deal with being the All Ireland champions compared to six years ago.

"I think the panel is mature, we have been around long enough, we have seen enough of hurt at this stage, whereas we hadn't seen as much in 2010," is Callanan's verdict. 

"It is a place we don't want to go again. The league fixtures were made last week, the thing rolls on. We are going to be the team that is aimed at, everyone is going to be having a go at us. We will have to get to higher levels to achieve, we can't be going out there thinking that the performance  of this year will be good enough next year because it won't be. 

"A lot of teams will be coming back hungry next year, Kilkenny will be back hungrier than ever. In my mind they are going to be the benchmark as they have been for years."