Ronan Maher still leading by example

Even when times were tough, Ronan Maher stayed believing that there would be better days ahead for Tipperary.

So, it has transpired. Following the disappointment of 2024 when Tipperary's summer ended early, Liam Cahill's have enjoyed a productive campaign.

The Tipperary captain was adamant that the blue and gold team had the ability to earn a top three finish in the always competitive Munster SHC. "Oh yeah, 100%, and I don't think you're at much if you don't believe that you can," Maher says.

"That belief comes from the preparation that we've done throughout the winter, the work that we've put in together. We're a really close group, and obviously last year was a huge setback to us. I suppose you take all that together and you get confidence from the prep that you've put in, and that gives you belief when you go into the Munster Championship.

"So, it was always our aim to get out of Munster, and we got out of Munster, and thankfully we've stayed going. We've always believed any day we go out, we can beat any team, once we arrive on the field prepared and ready to give it our all. But yeah, definitely the belief was there from the start of the year."

Maher has enjoyed successful days in the Tipperary jersey, but the unity of the current crop is vital according to the Thurles Sarsfields' stalwart. "Having a tight group is everything, sure," Maher explains. "I suppose we try to block out everything. We block out all social media.

"Some of us don't go on social media, so you're not listening to that outside noise. But obviously in Tipperary, our supporters can be tough at times, and rightly so. We've always been like that, and if results aren't going your way, we will hear about it.

"That's where your tight group comes in. I suppose it's focusing on training every single night that you go up. The tighter we are as a group, and the harder we work through the pre-season, we know we have ourselves prepped and we focus on ourselves rather than on the outside noise.

It's definitely a skill that you have to learn as you go on through the years. It's a tight group, and I feel like we've got a lot tighter this year. "I think I've seen that on the pitch as well. It's impacted us hugely. And it's not false either. It's a really good close group of players together."

As an experienced figure in the leadership group, Maher is always keen to help players in the panel deal with setbacks. "Listen, as captain, you do have to have those conversations," Maher says.

"There were a lot of tough conversations between everybody in the past while. But I'm just hugely honoured to be captain of such a great team, that we've really come up a few levels this year.

"There's so many leaders in that group, so many lads that have been around for a good few years. I'm really just thrilled and honoured to represent them.

"There's plenty of leaders underneath me as well. We're all driving this group as much as we can. That's what gets you through these tough games, having those leaders in the group.

"There's any amount of them there, but it's a really healthy environment at the minute. I suppose our next focus is just the next game. That's the way we've approached it through the year."

Maher acknowledges that last year hurt as Tipperary watched the All-Ireland series unfold. "There was a lot of sleepless nights anyway since we finished up in the championship," Maher recalls.

"There was a lot of tough conversations had from players to players. The management had tough conversations with us. We were all in it together really.

"There were a few little changes. We went back and we trained and we were really looking forward to getting back into training. You just really want to right those wrongs and come together as a group because when you're away from each other it's really hard and you're thinking the whole time. It was definitely a tough part of the year.

"We knew when we finished up against Clare last year in Semple Stadium, we were almost talking about it then and we were ready to go for the following year. Because it just really wasn't us as a group. We've parked that now.

"It's a totally different group of players. This is a new group of players together. The focus is always on what you can do going forward rather than looking back.

"We take our learnings from that. It just shows that you have to have the prep and everything done before going into the championship and having the head in the right place."

With a new wave of talent emerging, Maher sensed that possibilities existed. "Yeah, you would because they're a really mature group of young players," Maher replies. "We've seen what they've done underage as well and they've had huge success. They're really, really mature.

"When they come into training, they're really driving everybody on. It's like they've been there for a couple of years. I think you can see that in their performances when they're on the field.

"It's been really positive seeing them in training. They've got into the team. They've challenged people. The competition there for positions is very good and healthy at the minute. That drives everything. That's the most important thing.

"All those lads are well capable of playing. They've fitted in really well and they've freshened up everything for us."

As the All-Ireland SHC Final on Sunday against Cork nears, Cahill's contribution to the Tipperary revival has been critical according to Maher. "It's great to get him back up to Croke Park, and I think he deserves it more than anybody else," Maher says.

"We put down a tough season last year, obviously, and I suppose we as players didn't represent Liam the way he should have been represented last year. That was our aim, just to get back playing for him, and for the management team, and the way they've brought us up, and how to play hurling for Tipperary, but he's unbelievable.

"He's unbelievable when he takes drills, and he's unbelievable in the dressing room, and I couldn't think of anybody else that we'd like there at the minute. He's been unbelievable, and he supports us in every way possible that we can, so he's unbelievable for us, yeah."

Maher is leading by example on the pitch too.