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Liam Sheedy reflects on 'good day at the office'

Tipperary manager, Liam Sheedy, pictured during the closing stages of his team's Munster SHC victory over Cork. 

Tipperary manager, Liam Sheedy, pictured during the closing stages of his team's Munster SHC victory over Cork. 

By John Harrington

When Tipperary Liam Sheedy entered the Páirc Uí Chaoimh press-room after Sunday’s impressive Munster SHC victory over Cork he sat down with a sigh and jokingly exclaimed, "I’m too old for this!"

Some people were suggesting before the match that the team he picked might also be over the hill.

Five of them played on the 2010 All-Ireland SHC All-Ireland winning team and another two won All-Ireland U-21 titles the same year, so the age-profile of this Tipperary team is quite high compared to most in a game that's increasingly become the preserve of young men.

Age is only a number as far as Sheedy is concerned, though, and he was confident they would be able to produce the stunning performance that proved far too hot for Cork to handle today.

“I’m going on what I see in training, I’ve seen them up close for months now and seen the condition they have got themselves in,” said Sheedy after the match.

“I thought every line, the heroic defending we done finishing up there was very much to like but these guys are able to play.

“The day someone tells me that someone at 29 years of age is too old to play in championship hurling; that’s contrary to what I think.

“In fairness I have massive competition within my panel, some of these under-21’s are really good so it’s competitive.

“There could be changes again for next Sunday and changes to the overall panel but it’s competitive and has been for the last number of weeks and that’s what made me at ease with myself to know we had a really good chance of bringing a performance today and thankfully we did.”

Tipperary settled into the match far more quickly than Cork and, apart from a ten-minute spell in the second-half, were the dominant team throughout.

John McGrath celebrates scoring Tipperary's second goal against Cork in their Munster SHC first-round clash. 

John McGrath celebrates scoring Tipperary's second goal against Cork in their Munster SHC first-round clash. 

The skill, speed, and interplay of their offensive thrusts were a joy to behold at times. That 11 different players contributed to the 2-24 scored from play sums up just how good they were.

“Unless you get a performance down here you won’t win,” said Sheedy.

“I thought we found a good level, we started very well and gave ourselves a few points of a cushion but discipline in the first half probably cost us.

“We gave them eight points from placed balls and that was a bit of a downer, but I just felt psychologically to go in a point up we knew we had a small little bit of a wind at our backs in the second half, and it was a help.

“We got a great start to the second half and we got to three or four, and built on that. I just felt John McGrath’s goal was a piece of magic the way we worked the ball up, it was such a smashing ball across and the ball went into the back of the net.

“It was very hard for Cork to come back from that but in fairness to them they didn’t go away, in the last few moments you just always feel with Cork they are capable of cracking in a goal or two and they got a wonderful goal. But as I said thankfully we got some really nice points, I think we got 2-23 or so from play so that’s a good day at the office.”

Tipperary manager Liam Sheedy celebrates with his daughters Gemma and Aisling after the Munster GAA Hurling Senior Championship Round 1 match between Cork and Tipperary at Pairc Ui Chaoimh in Cork. 

Tipperary manager Liam Sheedy celebrates with his daughters Gemma and Aisling after the Munster GAA Hurling Senior Championship Round 1 match between Cork and Tipperary at Pairc Ui Chaoimh in Cork. 

The stock of this Tipperary team has risen considerably on the back of this performance but Sheedy was keen to stress after the match they’re still very much in the foothills of this Championship campaign.

Next up is Waterford in Semple Stadium in seven days time, and the Tipp manager’s sights are already very much trained on that target.

“It’s two points in the bank, it’s not any more,” he said. “Two points won’t get you anywhere in this championship, I think there was a one-point puck of a ball in the game at Walsh Park so the margins are going to be really tight.

“It’s a phenomenal championship, I think it’s the best championship around so whatever three teams come out on top will have earned it.

“But one performance won’t get you out, today is a good start and that’s exactly what it is. We need to go back, we need to rest our bodies and there’s a lot of tired limbs there. A lot of lads put their bodies on the line for 70-plus minutes. I’m delighted but I’m a realist and I realise that’s it’s only two points.

“The recovery starts now, we’ll get the recovery in. I think we have momentum, we are after winning a match so we’ll be mad to get out and get going again next Sunday.

“But again we are well aware of the challenge that comes, so we have just got to go back and do what these guys do.

“As I said, they are in with Tommy (Dunne) and Eamonn (O'Shea) and Darragh (Egan) beside them on the coaching side and they’ve got Carbs (Cairbre O Caireallan) on the S&C side and we know exactly what we need to do in terms of preparation for next Sunday and it’s massive match in Thurles.”