Pádraic Maher pictured at the launch of the Bord Gáis Energy GAA Legends Tour Series 2023. Bord Gáis Energy’s hugely popular GAA Legends Tour will return for 2023 and features a stellar line-up of Gaelic Games icons. For a full schedule of the Bord Gáis Energy GAA Legends Tour and details of how to book a place on a tour, visit crokepark.ie/legends. Booking is essential as the tours sell out quickly. Photo by Brendan Moran/Sportsfile
By Cian O’Connell
Tipperary selector Pádraic Maher is encouraged that the blue and gold team left Cusack Park armed with the full complement of Munster Championship spoils on Sunday afternoon.
A crucial provincial opener unfolded at the Ennis venue with Liam Cahill’s new look outfit securing a 5-22 to 3-23 victory.
“It was a great start,” Maher says. “Our main aim at the start of the year was to go there, to start well below in Ennis.
“It is always a tough place to go. So the aim was to get two points and thankfully we have done that. It gives us a great boost heading into the Cork game now.”
That several emerging players in the panel contributed handsomely for Tipperary added to the feel good factor according to Maher.
“Definitely, I think we counted four or five lads that started their first championship game for Tipp,” Maher responds. “It is a hard place to go - Ennis, it is fairly hostile down there with the crowd and atmosphere.
“To come through that with a win, lads getting that experience is great. There has been a bit of a change in the panel in the last number of years, so it was good to get the start we did. We had a decent league campaign. So it was important we brought that into the first game.”
Generating momentum is important, but Maher acknowledges that another demanding assignment awaits for Tipperary in Páirc Uí Chaoimh on May 6.
“Exactly, it is great to have two points on the board, but you have to go to deliver again in a week and half again,” Maher says.
Tipperary selector Pádraic Maher. Photo by Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile
“That is the cut and thrust of the round robin, it is very exciting to be part of and to watch as a supporter. For the players they have to come down off the buzz of last Sunday quickly to concentrate now on the Cork game.”
Forced to retire from hurling due to injury, Maher is relishing being involved in Cahill’s set-up. “It is different in ways, but it is still great to be involved in that kind of an environment,” he says.
“You are seeing a lot of things from the other side of the coin as they say. It is great to be involved in some way or in some capacity helping out in whatever way I can. At the moment I'm enjoying it.
"The boys are a great little group and they are fairly easy to work with being honest.”
With the highly regarded Michael Bevans involved in a coaching capacity, Maher is delighted to be helping the Tipperary seniors.
“I'm just assisting Mikey, a few of us are there assisting him, he is the main head coach,” Maher explains. “We are just assisting him then with whatever he needs help with on the pitch.
“We give our bit of advice, whatever we are seeing from afar. He is going to be stuck in the cut and thrust of every drill in every training session. We can stand back a bit to give our tuppence on what we see in front of us which is great.
“You need a lot of bodies around the place, there is a lot going on when you have a panel of nearly 40 players. There is a lot of people that you have to be in constant contact with.
“It is great, we divide out the different jobs and responsibilities between us as a management team. It is very enjoyable at the moment.”
