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Tipp manager Liam Cahill 'thrilled' after All-Ireland U-20 win

Tipperary manager Liam Cahill celebrates a late score during the 2019 Bord Gáis Energy GAA Hurling All-Ireland U20 Championship Final match between Cork and Tipperary at LIT Gaelic Grounds in Limerick.

Tipperary manager Liam Cahill celebrates a late score during the 2019 Bord Gáis Energy GAA Hurling All-Ireland U20 Championship Final match between Cork and Tipperary at LIT Gaelic Grounds in Limerick.

By John Harrington

Tipperary manager, Liam Cahill, was thrilled with his team’s powerful performance in tonight’s Bord Gáis Energy All-Ireland U-20 Final victory over Cork, but not hugely surprised.

He’d seen enough in training over the course of the past couple of weeks to convinced they were going to play to their full potential in the LIT Gaelic Grounds this evening.

“Sure, absolutely thrilled,” said Cahill after the match. “Thrilled for the players, really. They put in a super performance.

“Were true to their word when we put our thoughts together over the last couple of weeks. The last week had been phenomenal.

“I knew by the way they were training. Like, Tuesday night, Jerome (Cahill), Paddy (Cadell), and Jake (Morris) came back and they were hopping off the sod. Fellas that had won a senior All-Ireland two days previously.

“It was just an absolute credit to them, they came with real intent last Tuesday night. We played 12 or 14 minutes of a match and it was as good a quality as I've ever seen.

“I said if these fellas are beat Saturday I'll throw my hat at it. It's easy say that I suppose when you win, but that's the feeling I had.

“I'm just thrilled for the players. They're a marvellous bunch of young men. They just absolutely embrace everything we're about.”

Tipperary laid the foundation for their victory with a devastating four-goal burst in the first eight minutes of the match.

“I've never had as good a start as that, no,” said Cahill. “All-Ireland Final Day, you dream of starts like that.

“But, as I said, without sounding anyway arrogant in any way shape or form, they were giving me all them vibes all the week up to the match.”

Cahill has now led Tipperary teams to All-Ireland titles in the minor, U-20, and U-21 grade.

There’s a deep reservoir of hurling talent in the county at the moment, but Cahill is adamant that’s no guarantee of success going forward and urged his young charges to now make their mark in the senior grade.

“There are some players in there now who have minor, U-20, U-21, and Senior All-Irelands,” he said. “And, you know what, they're still only 20 years of age.

“It's very volatile. They've achieved a lot very young, so it's case of them keeping their wits about them. Please God they will step up to senior, which the majority of them will, it's about managing that and making sure they don't get ahead of themselves.

“We've been known to do that in Tipp down the years. I hope this won't be a repeat of 2010.”