TIPPERARY’S VICTORY OVER Cork in the All-Ireland hurling semi-final may not have come as a major surprise to many, but the manner by which they steamrolled over the Rebels was something few had anticipated.
Speaking to Newstalk’s Off the Ball last night, Cork selector Seanie McGrath was adamant his side didn’t underestimate the Premier County before the game.
“It was very obvious all week leading up to the game that the guys were really, really up for it. The training was desperate sharp on Tuesday and Thursday,” McGrath said.
“We finished up on Thursday and we were really happy and felt that they were focused.
“I’d suppose just on the day, you know, we were beaten by a better side definitely albeit we didn’t really perform anywhere near our maximum or anywhere near what we had done earlier in the Munster campaign and all in all, it was just a really, really poor day at the office and we were terribly disappointed.
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“Having said that we knew it was going to be a really, really hard game and we didn’t go into the game in any way underestimating Tipperary. Quite the opposite. We knew it was going to be a massive challenge.”
Damien Cahallane was dejected after the final whistle went on Sunday. Donall Farmer / INPHO
Donall Farmer / INPHO / INPHO
McGrath and the rest of the management team said the alarm bells started ringing as Cork’s wide count continued to rise in the first-half, something which they hadn’t seen in previous games this year.
“We shot I think it was 10 wides in the first half and the stats had been kinda averaging seven for a whole game, so you were already after going past the season’s average.
“We were at 10 [wides] at half-time. We were still only two points down and we felt we’d a good chance going into the wind and everything, but at half-time we were worried.
Rather than taking Eamon O’Shea’s men for granted, McGrath believes it was just a case of a day where a number of key men didn’t perform.
“We were unlucky on the day that four or five of our really key players, just had an off-day. And that’s what it was. It’s terribly disappointing but at the end of the day its spot, no-one had died.”
McGrath made it clear that while Jimmy Barry Murphy has made no decision yet regarding his future, he must be praised for what he has achieved in his three year term.
Jimmy Barry Murphy shakes Patrick Cronin's hand after he is replaced. James Crombie / INPHO
James Crombie / INPHO / INPHO
“Jimmy obviously does his own thing and in time will decide. I think it’s a bit early anyway and a small bit raw, he obviously just wants to let the week settle and regroup maybe next week and have a think about it then.
“Whether he decides to stay or go I think he’s done a marvelous job. The team is a good side. We’ve got to three [All-Ireland] semi-finals in-a-row, won a provincial title, got to two Munster finals and got to a National League final.”
Seanie McGrath: Cork didn't underestimate Tipperary last Sunday
TIPPERARY’S VICTORY OVER Cork in the All-Ireland hurling semi-final may not have come as a major surprise to many, but the manner by which they steamrolled over the Rebels was something few had anticipated.
Speaking to Newstalk’s Off the Ball last night, Cork selector Seanie McGrath was adamant his side didn’t underestimate the Premier County before the game.
“It was very obvious all week leading up to the game that the guys were really, really up for it. The training was desperate sharp on Tuesday and Thursday,” McGrath said.
“We finished up on Thursday and we were really happy and felt that they were focused.
“Having said that we knew it was going to be a really, really hard game and we didn’t go into the game in any way underestimating Tipperary. Quite the opposite. We knew it was going to be a massive challenge.”
McGrath and the rest of the management team said the alarm bells started ringing as Cork’s wide count continued to rise in the first-half, something which they hadn’t seen in previous games this year.
“We shot I think it was 10 wides in the first half and the stats had been kinda averaging seven for a whole game, so you were already after going past the season’s average.
“We were at 10 [wides] at half-time. We were still only two points down and we felt we’d a good chance going into the wind and everything, but at half-time we were worried.
Rather than taking Eamon O’Shea’s men for granted, McGrath believes it was just a case of a day where a number of key men didn’t perform.
McGrath made it clear that while Jimmy Barry Murphy has made no decision yet regarding his future, he must be praised for what he has achieved in his three year term.
“Jimmy obviously does his own thing and in time will decide. I think it’s a bit early anyway and a small bit raw, he obviously just wants to let the week settle and regroup maybe next week and have a think about it then.
“Whether he decides to stay or go I think he’s done a marvelous job. The team is a good side. We’ve got to three [All-Ireland] semi-finals in-a-row, won a provincial title, got to two Munster finals and got to a National League final.”
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COMP:ALL-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship GAA Rebels Cork