RUMOUR MILL AFFECTED US: CAHILL
TIPPERARY defender Mickey Cahill has admitted that constant and often salacious rumours about the players made it a difficult year. Tipperary came into the season as All-ireland holders though relinquished their hold on both the Munster and All-ireland trophies and were also beaten in the League final. The rumour mill went into overdrive when defensive colleague Cathal Barrett was dropped from the panel in May for disciplinary reasons. Padraic Maher, the Tipperary captain, described the rumours as ‘ridiculous’ at the time and insisted that the players simply laughed at them. Yet Cahill acknowledged that they took their toll. “Yeah, from that point of view it was a tough year. That stuff doesn’t help when you are trying to prepare, you have this kind of nonsense going on in the background and people driving on these rumours,” he said. “That is never going to help any team. As much as you put it to the back of your head, some of it does creep in. “Whatever it is about Tipperary, rumours seem to fly.” Barrett, an All-star in 2016, wasn’t recalled to the Tipperary panel during the Championship though Cahill is optimistic he will get his chance again. That could come as soon as next month when Tipperary compete in the AIG Fenway Hurling Classic in Boston, a four-team event in an 11-a-side format. Cahill added: “He is probably one of the best corner-backs in the country. I have no doubt he will get that chance again and it’s up to Cathal then.”