TIPP’S TARGET
We need peak form to beat Cats — Sheedy
TIPPERARY boss Liam Sheedy says his team will have to be at the ‘peak of their powers’ to beat Kilkenny in Sunday’s highly anticipated All-Ireland final.
Despite the dramatic nature of their comeback win in the semi-final against Wexford, Sheedy believes there needs to be significant improvement if they are to overcome Brian Cody’s side.
‘We know we have to be at the peak of our powers. We have seen enough over the period of play that these lads can bring a really strong performance, and they have a chance of being champions,’ said Sheedy. ‘If they are a bit off at all, there is no better team than Kilkenny to turn you over. They are an exceptional side.’
When John McGrath was sent off for a second yellow card offence early in the second half of Tipp’s semi-final — the same player had a goal disallowed in the first half — it seemed to sum up a frustrating afternoon for Tipperary, on a day when two other goals were disallowed.
And, despite the Premier County storming through to the final, it was a reality check for their
manager. ‘We could have been in real trouble if Wexford had taken some of those chances in the first half. It wasn’t a complete performance in the semi-final. There were aspects of our play in the first half that wouldn’t be at the level required to win the All-Ireland.’ In the immediate aftermath, Sheedy himself referenced how the players had answered any questions about character. ‘They were exceptional. We found space. We executed our passes to a much higher level than we had done in the first half. We showed a lot more energy with 14 than maybe at some stages in the first half when we were being over-run at times and it looked like all the space was being created by the midfielders and half-backs who were shooting forward in huge numbers. ‘Ultimately the last 20 minutes showed us the character of this team. That was probably the most pleasing aspect of it. All it has done is given us the right to play in the All-Ireland final... I thought the mental strength they showed over the last 20 minutes was a credit to them.’ The last time Sheedy was on the line for Tipperary in an All-Ireland hurling final, his team stopped Kilkenny’s historic five-ina-row bid in its tracks back in 2010. However, after stepping down in the wake of that famous victory, he insisted it ‘counts for nothing’ as he prepares to go up against Cody’s Kilkenny in Sunday’s repeat decider. ‘The final of 2010 is long gone. It is long gone. The game has changed. The teams have changed. Brian [Cody] has built a new team again. This is more or less a new team in Tipperary as well,’ he added. ‘2010 counts for nothing in this final. This is about two teams who managed to get themselves back into the All-Ireland final after losing provincial finals. Both are there on merit.’