Sheedy laments error-strewn display

 

 

By Shane Brophy

 

 

In many ways it was one of the easier post-match press conferences of Liam Sheedy’s managerial career, despite his Tipperary side having fallen to a nine-point defeat to Limerick in the Munster semi-final on Sunday.

“The best team won,” was his simple first statement in addressing the defeat, admitting his surprise at how poor his sides performance was on the day.

“We felt we prepared very well,” he said.

“We came here today comprehensively beaten last year and I expected a reaction.

“I thought we started well, we got it back to a point after the goal but then were hit by a sucker blow straight away when Limerick got the goal and they picked off some good scores after.

“It was 1-12 to 1-8 and picked off five in a row to go in nine ahead at half time which left us a big mountain to climb.

“In the second half we got the first three points and brought it back to six and we were moving nicely but obviously the penalty was huge.”

However, the blows they sustained through the course of the game, many of them were self-inflicted from the concession of the first goal straight after Jake Morris’ goal had brought Tipperary back into the game in the first half, through to the second half penalty where a Padraic Maher fumble created the opening for Gearoid Hegarty.

“I thought the basic errors and unforced errors we made today is so uncustomary for my lads to make that many mistakes,” Sheedy said

“We coughed up possession so easily and we were turned over and when Limerick turn you over in that part of the pitch, they are going to pulverise you and they did that several times.

“We were only trying to hang onto them for long periods, we got the goal and got it back to five and I thought we might have a chance.

“At the end of the day Limerick were the better team, overall they outworked us, outmuscled us and we became one dimensional in the second half and that was the most disappointing aspect of the game was that we ended up raining long ball down where Limerick had loads of bodies back.

“We had a better shape to our forwards in the first half where we created space and a had a chance of creating some nice scores and left a few after us.

“Overall they are a powerful team and they sat back and we got sucked in and they played six, seven eight bodies back there and that was never going to play to our strengths so that is big learning for us as that is not how we reap the rewards.

“We got a nice score but ultimately we conceded way too much.”

In the miserable conditions with driving wind and rain, Tipperary won the toss but handed Limerick the initiative by giving them the advantage of the elements in the first half with Liam Sheedy’s thinking being it would take both teams time to adapt to the conditions.

“We thought maybe some of the Championship matches were slow starting and they didn’t find a rhythm in the first half so we thought maybe if we could try and batten down the hatches,” Sheedy said

“We had Alan (Flynn) playing deep on Cian (Lynch) and we had Paudie (Maher) sitting back.

“At 1-12 to 1-8 I thought we were doing fine but ultimately then, to go from four points (down) to nine points in that back end of the first half left us with a serious hill to climb and you don’t really want to be chasing the game against a team like Limerick because they’re very good to sit deep and to attack in numbers when they get the numbers up as well.”

He added: “I thought our man-marking, at times, on some of their players was fine. They have a very, very strong half-back line, especially in that first half when we were trying to get ball through there and we were struggling because they’re very strong and Diarmaid Byrnes is popping off the shoulder and he got some wonderful scores as well so they hurt us in that sector.

“We couldn’t really get the ball away to our men and even when we did get it away, we ended up getting turned over. We got it away a few times and then we gave it back to them and they pulverised us and put it over the bar. Just overall, we never found a flow on the restarts today and we weren’t on ball and if we’re not on ball we can’t obviously play to our full potential and that’s hugely disappointing for us, hugely.”

Playing into those elements meant that Tipperary had to work the ball up the field but were put under pressure in the middle through with Limerick’s physicality in the tackle preventing Liam Sheedy’s charges from moving the ball quickly and when the ball hit the deck, the Shannonsider’s were also sharper on the loose ball.

“Ultimately Limerick ran the middle of the field,” Sheedy added.

“We like to play with width and ultimately all the action today was down the middle. When you have the strength, they have down the middle they turn you over and when they do that they attack really quickly, and in numbers.

“They are a fine side but we are really disappointed as this team got to a really good level last year and we set high standards for ourselves and we didn’t really play to that standard today and that is very disappointing for me, the group of players, and for the supporters watching at home because when we do put on that jersey we want to represent it well and we came up a good bit short today in how we played and the amount of errors we made which is very uncustomary.

“We are thankful there isn’t a trapdoor here, we could be in a football championship this evening where we are gone out of the championship so we have a bit of soul searching to do for a few days but we are just happy to have a second bite at the cherry.”

The fear coming into the game was that not having a competitive game under their belt compared to Limerick would be a disadvantage for Tipperary and while it played a part, Liam Sheedy wasn’t using it as an excuse and is confident that his team will benefit from it for their qualifier game on 14-15 November.

We’ve had internal matches, we’ve had enough of trainings, but nothing really prepares you for the cut and thrust of Championship,” he said

“We would have liked to have had a game but no excuses. The fact that we didn’t have a match, I wouldn’t lay any of the blame to that.

“Ultimately, we did not play to our potential. I’m watching these guys for the last five, six weeks and I’m watching them for the last two years. I know what they bring to the pitch and we would not be happy with how we performed today and we’ve got a short window to try and turn it around but I’ll bank on these guys, they won’t give it up soft so we’ve to look forward to the healing process now and getting back out on that pitch is our sole aim at this stage.