Cahill pleased to have come through tough assignment

By Shane Brophy

Tipperary manager Liam Cahill declared himself pleased to have continued his winning start to the National League after getting the better of Dublin at Croke Park on Saturday evening.

“Absolutely delighted,” he said of the five point win.

“I always knew that it was going to be a tough assignment up here.

“There’s a couple of players on the squad who haven't played in Croke Park before so I’m happy to get the result definitely. Not massively over-happy with a lot of aspects of our play. But another two points on the board and three (wins) from three now so happy enough.”

Tipp’s greater efficiency in taking their scoring chances was the difference as the Dubs had more shots at goal, particularly in the first half when they dominated possession. However, Tipp’s two second half goals from Conor Bowe and Jason Forde proved decisive.

“We were lucky to go in at half time a point up,” Cahill added.

“You’re correct in saying it was played on Dublin’s terms early on. They had a lot more movement than us, a lot more energy, but that’s probably what happens when you travel away from home and, you know, five o’clock in the evening - I am not making excuses, our energy wasn’t where it needed to be.

“But in fairness to the players they addressed it well at half time and started the second half really well.

“Conor Bowe’s chance was really well executed.

“We were probably a bit fortunate with the way the ball broke to Jason (Forde) for the second but Jason being Jason got a finish; when the half-chance was there, he was able to get the hurley to it and into the back of the net.

“It was grand to get the two goals, without them obviously we’d have been in a bit of bother.”

The Tipperary manager made six changes from the win over Kilkenny as he shuffled the pack once more, particularly the placing of Bryan O’Mara at full back with Michael Breen moving out to the wing.

“It was a new position for Bryan, at this level,” Cahill admitted.

“I thought Bryan played really well. The modern full back now in the game of hurling has to be able to hurl and have athleticism and be really composed on the ball.

“It is usually very difficult ball to defend nowadays as an inside back because forwards out the field are inclined to let in the ball that bit better than back in my time. Bryan has all that athleticism and I thought he did really well at full back for his first taste of playing at number three. So really happy with him.

“I suppose Mikey coming on the wing allows him to exploit his athleticism and his ability to get up and down the field and especially in the second half I thought he did that quite well.”

Breen felt first hand the quality of Dublin’s Donal Burke who finished with fifteen points, eight from play, six coming in the first half as he floated into space to great effect.

“Donal Burke is one of the best marksmen in the country, really, a really good forward,” Cahill added.

“He rotated a lot, started at 11 and was popping up all over the place. He is one of these I suppose modern forwards now that can appear anywhere and his movement created a lot of difficulty for us.

“Young Johnny Ryan in the second half kind of stemmed that a little bit and gave us a chance as a defensive six to try and put better shape on our structure and that back there and that helped to quench that a little bit.”

The game wasn’t without its negatives in terms of injury as Brian McGrath limped off just before half time with a recurrence of the hamstring injury sustained against Laois, while Conor Stakelum, who suffered a similar injury in that game was taken off at half time as a precaution, as was Jason Forde late on.

So, the fortnights break to their next game, a big one against Munster rivals Waterford.

“The two-week break will be very welcome,” Cahill admitted.

“It allows a few little niggles, muscle injuries to settle down.

“Yeah, I’m looking forward to another massive challenge in Thurles in two weeks’ time against Waterford.

“We’ve used just short of 30 players at the moment throughout the three games, so really happy with the panel, really happy with the options that are coming through the three games we’ve played.”