Cahill and players are determined to right the Tipperary ship

By Shane Brophy

Tipperary manager Liam Cahill said there is a determination amongst him, his management team, and players to be a team the supporters will be proud of in 2025.

In a wide ranging interview with Paul Carroll on Tipp FM’s Across the Line on Friday evening, the Ballingarry clubman said every aspect of what they did in the disappointing 2024 campaign was reviewed and highlighted some key areas that need to be corrected, key among them in being hard to beat once more.

"That Tipperary spirit that maybe wasn't there as often as we'd like it to be last year; that's something that really hasn't sat with me at all after the year we've had in 2024,” he said.

“I know the players are really determined to make sure that they are applying themselves well every day they go out.”

Cahill said there were glimpses of that resilience in 2024 but not enough and that a lack of consistency dogged them throughout and that is one area they must improve in.

“We were hit for a sucker blow against Limerick in the first round, and it is extremely difficult to come back in six days to get yourself sorted for a massive gave in Walsh Park, which we did, we didn’t play as well as we would like to have had on the day, but we did get something out of it.

“We got hit for six after half time against Cork in Thurles and what we take out of it is it was a tough week after that leading into the Clare game and the way the players applied themselves even though we had nothing to play for, only our pride, and the players took massive ownership after that and said the year is gone but we needed to ensure we kept Clare and the competition honest, and redeem ourself to some extent, and put some building blocks in place for the coming year in 2025, and that was our main focus.

“On reflection, our consistency and, lets call a spade a spade, our ability to see out games as well, needs to improve, and we have been working hard in the background with the various coaches and from my own side as well that we have the right people in behind us to improve the areas that let us down in 2024.”

He added: “Championship hurling is played over seventy-plus minutes, and you have to be able to perform at the levels required.

“Definitely, from my point of view there were parts of our play that were reflective of what we were doing in training, but it is to bring that consistency into our play, with our fitness base to be able to execute it properly, that we need to work on for the year ahead.

“There were several aspects of our play that would give you some encouragement that, yes, the base is there, it is the case now of bringing that consistency to our game.”

CHANGING OF THE GUARD

With the retirements of Patrick Maher and Dan McCormack, and with Cathal Barrett and Barry Heffernan not involved, there is very much a fresh look to the Tipperary panel with sixteen new faces in the 45 man training squad.

"We've been blessed in Tipperary for quite a number of years with generational players and unfortunately time doesn't stand still it moves on,” Cahill added.

“These decisions are difficult. I have huge respect for every player that has put on a Tipperary jersey. I as a manager have to make sure that we're doing right by the squad going forward into 2025 and that we have the right players that have shown their form through their club to be able to put their hands up to play for Tipperary.

"There were a few decisions from players, deciding to travel, they're all personal decisions they have to make themselves and we respect that but it's not a place for the faint-hearted anymore as regards what's required to play at this level and we need to make sure that everybody is fully, 100% committed to be able to do what's required to come to the levels that are needed."

He added: “We try our best to reward these players that are showing through they clubs that they are capable of coming into an inter-county set-up.

“It was really encouraging with our minors under Woody and the under 20’s under Brendan the way we salvaged something out of the year. While our minors are still a bit away, there are five of the under 20’s in with me now and they are really good promising young players.

“Darragh McCarthy has proven through his club campaign and with the under 20’s and was one example last year where we were very tempted to put our hand on and use when things weren’t going as well as we would have liked because of what he was showing.

“But for me to do my job right I have to make sure that these players are fully ready to step up and that might not have been the best decision at the time last year if that happened so while it is nice to have all these young players in and is really encouraging, it is still unchartered waters for them all to see are they really going to be capable of stepping up and that is part of the remit, to develop these players at the right speed and pace, and ensure they have good long healthy careers with Tipperary when the penny does drop that they are capable of playing.

“The saying is, if you are good enough, you are old enough, and that’ll be the judge when you see the training we are going through at the moment and how they come through it physically more so than anything else.

“It is a case of getting these players through and also the case of doing right by the player as well, that he is given the ample opportunities when he is ready to be able to play at this level, as it has moved on so much over the last five to six years as to the physical preparation that is required now which is phenomenal. Players develop at different levels at different stages.”

Leadership

However, there is one consistent element remaining on the playing side in the form of Noel McGrath who has committed for a sixteenth season with Cahill admitting it is a welcome endorsement of the management.

“His record speaks for itself, his club performances this year alone, if you were going on club form, Noel McGrath for almost all matches for Loughmore/Castleiney was the key catalyst for the success they have had,” Cahill said.

“His leadership is exceptional with the years of experience in the dressing room. We have lost a great player in the Bonner Maher who was equally as good in the dressing room and is still great to have Noel there to leverage off of for these young players that are coming in, as it is important that Noel is retaining his form and is preparing to give Tipperary a real go in 2025.

“It reenforces the confidence Noel McGrath has in myself and this management team that we are on the right path in terms of turning the tide.”

Cahill added that Seamus Kennedy, who suffered a serious knee injury during a league clash with Limerick in March, is back in full training ahead of Tipperary’s new season which begins in the Allianz Hurling League against Galway on January 26th.

Ahead of that, the players have been preparing diligently and Cahill was full of praise for their positivity following their return to collective training.

“I can’t emphasise enough the appetite the players had to get back in,” he revealed.

“They came back refreshed from their club campaigns, with Cashel King Cormacs and Loughmore/Castleiney getting an extended run in the Munster Club Championship, they are obviously a little late coming back to us but for the majority of the squad they have come back in great shape. They have been doing their bit of work on their own up to their official start date of December 7th.

“From that side I am very happy with the group of players, really happy with their attitude and the way they are applying themselves, and the spirit within the group. This group of players, while we can’t guarantee anything the one thing, they will be this year is together, that is for definite, and I am encouraged by what I am seeing.”

League focus

Cahill used 38 players during the league last year but come the semi-final defeat to Clare, there was no real sense of what Tipperary’s best team was and Cahill admits that the competition would be used a lot differently this year.

“One of the lessons from last year would be that whatever happens coming towards the end of the league, there has to be a bit more substance to our team around the personnel,” he revealed.

“In hindsight, you are trying to be fair to everybody, especially in year 2 when there were players showing good signs the year before and then really give them the opportunity to see will they kick on.

“We don’t want it to be a case of us travelling to Nowlan Park towards the middle of the league with seven or eight different changes. That can’t be happening, and if that's happening, you'd have to feel that we'd be in trouble.

“I would think and believe that the team would start to take structure from the first round of the league on, and that is what we will be going after, making sure that come the first round of the championship and the visit of Limerick to Thurles that we are fairly sure of 12-13 of our players nailed down for a championship start.

Cahill also wants to use the league to "get the Tipperary public back behind us again".

"We understand that it's very much a results-driven game and supporters have to see performances; let's call it as it is, performances better than they were from us to get them back into the stands.

“We’ll take the league as it comes and do our best to go as far as we can it in, but the key is to be ready for the first round of the championship in Thurles against Limerick. Let's try and get that coveted five points and try and get out of that death trap that is Munster and get into the latter stages of the championship. That's our goal definitely to be one of the three to come out of the group in Munster this year for sure."

Tipperary’s first challenge game of 2025 will be against All Ireland champions Clare in St Sheelan’s Park, Templemore on Saturday, 4th January at 6.00pm, in aid of Mary’s Meals, a Global Charity based out of Mid Tipperary whose mission is to give every child one meal a day in a place of education which is the road out of poverty. Entry fee is €10 by cash or card.