Wins are building enjoyable environment - Cahill

By Shane Brophy

Spring finally sprung last Sunday weatherwise and there is a spring in the step of the Tipperary senior hurlers recorded a fourth win from five games in the National Hurling League by comfortably toppling great rivals Kilkenny in their own backyard.

The four red cards, including one for Tipperary’s Alan Tynan, overshadowed the victory as the Premier County are within touching distance of a first league final appearance since 2018, and manager Liam Cahill is targeting that now ahead of their final match against Clare.

“Does it suit Tipperary to reach a league final and win it? It does,” he said following the win.

“It suits any team that can get to a final and win it. It's a national title, it's silverware.

“We're six weeks out today from the first round of the Munster Championship in Thurles. That's obviously our goal.

“People say Tipperary under Liam Cahill will win matches in the spring, but can they do it in the summer? We have to prepare in the spring to make sure that we give ourselves a fighting chance in the summer. Summer is only six weeks away now, so I think Clare in two weeks' time. If a league final comes about, it's better preparation leading into the 20th of April.

The Ballingarry clubman lauded the excellent spirit within the group, and it is seen in the free-flowing style of their hurling.

"The players have been phenomenal and continue to be,” Cahill added.

“We're in the mindset now of just looking after ourselves, I suppose, and absolutely going after every training session and preparing as best we can and giving it everything on the field, between the lines. Once we do that, we can have no complaints.

“To do that, we have to be in good shape, and we have to be playing together as a unit. The players have embraced everything we've done.

“I said it after the Cork game, it's a really enjoyable environment at the moment. I'm absolutely loving it. It's really, really enjoyable to get into the cab every evening to go training these fellas.

“I'm getting the vibes off the boys on the field as well. That's the case with them. As long as we keep that environment created; that's my responsibility to create that environment.”