Power relieved with a point from Fortress Fraher

By Shane Brophy

Tipperary manager David Power admitted his side didn’t deserve anything more than a draw from Sunday’s Allianz National Football League opener against Waterford.

“I don’t think we deserved to win,” he admitted.

“We are happy to get a draw.

“I would have to question where the seven minutes (added time) came from but that is the way it is.

“Look, we didn’t lose and that is the big thing.

“The most disappointing thing is we are seeing a lot better at training, but we didn’t see that today.”

Failing to beat Waterford will be seen as another step on a downward trajectory for Tipperary but David Power hopes it may well turn into a point gained come the end of the league.

“I was conscious of the fact that everyone was saying that this was going to be a cake-walk, but the facts are we haven’t beaten Waterford in the league since 2008 and this is the fourth time since 08 with two losses and two draws,” Power added.

“It’s a derby as well and it’s the one game Waterford can lift themselves for.

“Maybe looking back at the end of the league, this is a point that will be precious to us but overall, we have to motor on, we know we have to improve next Sunday and have to get on with it.

“Teams are going to improve over the next couple of weeks as well. We have to take that into account. I can see Waterford taking points off teams as well and they’ll improve as well.”

Tipperary started with six players making their National League debuts, and that level of inexperience played a part in the poor overall performance, but Power that it wasn’t by choice.

“It’s not an experiment because that is what we have and that is not being funny,” he said of the team selection.

“There have been a lot of changes on the panel, and it is not by choice, but we are going to bring through some young fellas, but they are young fellas that have won very little underage. We couldn’t be coming down here to Dungarvan taking things for granted, that was never on the agenda.”

He added: “There was a pattern of play, we were moving the ball from side to side, but the problem was when we got into their half. We missed two goal opportunities and if we got one of them, we would have seen out the game because Waterford never looked like getting a goal.

“I thought we were controlled on our kickouts, but we need to improve from our 65 going forward.”