Harsh criticism of Tipp unjustified, insists Sheedy

Michael Ryanâs team were subjected to a 16-point defeat, which in the minds of some has cast the All-Ireland champions in a lesser light as they embark on their provincial defence against Cork this Sunday.
But Sheedy, who has experience of being judged severely following the 2010 Munster opening loss to Cork before guiding Tipperary to All-Ireland success, has rejected some of the brickbats thrown at the team.
âSometimes when you win youâre put up on a pedestal that isnât really realistic and then when you lose they just drive you down to rock bottom. The reality is, this team went and won five in a row last year, the first team since the 60s to go from a quarter-final right through, win Munster, win the All- Ireland, really impressive all through.
âSo I think these guys will have been mad hungry for championship and, yeah, I think their guard is up because youâve to learn from what went on in Limerick, and theyâve a bit of ammunition now because I think people have spoken harshly on them, unjustified in my view and theyâll get a chance to answer back (v Cork).â
Sheedy accepts the nature of the defeat to Galway was hardly helpful but knows the game doesnât rank as high for the players and management as much as the forthcoming clash. âLetâs put everything in perspective â if youâre going to go and, again, where they clearly had set out their stall, where it was something that they wanted to win and it doesnât happen, not alone does it not happen but youâre beaten on every position on the pitch, I would probably say the Cork game has taken on a greater importance in that regard.
âItâs in Thurles, itâs home advantage, Tipp have been very strong. I guess, do you judge Tipp on one day or do you judge Tipp over the previous 12 games that theyâd played in last yearâs championship and this yearâs league?
âAnd I would say that thereâs 12 pieces of data there that says this Tipp team is really top class and I wouldnât be too upset about the one. People are sometimes very quick to jump on them. Theyâve won six of the last nine Munster titles.â
Tipperary go into the game without Kieran Bergin, who left the panel before committing himself to the footballers last week.
âAh look, Kieran probably hadnât seen a lot of game time this year. I think Kieranâs probably been an impact sub up to this. Heâs a good guy but we have seen over the course of the league that there is good talent coming through.
âI think Kieran has been a great servant, heâs won his All-Ireland medal, heâs got his Munster medals but I think the panel is strong enough to deal with it.â This time last year, the likes of Dan McCormack and Seamus Kennedy were relatively unknown hurling entities. Donagh Maher, Sheedy reckons, could be the next to surprise after he impressed him during the league.
âI thought I saw something really good in him, he was really impressive. Then he got concussion and he picked up a hamstring injury so heâs been very, very unfortunate but I think heâs someone that, if he gets back to full fitness, that I could see really challenging.
âI think the Tipperary full-back line will be hurting and scalded a little bit after their performance (v Galway) because theyâre a line that had got so consistent throughout last year and this year so, yeah, I can just imagine the internal 15 on 15 matches are fairly lively.â