Dempsey hails ‘collective team effort’
The general impression was that of an impressionist doing a turn as Brian Cody, though. The Kilkenny manager may be on medical leave but the guiding principles spelt out by Dempsey had a familiar ring to them.
“In ways we were probably edging the game for most of the 70 minutes. We missed some chances, we were a little loose at times, which probably contributed to scores we shouldn’t have been conceding.
“I think it was the effort over the 70 minutes, and I think when our backs were to the wall and Tipperary came back into it in the second half, our defence came into it, our forwards worked well — it was just a collective team effort, great teamwork, great use of the ball, despite those wides.”
Kilkenny were always able to keep some space between themselves and their opponents, as Dempsey acknowledged: “We always got back when they drew with us or got close. I felt we were on top most of the time, but some days you’ll pay for errors and thankfully that didn’t happen today. Michael Fennelly scored two super goals in the first half, but Michael Rice and Lester Ryan were fantastic the last day in midfield and with Richie Power out, we felt we needed some stature in the half-forward line.
“Obviously we have a serious game in five weeks with Offaly. JJ (Delaney) is a huge loss – I thought he was majestic today while he was on the pitch. I didn’t see the incident but he’s a huge loss. We’ll just have to get on with it.”
Delaney got a straight red along with Tipp’s Lar Corbett for an off-the-ball tussle in the second half, just the kind of incident that enflames the crowd. Nowlan Park was near capacity yesterday and the atmosphere was terrific.
“You don’t notice a crowd on the day,” admitted Dempsey, “But you know it’s going to be jammed with supporters, there’s a huge rivalry and it’s kind of personal, to some extent, with the great games between Tipperary and Kilkenny in the last few years. It was a bit like being at a game 20 years ago in Tullamore or Carlow or somewhere, with the venue packed and a great atmosphere. And it was a fantastic contest, for all the people who came.”
The sentiments were echoed by defender Jackie Tyrrell, who still retained a clear-eyed view of the value of the league medal: “I wouldn’t put it up with an All-Ireland medal but it’s not far off it and there was a great buzz in Kilkenny all week its extra special and the fact that it is Kilkenny-Tipperary just adds to it. You would feel Brian Cody’s shadow about the place there is such an aura about him that even though he is not here today you would feel him about the place still and hopefully he is back soon and we just wish him all the best.”
Down the whitewashed corridor Tipperary manager Eamon O’Shea was disappointed with the defeat but delighted with the match experience.
“In terms of where we’re at, we’ve a lot of ball work to do, speed work to do in terms of where we want to be, moving the ball under that sort of pressure but it’s a brilliant game to have to be honest with you.
“I don’t know what it looked like but to me it looked like a high grade game between two teams, one playing slightly better than the other and the other one trying to stay in the game and that was us. If you asked me was I happy or unhappy, I’m not sure. It was a very good battle. It reminded me of some of the rugby games, you see two really good teams. Our guys did fantastic to stay in that game. I think the better team won the game.”
O’Shea was reasonably satisfied with the 2013 league: “I am happy with the league in terms of how we began it. We’ve been trying to put together our game, trying to see how far we could get.
“Today was a big learning curve for us, that level of competitiveness so early in the season so I was happy with the league. Certainly happy with the league. We were up and down a bit, there were poor performances, there were bits of games that we wouldn’t be happy but you never know until you get out and play opposition like that as to where you are, that’s the benefit of these games.
“They were very competitive today and I thought we were competitive.”
League over. May begun. You know what’s next.
