Babs: we made Cats look like magic

BABS KEATING accepts his Tipperary side will struggle to make the quarter-finals of the National Hurling League.

His side drew with Limerick and lost by nine points to Kilkenny at Semple Stadium on Sunday - the manner of the latter defeat a concern for management.

Keating says had hoped for a form of ‘redemption’ from the game. Instead, they made Brian Cody’s team ‘look like magic.’

“It was the first serious game between Tipp and Kilkenny since they gave us a beating in the All-Ireland Under-21 final (in Nowlan Park) the year before last. I was hoping we would redeem ourselves. But, it was even worse.’’

Prior to the launch of the league he pointed out that it would be even more difficult to get a settled team because of the involvement of key players in third-level competition.

Injuries have made the situation even more difficult, with the team’s top forward Eoin Kelly having been injured in a challenge game a month ago and, ironically, being ruled out of LIT’s Fitzgibbon Cup campaign.

“It has been a huge problem and Tipperary seem to be more affected than anybody else,’’ says Keating, who has continued on as UCD coach.

“We have three UCD players who would have played last Sunday, but they’re not even playing with the college because of injuries.’’

Paul Kelly, fighting his way back to fitness, only played for half an hour against Kilkenny. Diarmuid Fitzgerald won’t be available for another two or three weeks, and the latest news on Eoin Kelly is that it will take another month before he recovers from his hamstring injury.

Predictably, Keating says it’s unrealistic to expect the team to settle until those players return.

Next up is Antrim, on Sunday week, a game he admits is already a worry.

That will be followed by a home game with Galway, and, on April 2, a meeting with Laois in Portlaoise. With just one point from the opening round draw with Limerick at the Gaelic Grounds, the odds against them qualifying are stacking up.

Longer term, Keating is adamant that the county has to have a stronger base of players to be draw on if they are to be more successful.

“We haven’t won a minor title for ten years.

“Back in 1987, when we resurrected Tipperary hurling, we got four or five players from West Tipperary. Right now we have two on the panel, but nobody on the team. And we have only two players between the age of 18 and 21.”