Callinan: Tipp out to avenge Cats’ mauling

TIPPERARY star Seamus Callinan says the Premier County are keen to meet Kilkenny again in order to make up for their heavy defeat in Nowlan Park earlier in the league.

Following the Cats’ demolition job on Cork last Sunday many inter-county hurlers would be forgiven for wanting to avoid the black and amber at the sharp end of the league. Not Tipp, says Callinan.

“No, our attitude is we want to meet them, the sooner the better, to make up for that defeat. There’s no doubt about it, they put up a fierce performance against us that day and it just shows the standard the rest of the country has to get up to. Everyone knows Kilkenny are on top and that’s where we all want to be. We just have to work harder.”

Callinan admits that the defeat to Brian Cody’s side stung.

“It wasn’t nice, of course, but things like that, you keep them in your mind. It’s all about getting to the level that they’re at. There’s great confidence in our team and we all know we have the ability to get up there, so we have to keep plugging away at training.”

In the absence of Eoin Kelly, Callinan has taken on the responsibility of free-taking, but he doesn’t regard himself as being under extra pressure.

“It’s not too bad, we have great lads in around us — Noel McGrath has come in this year and he’s flying it.

“There are experienced players to help us along as well, like Lar Corbett and Eoin Kelly.”

And mentioning Eoin Kelly... the Mullinahone man has been out for months, but Callinan hopes he’ll reappear in blue and gold before the end of the league campaign.

“Our preparation for the championship involves staying in the league as long as possible. If we stay in the league then hopefully Eoin will get in. It’s important to have him back.”

No danger he’ll be a forgotten man? Callinan smiles at the thought.

“The forgotten man will surprise a lot of people, the same as he’s done over the years. I wouldn’t be worrying about him, he’s working hard and he’ll be back when he’s ready.”

Callinan chipped in 11 points in Tipp’s narrow defeat of Galway Sunday, but he’s not getting carried away with that result.

“It was an enjoyable win, we had to battle hard for it but we knew going up to Pearse Stadium that it would be hard. It was a sweet win, but we have plenty more things to work on. We’ll be going overseas to a training camp — I’m not sure of the exact location — so we’ll have to work hard there.

“Every game we play we go out to win, whether it’s the first game of the league or the final. We set out where we want to go at the start of the year, and the league is the first thing.”