Walsh and Sheedy play down ‘trilogy’ possibilities

PREVIEW: Cork V Tipperary, Páirc Uí Chaoimh, 2.30pm

If both qualify for the NHL final on May 2, it will serve as a warm-up for their Munster Championship clash on May 30, but the Cork manager felt the chances of a ‘trilogy’ of games were remote. “It looks pretty unlikely,” said Walsh.

“We haven’t been thinking about the final, we’ve been concentrating on winning every game as it comes – that’s been our focus rather than making the league final as such.

“In the league, the games come so thick and fast that you have to concentrate on your own job. If you start looking at other teams, you get distracted – and if you don’t get a bit of momentum going, if you start losing matches, then it hardly matters what any other team is doing. We’re about five weeks into the league – you have to let one thing look after itself first, and the championship will look after itself then.”

Walsh said he and his management team wouldn’t be dwelling on the “permutations” until after tomorrow’s game.

“We’ll be taking the game on its merits, it’s the sixth round of the league and that’s what we’ll be focusing on. Obviously there are permutations involved, depending on who wins on Sunday, but we’ll wait until after the game to see what they are and we’ll react accordingly.”

Liam Sheedy spoke in similar terms.

“The game (tomorrow) is what it is – Cork are on an unbeaten run so they’ll be keen to keep that going, while we’re keen to pick up a win after the draw against Waterford last Sunday.

“People are inclined to look forward a bit too much at times. The league is a big competition, and you can be sure that Cork wouldn’t like to be beaten in Páirc Uí Chaoimh by Tipperary at any time, so I wouldn’t see any lack of competitive edge in this game.

“The championship is still a bit away, there are a few games to be played first before we get to that.”

Sheedy was able to name Shane McGrath in his staring line-up despite the midfielder leaving the field against Waterford last Sunday.

“He didn’t train earlier in the week,” said Sheedy.

“He had bad bruising on his knee, but there’s no further damage, which is good news, obviously.

“All an injury like that needs is time for recovery.”