Relieved boss Sheedy savours Tipp’s net gain
“We got goals at the vital stages of the game that gave us that bit of breathing space, and by God, did we need it,” he says. “By the finish, Waterford had us back to six. We went 10 up and you think you can start relaxing but you can’t do that in this game.
“They had us back to six and were pushing and pressing hard and we lost our shape a bit. Loads to work on but overall, delighted for the lads.”
Three against Galway in the quarter-final and three against Waterford in the semi. What’s the secret?
“We just let them play. Those forwards were always challenging each other. We tell them to take the right options. If the right option is to go for a goal, then they go for a goal. If the right option is to put the ball over the bar...”
“I think in a lot of cases today, we took the right options and that made a difference. It would have been easy for Larry (Corbett) there at the end to put the ball over the bar but we took the next step and passed it to Eoin and we got a vital goal.
“Had we not got that goal, it could have been three points at the end. So it just shows how important it is to take right options.”
Sheedy paid due tribute to Waterford, who battled hard to the final whistle.
“Both sets of players deserve huge credit for that sort of game in those sort of temperatures. The lads worked very hard out there today. We knew the intensity that the opposition would bring. They were Munster champions and we were under no illusions as to what they would bring.
“In fairness to my lads, they really upped their game today. We wanted to get back into an All-Ireland final so we’re just delighted to have got over the line.”
The Tipp boss also praised his players, who ended the game with 22 scores on the board.
“I thought overall the team showed their true colours today. It was a very good performance. We got 22 scores in total. Thankfully, the goals came at the vital stages in the game because goals win matches and we needed every one of those green flags by the end of the game.
“But that’s what we’ve been seeing in the training field. The challenge is for the lads not to rest on their laurels now. They’ll be back in training Tuesday night and it’s all systems go because whoever is on form will get the nod and it has to be that way because that’s the game you’re in.”
Referee John Sexton wasn’t quite as popular...
“You probably saw my hands go up in the air there a few times,” said Sheedy. “The free count was 14/7 at one stage. I thought some of them we were unlucky with. I thought there was a lot of tight calls and we didn’t get them. But look, hopefully, we were saving them for the next day.”
It’s been an impressive turnaround since losing to Cork in the Munster championship by 10 points.
“We just wanted to get back up here and we just weren’t up for the fight (that day), that’s the reality of it. We always take it on the chin and try to learn and the squad deserves huge credit in terms of the work they’ve done and the effort they’ve put in to turn it around. It’s been exemplary.
“Today was all about qualifying (for the All-Ireland final). Tomorrow we’ll think about that but today was all about coming out of here at half-five for an All-Ireland final. We’ve crossed that bridge, the lads put in a huge effort and they deserve the evening off. We’ll get back to work, we’ll think about that tomorrow. Today’s about enjoying an All-Ireland semi-final victory.”
More goals to think about.
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