Maher determined to seize the day

AS Brendan Maher, 21 years old and with all the youthful confidence that comes with that age, was walking in to meet the assembled media last week in advance of Sunday’s All-Ireland senior hurling final, he had to wait a few minutes for Brendan Cummins to finish in the hot-chair, listened as the veteran of the Tipp team outlined his own disappointment at having just one All-Ireland medal to show for a career that stretches back through 61 championship matches in 16 championship seasons.

It gave the younger Brendan pause for thought; the older Brendan’s medal came in 2001, seven years after he had made his debut, in his second All-Ireland final appearance — nine barren seasons since then.

This is Maher’s second senior season, his second All-Ireland final appearance, but, hearing what Cummins had to say, he knows only too well – even in a traditionally strong hurling county like Tipperary — these chances don’t come every year.

So, when they do, and regardless of your age or experience, you must take them.

“Absolutely. It’s one thing I suppose that people will say to you — ‘ah you’re young, you have lots of years ahead of you,’ but he (Cummins) has proven that you have to grasp it when you have the chance.’’

There’s a hunger about this Tipperary team this year, a hunger made even greater after they were dumped out of the Munster championship in most unceremonious fashion in the first round by Cork, and now the cutting edge that was there before last year’s final is back, sharper than ever.

So Brendan, that defeat was probably a blessing disguise, right?

“I wouldn’t ever call a defeat a blessing,’’ he responds. “After the Cork game we had to knuckle down and we worked hard, it was the kick up the arse we needed.

“In the build-up to it we trained hard, we prepared the very same as we prepared for any other game, but it was just one of those days — that’s sport.

“It has happened before and it will happen again. I am a firm believer that you make your own luck, what you put into it you get out of it. They worked harder than us and they deserved their win.

“It is definitely something we’ve learned from and drove on from.”

Drove on right to another final. Last year Tipperary took the fight to Kilkenny but came up just short.

They’re determined to take the fight to Kilkenny again this year. There’s a fearlessness about them that’s reflected in Maher’s answer when it’s put to him that against Kilkenny in the last few years, a lot of teams were beaten even before they started.

“Why is that?” he counters.

“Well Brendan, because they’re such an all-conquering, intimidating bunch who are gunning for a fifth All-Ireland titles in a row?”

Not impressed. “As I’ve said already, we’re concentrating on our own performance. We believe if we can perform on the day we can beat anyone; whatever they’ll bring, we’ll try and counteract it, but if we can perform we’ll win the game.”

Yes, but didn’t Tipp perform in last year’s final? In the opinion of most pundits (including many in Kilkenny), it was Brendan and his team-mates who played the better hurling, but it was Kilkenny who got the win – how did ye feel after that?

“Directly after the game we were distraught but the reception we got the day afterwards in Thurles just showed how much the people of Tipperary were behind us – proud, to be honest.

“Still no All-Ireland medal in the pocket though and that’s what we’re looking for this year.

“We know if we can perform we can win. So we’re looking for a performance.”