Tipp ‘unbeatable’ when they play well

TIPPERARY selector Eamonn O’Shea was happy with the performance of the men in blue and gold on Sunday, saying Tipp were “unbeatable” when they played well.

“I thought the game was intense,” said O’Shea, “That we moved the ball well, that we played the way we wanted to play. That’s all you want.

“It takes a while to get a particular style of play into a team but I think the players are suited to that style of play... and when they do it well they’re unbeatable.”

Asked about the hype in Kilkenny about the five-in-a-row, O’Shea had a gentle dig at those writing about the Cats’ training sessions in Nowlan Park – “I think one or two people should come down and watch us train,” – but agreed the build-up had favoured Tipperary.

“It was (a help), in fairness. They were going for a unique achievement and it was very difficult for them. I thought they fought like champions and went out like champions. We got crucial goals, and to win against Kilkenny there is one rule – you have to get goals.

“And our backs were immense – they fought for every ball and all our players fought hard to win breaking balls all over the pitch. The intensity was very good.”

O’Shea said the criticism the team and management received after the defeat to Cork in May had no effect.

“When you play hurling for Tipperary – for any county – then the public are entitled to have their views, so you have to accept the criticisms and go on.

“One thing the team did, which is something you have to do after a defeat like that, is to go on and ensure you have everything right to try to recover. The players did that and they recovered.

“But criticism doesn’t hurt. If you work hard you get back there, and we did.”

There were suggestions in the last couple of days that Sunday’s game could represent a power shift in hurling from Kilkenny to Tipperary, but O’Shea said he and the team would take in the victory first and foremost.

“We’ll just enjoy the win, it’s been a while. There’s a mixture of young and old and I was happy for the older players who did very well and led the team. It’s great to see young lads coming through but we preach to them to live in the now. That’s that game now but we start looking for success again straightaway. If you don’t, you fall behind.”