Kilkenny still the benchmark, says O’Mahony
Tipp defeated the Cats in a classic final last September and O’Mahony is wary of a renewed charge from the Noresiders.
The Newport man, hoping to return from illness for next Saturday’s League clash against Waterford, describes Kilkenny as hurling’s “benchmark.”
Tipp’s vice-captain, who is hunting for employment after being laid off recently, said: “Kilkenny are the benchmark. To win four All-Irelands in-a-row was absolutely fantastic. Whether that will be done again, nobody knows. They have fantastic players and are still the team to beat — no question or doubt about that.
“They’re hurting from last year and it’s up to the rest of us to keep the training going, keep doing what we’re doing and look after our own set-up.”
Tipperary will look to finally get points on the board in this year’s National League after suffering two defeats against Kilkenny and Dublin.
Conal Keaney’s 14 points at Croke Park accounted for the All-Ireland champions under lights last Saturday week and O’Mahony, who missed out through illness, reflected: “The result didn’t go as we would have liked but you have to take the positives out of it — to play above in Croke Park in February, the likes of John O’Neill (who scored 1-2) getting a start and Michael Gleeson at midfield acquitted himself very well.”
“From that point of view, we’re happy that a few new lads got the chance but the result is what matters and we were disappointed with that.”
O’Mahony also paid tribute to Waterford boss Davy Fitzgerald for his development as an inter-county hurler.
O’Mahony won Fitzgibbon Cup medals with Limerick IT in 2005 and 2007 and began to emerge as a key figure on the Tipperary team, eventually solving the problematic centre-back position.
O’Mahony revealed: “When I first met Davy in 2005, he brought me along and it’s no secret that I have great respect for him as a coach and a person. Some of the training with LIT brought me on a huge amount. It was the first time getting that sort of physical training into my system.
“He gave me great confidence and Davy told me that if I wanted to hurl for Tipperary, that I could hurl for Tipperary.
“That was back in ‘05 and from there, he gave me a breakthrough in the Fitzgibbon.”
The 2011 season has been stop-start for O’Mahony, who was forced off in the League opener against Kilkenny with a stomach complaint.
He revealed: “I got a bit sick before the Kilkenny game and I’m still not fully right. I missed the Dublin game but hopefully with some light training this week, I’ll start against Waterford.
“In 2009, I had the mumps and tonsillitis as well. I’m that bit more inclined to pick up sore throats and flu than other people so I have to mind it. When I get sick, I have to rest up and do nothing for a few days but we have a good medical team in Thurles, telling me what to take and to do the right things.”
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