Maher says ‘composed’ Tipp responded well to wake-up call

IN THE flesh Pádraic Maher of Tipperary incarnates purpose and intent, even after a Munster senior hurling semi-final.

That isn’t to say he ducks any questions; the big Thurles Sars man freely admits that he and his colleagues “weren’t awake” in the first quarter yesterday against Clare.

“It was a battle. The first 20 minutes we weren’t awake. We were expecting that from Clare; it was always going to be a battle and no-one was giving them a chance. “Thankfully we showed a bit of character and the boys had a few goals to take the pressure off and we pulled through.”