Ryan quick to play down favourite tag
Just in case his team’s tight win over Dublin wasn’t enough, the Clonoulty-Rossmore man did his bit to quell expectations of the All-Ireland champions.
Talking about the build-up to the final, Ryan said: “It is probably opposite to the way that we came into this game but I don’t think Kilkenny will be too worried about anything they saw.
“It was a dour enough game at times, there were a lot of physical exchanges out there on both sides. There were a good number of frees scored. I think both teams, Kilkenny and Tipp, have a good bit to do over the next two weeks.”
Ryan acknowledged the talk of a Kilkenny-Tipperary final as an a fait accompli might have seeped into the group, as much as they attempted to prevent it from happening.
“We were not talking about anything but the Dublin game within the camp. Outside the camp there would be a lot of talk. Maybe that can have some influence. I don’t think that you can take anything away from Dublin and from their attitude and performance. Their commitment to the game was savage and they are going to be around for a while.”
Ryan dismissed the suggestion Tipperary might have been a little rusty after their five-week lay-off from their emphatic Munster final win over Waterford.
“We were saying before the game that we thought it was a positive, it gave us a few days to enjoy the Munster final and it gave us enough time to forget about it and prepare for the semi-final. From that point of view we did not look as sharp as we were going into the Munster final. But then you are playing at a higher level.
“The longer the year goes on, the higher the level you are playing and that proved to be the case.”
Coming up against a sweeper system for the first time this year, Ryan was pleased with the manner in which his players adapted to Dublin’s tactics.
He also praised his defence in cutting down on their number of frees conceded from the Munster final where they coughed up 20 (yesterday’s count was 13).
“Dublin set up defensively and they had an extra man at the back for a lot of the game.
“The lads handled it very well, they were very mature about how they went about their business.
Ryan was also delighted for his former team-mate Brendan Cummins who broke Christy Ring’s record number of championship appearances yesterday.
“It is phenomenal and he is one of the fittest guys playing out there.
“It is just an incredible achievement, the commitment, the time and the effort.
“He is a married man now with kids. It’s incredible.”
CONNECT WITH US TODAY
Be the first to know the latest news and updates
