Tipp boss takes swing at Loughnane over ‘snide remarks’

Tipperary chairman Sean Nugent has accused former Clare boss Ger Loughnane of making “snide remarks” about the Premier County.

Loughnane, who guided Clare to glory in 1995 and 1997, urged the Banner County to build on their U21 and All-Ireland SHC successes — and not become like the Tipperary teams of three years ago.

Loughnane told Clare FM: “What we all hope and what we are all very confident of is that we don’t become the Tipperary team of 2010 when they won the senior and the U21 and disappeared off the map after that.”

Tipperary have not added to their national U21 and senior rolls of honour since then but Nugent insisted Loughnane should savour Clare’s success instead of taking pot shots across county boundaries. Nugent said: “Ger Loughnane would be better off savouring the moment and time that it is for Clare as All-Ireland champions, rather than making snide remarks about Tipperary. In Tipperary, we congratulate Clare on a magnificent victory, with a young team who have a great future.

“We look forward to the 2014 Munster championship, which should be highly competitive, with every team having a chance of winning the title.”

Nugent’s obvious inference is that Loughnane’s quotes are misguided, as Tipperary contested three successive All-Ireland SHC finals between 2009 and 2011. Tipperary have also won four of the last six Munster senior hurling titles, the 2012 All-Ireland minor crown, and the last two All-Ireland intermediate titles.

Nugent added: “Tipperary have never gone away and never will go away.

“We’ve made a massive contribution to hurling since the foundation of the GAA – and will continue to do so. Our record holds up most favourably with other counties. Granted, we would have loved to win more but that’s the way things go.”

Meanwhile, newly appointed Tipperary U21 hurling team manager TJ Connolly has conceded that the county should be achieving more with the talent at its disposal.

Connolly, who won a Munster senior club medal with Cashel King Cormacs in 1991, has succeeded Ken Hogan in the position.

He told Tipp FM: “The talent is there but we have to be realistic too. (Tipperary) teams haven’t produced what they should be producing. We have to get back to Tipperary playing with pride and passion, going back to the traditional game, doing what you’re supposed to do playing with Tipperary.

“If someone doesn’t want to do that, or toe the line, they shouldn’t be wearing the Tipperary jersey.”

Connolly, who served alongside Hogan as U21 selector, also warned that players have to take individual responsibility when it comes to lifestyle issues. He explained: “They’re away during the week and the diet isn’t right and the foods aren’t right. Players have a big responsibility to mind themselves as well. When we’re 12 or 13, the ambition is to play for Tipperary. You pull that jersey over your head – it was there before and it will be after you. Respect it and mind it while you have it. And you do have it, you have to do the business.”