Bugler claims Tipperary are jealous of Banner’s achievements
Ahead of Sunday’s Division 1 semi-final between the counties, the two-time All Star defender knows how envious the Banner County’s opponents are of them.
“I know from talking to a couple of Tipp boys that they are hurting big time from last year and they would have seen what we would have done. I know for a fact that a lot of those boys would have been very, very jealous of what Clare would have done.
“They’re going out with all guns blazing this year,” added Bugler.
“They weren’t happy with the start that they made but Tipp being Tipp, they dug deep and they dug it out against Dublin, and recorded a great victory against Cork.
“Tipp will always be Tipp, they’re always going to be there and title contenders. We know that. They had a little blip but they’re going to be a serious outfit this year.”
Bugler maintains the game in Limerick is just as crucial for Clare as it is for Tipperary after Eamon O’Shea underlined the significance of the game to his team last week as they hope to make amends for their heavy league round defeat to Clare in Thurles.
Bugler said: “I think it is in regard to the fact we don’t have a Munster quarter-final this year and we’re not out until the middle of June. You want to be playing competitive games for as long as possible. It’s vitally important.”
Bugler acknowledges Clare in this year’s league “might have done a bit better than we would have expected”.
“At the start of the year our main ambition was to stay up. We knew we were slightly behind training-wise compared to what we were last year. The fact that we’re in a semi-final is bonus territory,” said Bugler.
“Last year we were more or less playing the same 15 nearly every single league game, whereas this year we got the opportunity to rest the likes of Podge [Collins] who was obviously involved with the footballers as well. So we know a little bit more about our panel compared to this time last year.”
