Rout of Waterford far from ideal, admits Brian Fox

Tipperary footballer Brian Fox accepts Sunday’s annihilation of Waterford was far from ideal preparation ahead of Kerry’s visit on June 14.

Peter Creedon’s charges had the result wrapped up as early as the 24th minute when Michael Quinlivan’s goal fired Tipperary 1-10 to 0-2 clear. The hosts ran out emphatic 22-point winners and corner-forward Fox says Tipperary required a far sterner test to ready themselves for a Munster semi-final clash with the All-Ireland champions who enjoyed a 2-19 to 0-8 victory in the corresponding fixture two years ago.

“I agree we needed a better test ahead of the Kerry game,” he remarked.

“We didn’t think the game would manifest itself like that.

“We honestly thought we were going to be in for a huge battle and we knew we had to put in a performance. We did perform, but we probably needed a stronger game, to be really challenged.

“It clicked for us and everything went wrong for Waterford. Sometimes when you get a good start it just breeds confidence. We got the first score and it just kept going on; the next score came, the next score came.

“It was one of those days where nearly everything went over the bar.

“We are so used to playing Waterford that we know if we take the ball into contact, they are going to stop us, they are going to turn us over.

“We moved the ball at pace not alone so they couldn’t get a hand in, but because that is the way we want to play.”

Indicative of Tipperary’s rising stock is Fox’s bullish approach when casting an eye towards Sunday week’s fixture.

“We didn’t look beyond Waterford, but in the back of your mind you want to have a crack off Kerry. We are after giving ourselves the opportunity to have a crack off Kerry. That is all we wanted at the start of the year.

“We want to win a Munster championship and in order to win a Munster championship you have to beat Cork or Kerry at some stage. Why not this year?”

A meagre attendance of 1,641 filed into Semple Stadium for their opening Munster championship bout and yet Fox isn’t overly concerned if a similar crowd materialises on June 14.

“It won’t bother us. Whatever is here is here and they will support us to the last. That is what we want, the supporters who come out and support us. We don’t care what size the crowd is.”

Meanwhile, the Munster Council has confirmed that the provincial SFC semi-final between Cork and Clare will take place on Sunday, June 14.

The game, the first senior championship fixture to be held at Páirc Uí Rinn, will have a 3.30pm throw-in.

Had Limerick beaten Clare in the semi-final, they were seeking a Saturday evening fixture, a request Cork were set to agree to. Both Cork and Clare preferred Sunday afternoon, though a draw in Sunday’s hurling clash with Cork and Waterford would bring the football forward to Saturday, June 13.

It will be the counties’ first meeting since Cork recorded a 3-16 to 0-13 win in the 2012 Munster final at the Gaelic Grounds in Limerick.