'I wish it was anybody bar him': Liam Cahill's respect for Cork boss after Tipperary victory

Cahill remembered Dillon Quirke after Tipperary's victory over Cork in the All-Ireland SHC final.  "I'm just so proud to have had an input into his life," said Cahill.

RESPECT: Tipperary manager Liam Cahill with Cork manager Pat Ryan after the All-Ireland hurling final. Pic: ©INPHO/Bryan Keane

Tipperary manager Liam Cahill received a message from Dillon Quirke's father on his way to Croke Park.

“Dillon is with us every day,” the victorious manager said after Sunday's All-Ireland hurling final victory over Cork. “When we started out on this journey in 2023, we were all hit with the devastating tragedy of what happened to Dillon. I was 50 yards from it, the day it happened in Semple Stadium, and I'll never forget it. And it had a huge effect on our dressing-room. It was a really difficult year, 2023 - and 2024 - around everybody trying to cope with it in their own way.

“Like today, I got a text from Dan, his dad, coming up the road to wish me luck. And I just said that Dillon will be on all our shoulders today, regardless of what happens in the result.

“And, you know, he should be with us today. But the legacy he's leaving and the work that he's doing to save lives across Ireland at the moment through his name and the foundation is just incredible.

“And today I never flinched at any stage on the line. Once he was across my chest, I knew that we would be battling right to the end. And I'm just so proud to have had an input into his life for the short number of years he was with us.” 

Sunday marked Tipperary’s 29th Liam McCarthy Cup victory - just one shy of Cork and seven behind Kilkenny who top the roll of honour with 36 titles. Their journey from bottom of the Munster championship table in 2024 to All-Ireland champions 12 months later is beyond belief.

“Yeah, it’s six championship games in a row,” he said. “It’s just testament to the ruthless mindset of the players as they gathered momentum. But the support the players got from our coaching team, Mikey Bevans – like, let's be fair, we were all questioned, you know, and rightly so maybe over the last 12 months or more.

“And we've all reinvented ourselves, come to the table. The support of Declan Laffan on the field, the real support of David Herity coming more out of the goalkeeping role into the role on the field with the players. He’s been a game changer, really, with support to Mikey. TJ (Ryan) being the steady head all the time in the background that worked with me at minor, under 21, under 20 and now today. He has that unique talent of just being the elder statesman with the cool head and, you know, we just all committed to finding more.

“And this man here (Jason Forde) to my right, we sat down in Lár na Páirce at the start of last year, we had a good chat and, lo and behold, the resilience of this man with his friends and colleagues to come back and especially the way Jason has performed all year. He's been incredible. What a player for Tipperary hurling over the last 13 seasons and getting better. He's like a good wine. He gets better with age. Incredible. Just so proud to have the opportunity to work with Jason's vintage.

“Obviously the newer players or the younger players that had come up through minor and under 20 with me. And then to have these fellas to leverage off their experience. Himself, (Michael) Breen gave an exhibition today and Noel (McGrath) comes on, Séamus Kennedy, John McGrath … real, real... they're just... ah they're just different class, you know.” 

And what about Darragh McCarthy and his response after his two red cards this year.

“That's the class of the man. You know, we produce legendary players like Jason and Eoin Kelly and (Séamus) Callanan and all these. And some of them, they can't be hanging around forever and you'll say where are you going to find the next one out? And suddenly up pops McCarthy, 19 years of age - he's now arrived on the scene.

“But from a serious club up there in Toomevara – them fellas up there would eat you alive. So, there was never going to be a case of Darragh’s character being questioned or he doubting himself.

“That's the class of this young man and the resilience he has. And he just loves his hurling. And when you love hurling like that, you get your rewards and he got his just reward today and I'm really, really happy for him.” 

Six points adrift (1-16 to 0-13) at half-time, was there any particular message conveyed in the dressing room?

"Stay doing what we were doing. We had contemplated maybe after 15 minutes of the second half, if it wasn't going our way, reverting to plan B, which had been three across midfield and abandon the plus one and try and kick on. But we got great traction in the first 15 minutes with the plus one still. And a few chances that maybe we didn't convert in the first half started to go over and gaps started to appear.

“And young Darragh Mc was like a little hare running around and Jake was starting to come alive and Jason and John. It all started to come together. Conor Stakelum ran himself into the ground at midfield and Sam O’Farrell was starting to get on top of Fitzgibbon.

“We were saying leave it alone, leave it alone, and suddenly you're 5-6 out and you're heading for home, which is what we discussed and spoke about.

“Because to be fair to Cork, all week, I can only imagine what it has been like for Pat and his management team and everybody to try and manage that expectation. It's huge. Cork have been superb all year, league champions, Munster champions, bringing massive crowds back to the stands.

“As I said to Pat after, I wish it was anybody bar him that I was shaking hands with today, to be fair, because he's put so much into it.

"He's after having a difficult year as well, personally. But I know that Cork team will be back and I know that Cork will have their day in the sun soon. We're just proud that it wasn't today and that Tipp thankfully got over the line.”