Tommy Dunne wary of Tipp letting bad habits creep back in

Tommy Dunne says Tipperary must arrest the recent slide in performances and results away to Waterford this Sunday.

SWALLOWED UP: Tipperary's Darragh McCarthy of Tipperary is tackled by four Limerick players during the Allianz League meeting. Pic: James Lawlor/Inpho

When you’re not going after something, there’s a danger of old and bad habits setting in.

That’s the conclusion and the concern of Tommy Dunne. That’s why Tipperary must, he warns, arrest the recent slide in performances and results away to Waterford this Sunday.

Tipperary, lest it need restating, went after the 2025 League. Winning game after game was the surest way to rebuild confidence within the panel and rebuild trust with those on the outside following a woeful and winless championship campaign the summer before.

Last summer and how sensationally it concluded meant Tipp had no need to go after the 2026 League. Confidence, trust, and all the rest of it were just fine.

Then, the Thurles no-show happened, following as it did the collapsed souffle that was the Cork-Tipp reacquaintance at Páirc Uí Chaoimh. What you’re left with is Tipperary on the brink of a first ever three-in-a-row of defeats during the Liam Cahill era.

There have been winless runs stretching for longer, but never three straight defeats.

“It doesn't help. It's not good,” 2001 All-Ireland winning captain Tommy Dunne said of slipping into a losing habit.

“Last year’s league played a really significant part in Tipp’s year, in their development, and the success they ultimately enjoyed. Even though the league final was lost heavily to Cork, they had so much built up, up to that, that it didn't define their entire league.

“You can see the way Limerick and Cork are going after the league. What they're going after is every day you play, there's a level of performance that is consistent, and is consistent with the qualities and characteristics that are important to the team. That's the key bit.

“The results, managers can live with them mostly, but it's actually how they're playing, what they're doing with the ball, what they're doing without the ball, their attitude, their body language, and their energy.

“If they're hitting the marks on those kinds of things, then managers and coaches will be happy enough, and the players will know that it's getting them to where they need to get to, even if the league results aren't all wins.” 

CONCERN: Former Tipperary player and coach Tommy Dunne. Photo by Brendan Moran/Sportsfile

A valid point. Problem was there were no markers hit at all two weeks ago.

Tipp trailed Limerick by 13 points at half-time. 0-14 of Limerick’s first half 0-20 came from turnovers. Tipp didn’t register their opening shot from play until the ninth minute. Their first six attacks failed to deliver a score. Jake Morris’ wide on 20 minutes, called back for a converted free, represented just their third shot from play. Their first score from play didn’t arrive until the 34th minute.

“We don't know what they were doing in the week leading up to that game. Undercooked or overcooked, I don’t know," Dunne continued.

“When we had possession, we were passive. We were moving the ball laterally, we weren't going past people. There was no energy in the performance. That was probably the most disappointing thing.

“It was definitely a bad night at the office, but there's an awful lot of credit in the bank and there’s no-one hitting the panic button.

“That result and performance doesn't have to define their League, but at the same time, it's not a good habit to be in. One or two of them wouldn't be long affecting morale and spirit. There are still two matches left. I’m expecting a big performance in Walsh Park.” 

Sam O’Farrell was whipped after half an hour two weeks ago. Darragh McCarthy sent wide a penalty, failed to score from play, and was withdrawn on 51 minutes. Oisín O’Donoghue was introduced at half-time but failed to write his name onto the scoresheet thereafter.

All three youngsters carried a heavy early-season load on account of their doubling up with college and county. The University of Galway side O’Farrell was central to reached the Fitzgibbon Cup semi-finals, McCarthy and O’Donoghue’s UL went the whole way.

Dunne said he’d be delighted if those lads were absent this weekend.

“We know what they're capable of. They definitely had a heavy load, and then you put into it all the other pieces like their studies and what they're doing in college outside of that, travel, all that kind of stuff. It wouldn't be necessarily a bad thing for those guys to get a rest, be that this weekend or two weeks after.

“Put the onus on guys that are coming in and say, here lads, we need a performance, it's over to you now.” 

For the former Tipp coach, the importance of this spring is finding a handful of newcomers who will stand as genuine championship options come mid-April. There are encouraging signs in the arrivals department. Readiness for this summer is another matter.

“Liam is probably very keen to have another good goalkeeping option outside of Rhys Shelly. Brian Hogan was introduced back to the panel, Barry Hogan got an opportunity against Limerick.

“Cathal O’Reilly, notwithstanding the Limerick game, has made a pretty positive start in the Tipp senior set-up. There's real hope there that he's going to be a player. Whether it's this year or years ahead, I don’t know.

“Paddy McCormack has gone in there as well. Josh Keller is another who has progressed.

“It's really about keeping options open and keeping the competitive thing in the panel very much alive. For that reason, he'd be very disappointed with the Limerick game as a lot of lads got in.”