More home disappointment but Cahill promises supporters Tipp will keep fighting 

Tipperary manager Liam Cahill during the Munster GAA Senior Hurling Championship Round 1 match between Tipperary and Cork at FBD Semple Stadium in Thurles, Tipperary. Photo by Brendan Moran/Sportsfile

Liam Cahill has promised Tipperary supporters the team intend to “stay fighting” in the Munster championship despite an opening day defeat to Cork.

Tipperary’s home record in the provincial round-robin format now reads just three wins from 13 games (23%). Cahill has overseen just one provincial championship win in seven games in Thurles.

“You always want to win your home games,” he acknowledged. “It's important to us that we play well here and win here. But rightly so, every county loves coming here to Thurles. It's the place all teams like to play.

“Fair play to the Tipperary supporters. Again, today they came in huge numbers and were very vocal right through. We're going to do our best now to give them something to go after in this championship. We'll stay fighting, stay battling, stay rolling up our sleeves. It's only day one and there's plenty more points to play for.” 

Cahill felt spoiling Cork’s possession in the first half took a lot out of his team. He pointed to them being four weeks out of action whereas Cork had the Division 1 final two weeks ago.

“I know it takes huge energy to do that and our first real pitch of high intensity championship hurling. The league final hasn't done them any harm in relation to their preparation for today. They finished strong enough, but during that middle area of the second half, they really had the upper hand.

“It took us a while to come to grips with it, but we have lots to take away from it and we have no choice. We have a huge game now in seven days' time in Walsh Park and we just have to go back tomorrow night, get a few little things ironed out, get back with our personnel ready to go to Walsh Park in seven days' time.” 

Rob Downey pushing out to the half-back line early in the second half, reversing places with Niall O’Leary, sure strengthened Cork’s platform there.

"Yes, it was ferociously physical out there,” said Cahill. “There's plenty going on as that ball is arriving. But it's inter-county hurling, you have to be prepared for that. Our lads trained for that. We do our best to replicate that in training. On any given day, any team can beat anybody.” 

Cahill cost his team a point late in the first half when he became the first high-profile manager to fail foul of the new dissent rule.

Cahill questioned Seán Stack’s decision to award Rob Downey a free instead of one to Tipperary for overcarrying and Alan Connolly sent over the resultant free from the centre of the 20-metre line.

“I didn't think it was a free-in initially. I didn't say anything to Seán Stack, only waved my arms. In fairness to the referees, I think it's out there. I suppose they have to be seen to implement it.

“It is a little bit of a grey area. It's dependent on the referee, what way he sees dissent. What is dissent like from a challenging point of view. I was only reacting to the free more so than anything else. It was an easy one for him. It starts it off. I hope to stay consistent throughout the rest of the championship.”