Tipp will fight to the bitter end - Ryan

Tipperary manager Michael Ryan had to deliver the team-talk of his live at half time last Sunday, and it had the desired impact.

“Some of it can’t be printed,” he admitted of what was said but it, along with some subtle tactical changes, helped get Tipperary back on track, it it needed to be accompanied with the desire of the players to dig themselves out of a hole with the Ryan admitting that sheer bloody-mindedness was the key factor in his sides recovery

“I think at it’s most basic level, yes,” he agreed.

“And obviously a good smattering of hurling and the finer points of the game.”

So what did he put the first half struggles down to?

“We didn’t get to express ourselves or take control of any part of that first half. It was Cork, Cork, Cork. We were in dire straits and I’m sure that’s how it looked to ye guys. They had answers for questions we didn’t even ask.

So what did he say to the players to get that reaction from them?

“You’re appealing to the character that’s in them,” Ryan said.

“The majority of that team that we’ve been supported for ten odd years, they’re made of way better stuff than that and we have a great mix of young fellas coming into the squad too.

“To be honest, I just thought that second half effort was a total team effort. Loads of mistakes made but the positives outweighed them. To get back in the mix – and look, we’re the ones who salvaged a draw. It feels like a win almost. But it’s not, it’s a draw. We have to be very real about this – there’s a lot of hurling to be played. But we’re still alive.”

 

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