Sars skipper Maher doesn’t take success for granted

By Shane Brophy

Thurles Sarsfields captain Denis Maher has praised the impact of manager Mark Dowling in guiding his side back to a County senior hurling final for the first time since 2017.

To go from winning four finals in a row to failing to reach a final is a drop off for Tipperary’s leading senior hurling club and the fresh approach as ignited the team once again.

“They have changed things up a small bit, in the way they approach things,” Maher admitted.

“They have put their stamp on us in certain ways and it seems to be working.

“We have had great trainers over the years, but it’s just a change of voice and approach, which is something we needed to do and it is working for us. It is nothing major, it’s small thing but is working for us.”

With club stalwart Brendan Carroll also part of the management team, there has been a fresh approach to the team as well with a number of new players coming into the side and it has made a difference.

“The younger lads that are after coming in and a few of the lads that have come up from the second team in Jack Derby, Seosamh Ryan, Paul Maher, they are after making a serious difference in the backs,” Maher added.

“Then there has been a few positional switches as well, so it is working for us. Maybe I am not doing as much running as I was back in the day, the younger lads are doing that now

“It’s nice to have the younger lads there. I have been involved with the under 21’s over the last few years and got close to some of them. Paddy (Creedon) is a great lad, is very relaxed about what he does, he takes it as it comes. Darragh (Stakelum) is the same so the two of them are flying it.”

Maher has seven county senior hurling championship medals but having been forced to watch on as the final was played over the last four years was tough to take and has helped create a hunger with Sarsfields.

“We never took it for granted over the years that we were winning,” Maher admitted.

“I never forget hearing through the years how long Sarsfields struggled to win County finals. I was lucky enough when I first came in to win it that year and I really appreciated it at a young age. I was hearing from the older lads such as Johnny Enright, my own father (Connie), Paddy McCormack senior, going on about County finals and how important they were and they never got to win one so it does stick with you. Johnny held on and got to win his few county finals and that bit of ruthlessness Johnny brought is still with us.

He added: “I have been lucky to come in at the right time. There have been good players around me such as Lar Corbett, Johnny Enright, Redser O’Grady, Stephen Lillis, all serious players so it was easy to just slip into the team and learn from all of those lads.

“We understand how lucky we were in those years to win as much as we did but things like that do come to an end eventually so it is just how you react to it.

“We have been lucky a lot of young lads have come through and a lot of players have come through from the second team and have re-energised the team as such. For the previous four or five years we haven’t imposed ourselves and we trying things but it wasn’t working for us.

“In fairness, other teams got better around us and we just weren’t good enough the last four years so hopefully after improving that bit more we are back at the level other teams are playing."

Their final opponents are familiar foes in Loughmore/Castleiney who they met in the Mid final back in August, however, there is a healthy rivalry and respect between both teams.

“We get on so well with all the lads from Loughmore," he said.

"We all know eachother for years growing up. We have probably lost together and celebrated together, and then we are playing eachother so much.

“It’s enjoyable when we play them and playing lads you know, but it will be a great match and close one. There definitely won’t be much in it."