Cahill's ambition is to test the water against Limerick in Semi-Final
By Liam Hogan
Tipperary produced an impressive display in defeating Antrim in round five of the Allianz Hurling League at Corrigan Park, Belfast on Sunday.
That venue is never an easy place to play as Antrim have always been competitive since their return to the top tier as many other teams will testify. However, a much changed Tipp were impressive and manager Liam Cahill was happy with the display as he looks forward to their semi-final tilt with All-Ireland champions Limerick next Saturday.
“We gave this game a lot of thought,” he began.
“We treat every game the same and it has always been a tough assignment to come up to Antrim at any stage of the year.
“It was important that we rotated our panel that little bit and the players that got in really took the game by the scruff of the neck and put their hands up for selection for the league semi-final as well as championship.
“It was a great workout for us. We gave Antrim plenty of respect like we always do to any team and I thought that it seeped onto the field of play, and we acquitted ourselves.”
Tipperary racked up an impressive tally of 4-28 with eleven different scorers but the Tipperary manager was first to admit that the tempo of the game wasn’t at the highest level.
“We have to admit that the game lacked a bit of championship intensity. There is no point in saying different,” he added.
“But yet our hurling is improving. Our decision-making is improving as well. There is still a little bit to go in relation to our finishing and striking. We left a couple of guilt-edged chances behind us.
“A lot of our players involved today are long term projects to be honest. They are going to take a bit of time to come to the level to play inter county senior. These lads will learn a lot from today and leave Tipp in good stead.”
The league campaign has proven to be a positive one for Tipperary having recorded five wins from five to progress to the semi-finals, but the application of the players has been more important than the results for the Tipperary boss.
“It’s about applying ourselves properly,” he said.
“We got a good start to the league. We have got a lot of game time into players. This Tipp squad needs the league. We need to be where we are at, and I am delighted with what we have got through the five games in the course of the league.
“Every game with Tipperary, we approach it as if we want to win it. We are going to put our best foot forward,” he said of the joust with All-Ireland champions Limerick in their own backyard on Saturday night. “It gives us good preparation,” he added.
“Obviously, the Clare game is going to be a massive game for us and obviously Clare as well. I think the Limerick game gives us the right opportunity to assess where we are at.”