The Whipping Boys of Munster

By Shane Brophy

Things felt low in 2022 after Tipperary exited the senior hurling championship in disappointing fashion, this year feels way worse.

Colm Bonnar’s only year in charge saw Tipperary lose all four games in Munster but they still had something to play for going into their last game against Cork which resulted in a twelve point defeat.

Two years on, the margin of defeat was eighteen points as Tipperary were ignominiously dumped out of the championship with one game to spare, with a score difference of minus 33, and it could get worse.

If Tipperary were outnumbered 4 to 1 one home turf on Sunday in a crowd of just under 44,000, it is going to be a lot worse next Sunday when Clare come to Thurles for a game that means everything to them in terms of reaching a Munster Final, but nothing for Tipperary, bar pride.

However, the Tipperary players and management have already used that card following the first round defeat to Limerick which inspired an improved showing in the draw against Waterford.

It will be hard to make it work again but they have no choice but to, and they only have to look at Waterford last year who came to Thurles with nothing to play for and handed a defeat which not only ended Tipp’s hopes of reaching a Munster Final, it began a drop in form from which they haven’t fully recovered.

“It’s not lost on us the importance of representing Tipperary,” said Liam Cahill following Sunday’s defeat to Cork.

“I’m so disappointed for our supporters as well. They came out in numbers again today to really get behind the lads.

“They definitely rallied from the cry during the week to give us every chance. These guys are hurting but we have to really focus on making sure that in seven days time, we protect the integrity of this competition, that we come out here and represent the jersey again and better.

“We’ll go back tomorrow night (Monday). We’ll look at it, it will make for tough viewing.

“And we’ll have to really look at making sure we keep Clare honest here next weekend and also, introduce a few guys as well that are maybe going to be part of our squad going forward going into what is officially a real rebuild job in Tipperary after today.”