Forde lauds tactical tweak in All-Ireland success
By Stephen Barry
Jason Forde has sometimes fulfilled a sweeping role with his club, but he had never played on a Tipperary team that fielded a seventh defender.
That was until the All-Ireland final rabbit from a hat that stunted Cork’s free-flowing attack to secure a famous Liam MacCarthy success.
The Silvermines star forward praised the lack of ego in Liam Cahill’s management style to implement the surprise tactic.
“Liam did say, and it probably threw people off, that a Liam Cahill team would never play with a plus one. But it is just shrewd management and fair play to Liam for doing it,” said Forde.
“It wasn't a pride thing with him that he'd never do something like that. He was seeing what is the best way I can set up this team to be successful.
“Going back to next year, I am sure that it will revert to 15-on-15 for most games. It is just whatever way you can work it to give yourself an advantage.
“They opened us up for goals in the League final, opened us up for goals in the Munster Championship, so we had to do something to try and counteract that. It was really clever from the lads.”
For the rest of the year, Tipp had committed themselves to a traditional three-man full-forward line, which Forde feels played to his strengths.
He credits the management team with re-instilling confidence in his game, while also getting the squad fitter than during their winless 2024 campaign.
Given that fact, Forde firmly debunks the external perception that Cahill ‘flogs’ his teams.
“I don't really know where that perception comes out of. We obviously take the sports science side of it very seriously,” Forde continued.
“You're monitored with your GPS. You are monitored with your wellness scores every morning. If you are not feeling something, then you go out to Paddy O'Brien, your physio. So, everything is monitored across the board.
“I did think that we were fitter this year. Maybe it comes back to the management team working together in sync. We didn't pick up as many injuries. Barring my own clubmate, Mikey Corcoran, getting injured the week before the All-Ireland, that was the only real serious injury that we had.
“Just personally, delighted for Angelo (Walsh), the S&C, because he did come under the pump a lot last year after we got knocked out. He has more than shown what he is capable of doing this year.”
Forde referenced the “pinch yourself” feeling after winning the final, although he was miffed about having a first-half goal ruled out for a square ball.
“It would always be nice to score a goal in an All-Ireland final. I wasn't even sure of the rule myself, to be honest. I thought that I had stayed out and came in. But someone said to me afterwards that you can't go into the square at all if it's a free.
“The rule is probably going back a long time in the GAA to give the goalies a bit more protection, when lads could go in and flake them with hurleys back in the day. You don't really see that now. If someone can get in and flick a ball like that, why not let it off?
“But look, the rule is there. As players, we know to a certain extent what the rule is, so I don't see it changing.”
Forde isn’t looking too far ahead, but you can sense the excitement for Tipp’s title defence.
“That's a conversation I'll have to have with Liam and the management team, but I'd definitely be raring to go for next year.
“When you win like that and the age profile of the team and you've just come off such a high, it would be hard to leave that behind. Once the body's good and you're injury-free, why not stay at it as long as you can?
“Because when you do close the door on it, that'll be it. You'll be gone and you won't be coming back.”
Jason Forde was speaking at the launch of the ‘Fuel Your Game’ initiative, a partnership between Safefood and the GAA.