Job done; now for Cork – Cahill

By Noel Dundon

Tipperary manager Liam Cahill was anxious to put the victory over Offaly in the National Hurling League on Sunday firmly in the rearview mirror as soon as the final whistle sounded in Glenisk O’Connor Park.

And who could blame him? On the horizon looms Munster and league title holders Cork in Páirc Uí Chaoimh on Saturday night next under lights.

The game against Offaly which resulted in two wins from two outings for Tipperary, will be poles apart from the challenge facing the Premier County on Saturday evening, and this was not lost on the manager.

“We have a big test coming next Saturday night in Páirc Ui Chaoimh,” he said.

“I believe there is a big crowd in for that already and both stands and almost sold out, if not sold out already.

“This will bring another big opportunity for players to play games coming nearer to the championship and we have some other big games as well with Limerick, Waterford and Kilkenny to come. So, it will be all good preparation for later on in the year.”

Reflecting on their second league win, Offaly were outclassed by Tipperary and with the likes of the returning Jason Forde on fire, as well as John & Noel McGrath also making their first appearances of the season, the wheels are cranking into place.

Granted the third level colleges competitions continue to require attention, but Liam is happy that all sliotars are being juggled correctly at present and so far, none of them are hitting the ground.

“It was a good performance all round from our lads,” he felt.

“It is very competitive in the panel and when fellas get the opportunity to get in, they are anxious to take it. The effort was superb again from everybody – from the starting fifteen to the five that came in. That’s all we can ask for every day we go out, for everybody to give it everything they have got and if we stay doing that, we cannot have any complaints.

“Look, it was round 2 of the leagues and we have a big assignment next week on Saturday night in Cork.

“We are trying to get all our lads back onto the field and get a bit of competitive action back into them. It is also about managing the workload of the lads who are still involved in the Fitzgibbon Cup as well, so it is always going to be a difficult couple of weeks to manage.

“It is not easy but we understand the importance of the college’s scene as well, and lads want to play with their college mates. It is a prestigious honour to win a Fitzgibbon Cup but it is not easy when you are trying to play a competitive national league at the same time.

“We have good people around us and they are keeping track of the workload on these players and hopefully we will be able to get through the remainder of the first block of the league and then take it from there.”