O’Gorman pleased by team and player response

By Stephen Barry

Paddy O’Gorman was thrilled with the response of his players as the Tipperary under 20s bounced back from defeat in Clare to overturn Limerick.

Charlie Walsh didn’t start in Quilty but registered 1-4 against the Treaty. Dylan Cotter didn’t start in New Inn but contributed two points from play and two goal involvements off the bench.

“The hardest part of the job is when you're disappointing lads. But they don't sulk,” said O’Gorman.

“They get on with it and a perfect example of that was Dylan Cotter. He’s a great soldier for us for the last two years and it was so hard telling him this week that he wasn't going to be starting on the team. But he was immense when he came on. He did exactly what we wanted him to do. He responded the way a true player does.

“Charlie is an unbelievable talent and sometimes it's horses for courses. As a manager, you try and be as honest as possible with players. I explained to Charlie last week that we felt it'd be better him coming off the bench. Today was a day where we felt let's unleash him. We needed someone inside with a bit of pace. Charlie was the man to do that.”

O’Gorman attributed their victory to a higher second-half conversion rate, better communication and composure, and their bench impact.

“It's hard when you're trying to play to a system and there's all these lads going in and out and trying to pick lads up. We just said, we need to communicate more and don't sit back, get contact on the ball.”

With the other game between Waterford and Clare postponed as a mark of respect following the tragic passing of Clare strength & conditioning coach Jack Boddy, O’Gorman said: “I was talking to Dermot Coughlan, the Clare manager, earlier on in the week. What they've gone through over the last couple of days and Jack Boddy's family… winning a match is great, but life is precious.

“Our condolences go to Clare GAA, to Jack's family, and to all the Clare players that, please God, they'll be able to get their heads up and respond in memory of Jack.”

Waterford will now host Clare this Friday with the final round of games rescheduled for Good Friday, April 5th where Tipp travel to Lemybrien to take on Waterford.