Power laments sluggish first half

By Michael Heverin

Despite the disappointment of not achieving what would have been a famous victory over Kerry, Tipperary manager David Power was still very pleased with his side’s performance.

“The girls just needed to settle down in the second half,” he said.

“We were very nervous in the first but they played so well in the second and they can be really proud of that performance.

“We were under different pressure today because the underdog tag was gone, but the girls will have to get used to that if we are going to win Munster championships and All Ireland championships. That’s the kind of exposure that you want.”

And now following an historic win over Cork, and pushing Kerry so close, in their first two games, Tipp have the chance of reaching the Munster final if they can beat Waterford this weekend – albeit against a Deise side that top the group following wins over both Kerry and Cork.

Power added: “I said before that there won’t be much in these games. We’re at a level now where we’re playing against the best of the best in the country and people need to realise this. And not just playing, but really, really competing.

“The Waterford game is now probably a Munster semi-final. It’s a derby and we have nothing to fear. We are definitely going in the right direction and getting ready now for Waterford”.

He felt it was important for the players to show that the win over Cork wasn’t a fluke and that they proved that against Kerry, despite a sluggish first half.

“We never really got going at the start. Their goal was a high hopeful ball in that just broke to a Kerry player. But we also left two or three good goal chances behind in the first half, even without playing well.

“I told the girls at half time to settle down and the second half was very, very good. We’re holding our own against teams that would be considered a level above us. Hopefully now we can beat Waterford and get to a Munster final”, Power added.