Power feels Tipp have what it takes to stay senior

By Michael Heverin

While disappointed at his side’s failure to reach the All-Ireland quarter finals, Tipperary manager David Power said he couldn’t fault his side’s efforts in their defeat to Kildare.

Power hopes that the commitment they showed and the willingness to battle to the very end will provide the impetus for them to win their relegation play-off and retain senior status.

“In terms of effort and application, it was really good. The girls put in a massive shift and we are all gutted because they are working so hard. The application was great and they played to the very end”, Power said.

But he didn’t gloss over the failings against an impressive Kildare side and repeated the one word that he has used so often following Tipperary defeats – turnovers.

“We conceded 1-13, and without even looking at the stats, I’d say we conceded 1-7 or 1-8 from turnovers. That’s way too much and something we have to work on. We’re conceding too many scores from being sloppy on the ball and going into tackles with the ball. We have to be more diligent and be safer with the ball”, Power added.

And he accepted that on more than one occasion the turnovers incurred a double penalty. “We were attacking and getting ready to get off a shot. One more pass and we are in for a score. And then we are turned over and they score down the other end.

“The goal was also a crucial score as I had expected a goal in the game would be. They got the break when the ball came back off the crossbar and we just stood there looking at it”.

He was also disappointed with their own scoring return of just nine points. “It’s not enough and just won’t cut it at this level. But we have to stay positive and the bottom line is that the teams that beat us are all Division 1 sides. This is part of a process. We are trying to grow a young team and there are more and more young girls wanting to come into our set-up. It’s a building process and we just have to be patient.

“The big target now is to retain our senior status and that won’t be easy because there are other teams fighting for their lives as well. But as I say, we have to remain positive,” he concluded.