Former Tipperary manager Liam Sheedy believes that it is the end of an era for many of the county's current hurlers after they were comprehensively beaten 4-30 to 1-21 by Cork in Thurles this afternoon.
Today's loss means that Tipp have been knocked out of this year's Munster Senior Hurling Championship, currently sitting bottom of the table with just a single point. Despite having a game in hand against today's opponents, their poor run of results means they have been eliminated with one round still remaining.
Tipperary will play Clare next weekend in Thurles in what will be a crucial match for the outcome of the Munster Senior Hurling Championship. A win would put Clare in the driver seat to advance to the Munster final after they recorded a controversial win over Waterford earlier this afternoon.
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The End of an Era for Tipperary Hurling?
Speaking with Joanne Cantwell of 'The Sunday Game' after Tipperary were thrashed by Cork, former manager Liam Sheedy believes that it is the end of the road for a number of Tipperary's all-time great hurlers such as Noel McGrath and Ronan Maher.
He praised the pair for having 'done so much service' to the county, having been involved since 2008, coinciding with Sheedy's time as manager in which the county won the 2010 All-Ireland Final after beating Kilkenny 4-17 to 1-18.
The former manager reminisced on what he described as a 'Golden Era' over the past fifteen years, and signalled that next weekend's match might be the last for McGrath and Maher:
They're both still actively involved, so whether they'll find it in them to go another season, when you see where the game is going and the pace that it's played at.
But if it is the last season that we see them, my God what enjoyment they've given, not just Tipperary people but people right across the country that watch the game of hurling, they've been fantastic.'
Sheedy and Joe Canning discussed the speed at which Cork played at today, and how the Tipperary defence struggled to match the pace and energy despite a strong start which resulted in a goal for Mark Kehoe inside the first minute.
Sheedy signalled that it might be time to draw a curtain on the old guard of Tipperary hurling:
It's tough for them to take a defeat like that, but you know, unfortunately time moves on. They'll be fondly remembered irrespective of what they do next year and they'll be fondly remembered for their contribution to Tipperary Hurling'
'Time moves on, they'll be fondly remembered for their contribution to Tipperary hurling' - Liam Sheedy on a defeat which herald the end of an era for a number of Tipp stalwarts#rtegaa pic.twitter.com/eABXj13w1Z
— The Sunday Game (@TheSundayGame) May 19, 2024
With one round of the Munster Senior Hurling Championships remaining, Limerick, Cork, Clare and Waterford cann all qualify for the Munster Final by securing a top-two finish, whilst third place will earn a Preliminary Quarter Final. Cork are without a game next weekend, so will be watching on in hope.
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