With just a week to go before Tipperary started their National Hurling League campaign against Dublin in Parnell Park, Liam Cahill’s side got the ideal preparation as his side secured a 3-27 to 1-20 victory over an experimental All-Ireland champions Limerick team with all funds raised going to the Dillon Quirke Foundation.
It was a good game for a brilliant cause, with the attentions of both sides set to quickly turn to their league commitments over the coming weeks.
Speaking to Clubber TV after the game, Cahill admitted he was happy with his side's performance despite not playing against Limerick’s key players.
It was good to open hurling some physicality in there as well, to be fair.
In fairness to Limerick, call it as it is. They didn’t have any of their real key men there today, but I'm sure John Kiely will be happy with his troops coming behind these already All-Ireland medals holders. They gave us plenty to think about in the first half-hour of that match
It was a good workout, and both sides will be happy. Obviously, the spectators also saw a decent game; I’m delighted overall; it’s a good day's work.
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Tipperary boss Liam Cahill questions split season
Cahill was highly impressed with Loughmore-Castleiney’s John McGrath as the forward scored 2-9, with 2-6 coming in the first half. The corner forward hopes to rediscover his best form after sustaining an Achilles injury nearly two years ago and has battled back to wear the blue and gold jersey.
John McGrath has proven it down the years. It was important for him today to get the eye in we have the league coming and coming back from a serious injury.
People might not realise the work that has gone in behind the scenes with John to come back from that horrific Achilles injury there over a year and a half ago, not even two years ago yet.
I’m delighted for him and hope he can stay sound as the league and championship unfolds.
Cahill, who is in his second season as the Premier County’s manager, knows his side still needs to improve. Last year was all about implementing a new, more modern style of play into the Tipperary panel, especially with the help of coach Michael Bevans.
When asked about preparation for the Munster championship, Cahill believes that the championship is too jam-packed and hugely impacts the elite inter-county players.
With the split season here to stay, the Tipp man is fully aware that a colossal panel is vital, mainly to deal with the impact of injuries, especially if the Premier men want to win the All-Ireland.
It’s a pity that it's so condensed now that our elite players are getting hammered left, right and centre.
You just come out of a club campaign and straight back into a National League campaign, and the Munster championship is just three weeks later if you are lucky enough to get to a league semi-final or final.
The panel is massive now. We saw it last year when we picked up two or three injuries to key players.
It just ripped the guts out of us, so we’re trying to build a real good squad of 26 players for match day so you can turn around to any of them and know that you’re bringing in a fella just as good as the lad that comes off so that’s the key I think every manager is trying to do the same thing so let's see what the league brings out as it’s the whole objective of it.
Tipperary will begin their league campaign with a clash against Galway at Semple Stadium next weekend, hoping to put the foundations in place for a successful 2024.
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