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Sheedy's blue and gold passion
KEEPING the faith – for Tipp boss Liam Sheedy this, more than anything, was a key reason for the Premier County making it back to the All-Ireland final.
The man at the helm of the Premier County's senior hurlers has seen his side come through some serious challenges this year, not least a defeat to Cork in the Munster championship. Lesser teams may have seen their season derailed there and then, but Sheedy refused to give in.
"I wouldn't lose my faith in players overnight," he said. "I've been involved with this team for three years now, and I've huge time for this group.
"Sometimes I think people forget that this is still a young team – in the Waterford game we had a half-forward line that was made up of a 19-year-old, a 20-year-old and a 21-year-old. They are still very much in the development stage, a side that includes five under-21 players in the overall team.
"I have been constantly saying that this team and this county is moving in the right direction," he pointed out. "In time, success will come, but there has to be an element of patience; they are still young."
That said, Sheedy didn't pull any punches when asked for his verdict on that defeat to the Rebels.
"We were outbattled and outfought," was his honest assessment. "We lost close to every position on the pitch.
"Whether it was an All-Ireland hangover or what, it just didn't happen for us on the field," he reflected. "In fairness the lads have taken full advantage of the second bite at the cherry – they didn't shirk the challenge, but have worked really really hard over the last number of weeks and months."
Time to heal
A lot of where Tipp have come from stemmed from that loss to Cork. It gave the team time to regroup, the manager reckoned, time to heal.
"We had five weeks after that game, which I think was a blessing," he said. "We got a chance to really work as a group and to get the best out of everyone.
"We had a bit of luck along the way too," he added. "A home draw against Wexford in our first qualifier was favourable. Playing in Thurles was also an advantage, as we have a good record there.
"A lot of things worked in our favour, while the level of opposition helped," said Sheedy. "Wexford and Offaly are two top class teams, so it was good for preparation, really really good. After that we were able to carry that impetus into the quarter-final and then the semi-final.
"It's been a good run for us, and a productive time for the panel, as we have been able to get an understanding of the strength and depth in our panel.
"The qualifier route hasn't been bad to us, but I can assure you it didn't feel that way on the 31st of May!" he added. "Hindsight is a great thing in sport. For us we would have loved to have won a third Munster title in a row but it wasn't to be. Having said that, the lads have reacted in the best possible way.
"The thing you'll always find in sport is that a second chance is always nice to have," continued Sheedy. "When you get that chance you have to take stock and see if there are two or three things that everyone of us can do differently to try and get the show back on the road. I think every member of the panel said to themselves, 'right, I'm really going to knuckle down here and let's see where it takes us'. Thankfully it has found us back in another All-Ireland final."
Like Kilkenny, Tipp have moved through the gears on their run to the All-Ireland final. They stepped it up again in the game against Galway, a match which may have been the defining moment of the year in terms of showing their fighting spirit.
"Winning tight games is always a plus, in terms of telling you where you are mentally," Sheedy said. "When you win a close match it stands to you.
"We had won in Croke Park the previous year (the semi-final) but Limerick would be the first ones to say they just didn't turn up on the day. It was probably made a bit easy for us that day, but Galway came at us in droves in the quarter-final. They really pushed up hard, but it was great to get a game like that behind us."
The spirit in the team has also helped, something Sheedy was quick to point out.
"I think the players in the panel deserve huge credit," he said. "A lot of people might have been jumping on their case after we had been dumped out of the Munster championship but it's all about your reaction and where you go after you've had a low point.
"In fairness the lads have pushed on as a group, really challenged each other in training immensely hard over the last number of months.
Healing process
"I think that hard work is what has gotten them back; the healing process has come through the players, and they deserve huge credit for the way they've gone about their business over the last few months. We had a close shave or two along the way – we could have been knocked out in the quarter-finals, but I think the players showed great determination. I don't think Galway scored anything in the last ten minutes of that game, while we got three points of our own in the last four. That was very pleasing."
Sheedy seemed more at ease in the build-up to this All-Ireland, but still knows the size of the task that is in front of his side.
"No team has gotten near Kilkenny in any of their three championship matches to date," he said. "It takes a remarkable team to put Cork away like they did in 25 minutes, not to mention lose your centre-back and your centre-forward and still carry on with business as usual.
"I'm under no illusions in terms of the challenge that lies ahead. However, as far as we're concerned there's no other team we'd like to have in there to have a go at winning the final than ourselves.
"We're looking forward to getting back to Croke Park," he added. "I think we've become a little more battle-hardened this year, as the lads proved with those late scores in the quarter-final. As for the semi-final, Waterford were playing a good brand of hurling all year. Thankfully we stepped it up and got the vital scores when we needed them.
"The team's moving in the right direction," he said. "We're thrilled to be back in the final; now that we're there you want to perform. I'd have huge confidence in the lads and their ability to be able to give another big performance in the final."
Losing last year's final was tough on Tipp, but Sheedy believed that going under in a semi-final is even harder on a team.
"Losing at semi-final stages is the worst feeling as a player," he said. "Everyone wants to get to the All-Ireland final, which is the biggest stage on the sporting calendar if you're a GAA fan. These are the days you live for – we have come a long and hard road since losing to Cork, but we didn't want to fall at the semi-final stage after all the recovery work and hard nights.
"There is a lot at stake, and it means a lot to these players," he continued. "It's the same any time you put on your county jersey there's a little bit of blue and gold passion running down through you."
And that passion will be tested come September 5, when Kilkenny chase the dream of five in a row.
Immortality
"These lads are chasing immortality – they are an exceptional team who set very high standards," he said. "We cannot expect Kilkenny to come back and meet us – the challenge for us and other counties is to get up with them. The only way you'll do that is to play them. We got to play them last year, and are delighted to get it again this year."
Even if that means playing them at full strength? Although some managers would prefer it if an opponent was missing a key player or two, Sheedy didn't share the same thought.
"From a hurler's point of view I think the All-Ireland final day needs to see the best players," was the Tipp manager's belief, a statement which raised more than one eyebrow. "We had a similar scenario last year with Eoin Kelly coming up to the final – a will he, won't he play. When you get to the big stage you want every player available. If Henry makes it to the final it will be good for hurling."
Sheedy knows what it's like to have speculation hover over a star player on a team. He had to endure the same worries regarding team captain Eoin Kelly before the semi-final, but has no such concerns this time.
"Eoin feels his back is a lot stronger," Sheedy said of the Mullinahone forward. "He had a tough preparation for the semi-final, but from our point of view if his back is still sore for the final but he gets another 2-1 then it's alright with me!
"On an ideal day everyone would be fit for both counties, but we've had our own misfortunes too – James (Woodlock) and Pat (Kerwick) would have played a big part in last year's final, and haven't played any games for us this year," he pointed out. "Thankfully the strength of the pack is what it comes down to, and our panel has responded in the best possible way."
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Wednesday 08 February 2012
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