TIPPERARY MANAGER LIAM Kearns expressed his pride after his side’s memorable run to the All-Ireland semi-final came to an end at Croke Park yesterday.
The Premier County defied all odds to reach this stage of the football championship and they held their own for large periods against a Mayo side who have now reached the decider three times in five years.
Tipperary’s cause wasn’t helped by an early black card shown to Robbie Kiely and then the late dismissal of Bill Maher as they slipped to a 2-13 to 0-14 defeat at HQ.
But speaking in his post-match press conference, Kearns was full of praise for his players as he looked back on a fairytale campaign.
“I was as proud of them today as I was three weeks ago, more proud maybe,” he said.
“I thought the second half was bordering on heroic, I thought they were outstanding. I said to them at half-time, ‘we’re not lying down here’, and no-one lay down. They went out and brought the game to them, as we have throughout this campaign.
“Ultimately we didn’t get the break, we had two injuries and the depth in our squad probably told against us in the end. We had a black card that was very hard for us to take, and a red card at the finish.
“The second Mayo goal was a killer, he was going for a point, slipped and it ended up at the feet of the player who pulled on it for a goal.
“We didn’t get the breaks but the players never gave up, they played to the end and played football the way it should be played. They put everything in, they’re totally committed, and I couldn’t be more proud of it.”
On reflection, there were three crucial moments in the game. With just eight minutes on the click, centre-back Kiely was given his marching orders for hauling down Diarmuid O’Connor.
Mayo took full advantage as they scored 1-4 without reply as Tipp looked to reshuffle their defensive structure.
“It was a huge loss (Robbie Kiely), we brought in Shane Leahy and he’s a bit inexperienced, it was his first time on that stage, it was tough going,” Kearns continued.
“Diarmuid O’Connor caused us problems at wing-forward and unfortunately we had to take Shane off. It took us until half-time to sort things out in the dressing-room but we did sort it out.
“We got back within two points and I was confident we’d take it to the wire. It wasn’t to be because we got a few more knocks and we probably can’t sustain those knocks.
“We were six-three up when Robbie got the black card and going well, I thought we should have been more up, but when they got a run on us they caused problems, Andy Moran caused us problems inside and they got on top in the middle third.
Given it was their first appearance at this stage of the championship for 80 years, Tipperary certainly didn’t look out of place — and Kearns admits it’s up to the players and management to ensure it wasn’t a once off.
“I let others judge if we can get back, but the boys have been very comfortable out here, they haven’t left themselves down in Croke Park in the quarter- or semi-final.
“Mayo have been in six semi-finals in a row, this is our first time here. My view is that Tipperary can aspire to come back to this level on a regular basis, providing we get things right, total commitment – there’s a lot of good players in tipperary who could have been with us today but weren’t, so we need to get our set-up right back in the county.”
The42 is on Snapchat! Tap the button below on your phone to add!
Great display by Tipperary
Spoiled by that creep of a ref….
We will be back….
Tipp out of their depth……….. thoroughly and comprehensively beaten.
Wonder why we can’t post a comment on the article above this!?
The one about Delaney too?
Because they’re untouchable. If anything it proves their guilt.
Tipp will always get the piss beaten out of them by Kerry/Cork.
Like they did earlier this year against cork….. Clown
Talking about more than one year……..Apeman
Tell the truth and your a troll. Jesus wept!!
Beggars belief how Tipp beat Derry/Galway…………..Clare would beat them.
Yeah the Galway game was so close how did they beat them! Surely it’s time now for you to move on to how bad they are in the hurling championship now.
I told you Mayo would in by 5 points……..handy semi.
I told you Tipp dont have subs.
Tis only a mighty gaa prophet you are Tim!
An opinion on something doesn’t make it the truth.
Tipp Footballers wiil do nothing next year! Kilkenny to beat Tipp by more than 5 points!!!
But if tipp go out early next year you’ll have nothing to “comment” on!
Its not an if they will.
Do tipp deserve any praise Tim
Good manager………i rate them about 8 or 9th place in Ireland not bad for a team like Tipp. Find it hard to give any of their players an all star. Could not live w ith Kerry/Mayo
Faint praise but I suppose it’s something from you
why patronize Tipp by saying they did great to reach a munster final and beat a very poor team like Gal way.
Mayo’s experience got to us at the end of the game. Best of luck to them in the final. Proud of our lads for giving a huge effort this year. Tipp football certainly has a bright future ahead and hopefully it’s onwards and upwards!