Tipp boss Ryan: losing to Galway last year was a 'tragedy' but we weren't bullied
Tipperary manager Michael Ryan has been looking back on last year’s All-Ireland SHC semi-final defeat to Galway as he prepares for next Sunday’s rematch.
TIPPERARY MANAGER MICHAEL Ryan has rejected the assertion that his players were bullied by Galway in last year’s All-Ireland SHC semi-final – but admitted that the Westerners reached a pitch the Premier County couldn’t match.
Tipp lost by a point against the Tribesmen at Croke Park and the criticism was that Galway out-muscled their opponents.
But Ryan insisted that it was merely Galway’s higher intensity levels that won the day, as Shane Maloney scored a late winner.
“I don’t subscribe to the notion that one team bullies the other. I think that they got to a level of intensity that we just didn’t match or couldn’t match.
“And, that’s the tragedy for us. But I think full credit to Galway – I would have been one of the people who fancied Galway, if they could reproduce that kind of intensity for 70-odd minutes, that they had a chance to win that All-Ireland.
“That’s a different conversation, but I really fancied them. I thought that was the best I had seen Galway play in a couple of years and they were very worthy winners on the day.
Shane Moloney fires over the winning point for Galway last August. Donall Farmer / INPHO
Donall Farmer / INPHO / INPHO
“We were the ones left soul-searching as a result. I really admired their intensity, they got to a level that really set the bar for us in 2016 as to what we needed to reach and how we needed to evolve to get to that level.”
Ryan also admitted that he’s at a loss to explain the poor record of the province’s recent senior hurling champions when they aim for September’s big prize.
Cork in 2005 are the last Munster champions to go on and lift the Liam MacCarthy Cup in the same season.
Ryan is puzzled by that famine but acknowledged that in that time, Munster’s finest have come up against the greatest team of all time in Brian Cody’s Kilkenny.
“There’s a question,” Ryan smiled when the poser was put to him.
“I don’t know. One of the very obvious answers is that they have come up against what is the best team as far as I am concerned in hurling and in hurling’s history in Kilkenny.
“It’s not something that we are happy about in Munster. We are very proud of our province and we put a high value on winning a Munster final.
Seán Óg Ó hAilpín lifts the Liam MacCarthy Cup for Cork in 2005. Tom Honan / INPHO
Tom Honan / INPHO / INPHO
“That we haven’t, any of us, closed out the All-Ireland at the other end is disappointing.
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“But don’t underestimate, and none of us should underestimate, how good Kilkenny have been and are.”
Last year, as Munster champions, Tipperary struggled with the five-week gap between provincial final and All-Ireland semi-final.
And instead of turning on the intensity again when they hit GAA HQ, Tipp fell flat against the Tribesmen.
Ryan agreed: “Without a doubt. It’s very hard to put your finger on being honest.
There’s a multitude of different reasons and it seemed to be a malaise across a lot of the players as well as a collective so it’s very hard to put your finger on it.
“I don’t think we underestimated Galway, I don’t think we ever do to be honest with you, but we were certainly not at the level that we needed to be.
Even though it was only a one-point game I think it would have been a complete injustice to Galway if we had even got a draw out of that game.”
But Ryan believes the experience of 12 months ago will help steel the minds of his players as he prepares for Sunday’s rematch with the Tribesmen.
“It is a great help to focus the minds to be honest. We have had that harsh experience. It was a hugely unsatisfying end to what was a promising 2015 – again we negotiated a tough Munster campaign and beat a very difficult Waterford in the Munster final.
Seamus Callanan scored 3-9 in last year's clash with Galway but still finished on the losing side. James Crombie / INPHO
James Crombie / INPHO / INPHO
“And, then just to fall flat and not produce hurling on the day when the game was relatively straight forward – when I say relatively straight forward (I mean) it was just a game of hurling, we didn’t have to counteract a sweeper system or any of that stuff.
“So, that was a disappointment to be honest with you and it hurt us all, the players included.”
Looking back, and as a selector alongside Eamon O’Shea at the time, Ryan admits that he didn’t detect any clues to suggest that preparations were in any way off.
“It’s a very difficult one. You look back in hindsight, after the event we are very wise, but prior to the match, honestly, there was nothing that concerned us in terms of in the lead up during the week or in the dressing room before the match or in hotel prior to that.
“We were very happy that the guys were ready for this challenge.
And, that’s the difficult part of management. It is so difficult to put your finger on, but I think experiences, and they are harsh experiences, they do steel you.
“And, I think the lads have driven this as much as we have in terms of management.
“They really wanted to get back to this point come hell or high water in 2016 and we’re here. Now we have to get through this game and get a result.
“The prize is great. I keep saying that – every prize is a great prize for us. We know that and we certainly don’t take it for granted.”
Under Ryan, Tipp have been more direct and physical, as he promised when he took over from O’Shea last year.
Michael Ryan succeeded Eamon O'Shea (pictured) as Tipperary senior hurling manager. James Crombie / INPHO
James Crombie / INPHO / INPHO
It was a unique appointment in the sense that Ryan knew that he was stepping in before O’Shea’s final year at the helm.
But he explained: “Continuity was the real reason that appointment was made so early because we believed that we were on the right road and that this was the right direction.
“And, in terms of bringing my own stamp to it what I would consider as different is that we are getting to the intensity levels.
But that was crying out obvious – that was why we failed, that was one of the reasons why we failed in 2015. We had to get to that level of intensity.
“That has been something very measurable and something we put our store in. But I think it reflects the personality of not just me, I am the constant here, but in terms John Madden, Declan Fanning, Conor Stakelum and there is also a wider backroom team supporting us.
“Very early we called it out that we had to get back to a more traditional game, that would compete with the new levels that were being set day in day out, particularly by Kilkenny.
“They are very consistent, but Galway were the ones that knocked us out that day. That was the tangible measure for us and we failed at that test.”
In the opposite dug-out next Sunday will stand Micheál Donoghue, a man familiar to Ryan as he worked behind the scenes with the Tipperary hurlers for the past two years.
Galway boss Micheál Donoghue spent two years in the Tipperary camp.
Perhaps if Tipp had won the All-Ireland last year, Donoghue might still be involved with them but Ryan believes he was always destined to wear the Galway ‘Bainisteoir’ bib.
“God only knows if we had to win would he have stayed around. I think not. I think Micheál was always going to get involved with Galway and why wouldn’t he?
“He is Galway through and through. And, in fairness, it was a very difficult situation for Micheál to be in last year; in our camp, working with us and then we meet Galway in an All-Ireland semi-final.
It must be a nightmare, it’s one I would personally hate, but I thought he handled it very well at the time. And, he got plenty of stick at various stages, but he is a true hurling man and he is a real Galway man.
“I suppose he brought a different perspective, an external perspective on Tipp. He and Eamon (O’Shea) became close when he was manager of Clarinbridge and he got Eamon in to do some work with them and I think they remained friends after.
“That’s really where that connection was, but it just brought a breath of fresh air to our set-up and a different perspective – and, of course, he shared the journeys up and down with Eamon which was great for Eamon.
“A very good guy, Micheál Donoghue will always be a friend of us and this group in Tipp.
“We do wish each other well, but I don’t think we can do it this time around. I will wish him well, but I just hope he doesn’t win. And, that’s how it should be. People go and work with other counties and unfortunately you may just meet your own – it’s just a risk.”
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Tipp boss Ryan: losing to Galway last year was a 'tragedy' but we weren't bullied
TIPPERARY MANAGER MICHAEL Ryan has rejected the assertion that his players were bullied by Galway in last year’s All-Ireland SHC semi-final – but admitted that the Westerners reached a pitch the Premier County couldn’t match.
Tipp lost by a point against the Tribesmen at Croke Park and the criticism was that Galway out-muscled their opponents.
But Ryan insisted that it was merely Galway’s higher intensity levels that won the day, as Shane Maloney scored a late winner.
“I don’t subscribe to the notion that one team bullies the other. I think that they got to a level of intensity that we just didn’t match or couldn’t match.
“And, that’s the tragedy for us. But I think full credit to Galway – I would have been one of the people who fancied Galway, if they could reproduce that kind of intensity for 70-odd minutes, that they had a chance to win that All-Ireland.
“That’s a different conversation, but I really fancied them. I thought that was the best I had seen Galway play in a couple of years and they were very worthy winners on the day.
“We were the ones left soul-searching as a result. I really admired their intensity, they got to a level that really set the bar for us in 2016 as to what we needed to reach and how we needed to evolve to get to that level.”
Ryan also admitted that he’s at a loss to explain the poor record of the province’s recent senior hurling champions when they aim for September’s big prize.
Cork in 2005 are the last Munster champions to go on and lift the Liam MacCarthy Cup in the same season.
Ryan is puzzled by that famine but acknowledged that in that time, Munster’s finest have come up against the greatest team of all time in Brian Cody’s Kilkenny.
“There’s a question,” Ryan smiled when the poser was put to him.
“I don’t know. One of the very obvious answers is that they have come up against what is the best team as far as I am concerned in hurling and in hurling’s history in Kilkenny.
“It’s not something that we are happy about in Munster. We are very proud of our province and we put a high value on winning a Munster final.
“That we haven’t, any of us, closed out the All-Ireland at the other end is disappointing.
“But don’t underestimate, and none of us should underestimate, how good Kilkenny have been and are.”
Last year, as Munster champions, Tipperary struggled with the five-week gap between provincial final and All-Ireland semi-final.
And instead of turning on the intensity again when they hit GAA HQ, Tipp fell flat against the Tribesmen.
Ryan agreed: “Without a doubt. It’s very hard to put your finger on being honest.
“I don’t think we underestimated Galway, I don’t think we ever do to be honest with you, but we were certainly not at the level that we needed to be.
But Ryan believes the experience of 12 months ago will help steel the minds of his players as he prepares for Sunday’s rematch with the Tribesmen.
“It is a great help to focus the minds to be honest. We have had that harsh experience. It was a hugely unsatisfying end to what was a promising 2015 – again we negotiated a tough Munster campaign and beat a very difficult Waterford in the Munster final.
“And, then just to fall flat and not produce hurling on the day when the game was relatively straight forward – when I say relatively straight forward (I mean) it was just a game of hurling, we didn’t have to counteract a sweeper system or any of that stuff.
“So, that was a disappointment to be honest with you and it hurt us all, the players included.”
Looking back, and as a selector alongside Eamon O’Shea at the time, Ryan admits that he didn’t detect any clues to suggest that preparations were in any way off.
“It’s a very difficult one. You look back in hindsight, after the event we are very wise, but prior to the match, honestly, there was nothing that concerned us in terms of in the lead up during the week or in the dressing room before the match or in hotel prior to that.
“We were very happy that the guys were ready for this challenge.
“And, I think the lads have driven this as much as we have in terms of management.
“They really wanted to get back to this point come hell or high water in 2016 and we’re here. Now we have to get through this game and get a result.
“The prize is great. I keep saying that – every prize is a great prize for us. We know that and we certainly don’t take it for granted.”
Under Ryan, Tipp have been more direct and physical, as he promised when he took over from O’Shea last year.
It was a unique appointment in the sense that Ryan knew that he was stepping in before O’Shea’s final year at the helm.
But he explained: “Continuity was the real reason that appointment was made so early because we believed that we were on the right road and that this was the right direction.
“And, in terms of bringing my own stamp to it what I would consider as different is that we are getting to the intensity levels.
“That has been something very measurable and something we put our store in. But I think it reflects the personality of not just me, I am the constant here, but in terms John Madden, Declan Fanning, Conor Stakelum and there is also a wider backroom team supporting us.
“Very early we called it out that we had to get back to a more traditional game, that would compete with the new levels that were being set day in day out, particularly by Kilkenny.
“They are very consistent, but Galway were the ones that knocked us out that day. That was the tangible measure for us and we failed at that test.”
In the opposite dug-out next Sunday will stand Micheál Donoghue, a man familiar to Ryan as he worked behind the scenes with the Tipperary hurlers for the past two years.
Perhaps if Tipp had won the All-Ireland last year, Donoghue might still be involved with them but Ryan believes he was always destined to wear the Galway ‘Bainisteoir’ bib.
“God only knows if we had to win would he have stayed around. I think not. I think Micheál was always going to get involved with Galway and why wouldn’t he?
“He is Galway through and through. And, in fairness, it was a very difficult situation for Micheál to be in last year; in our camp, working with us and then we meet Galway in an All-Ireland semi-final.
“I suppose he brought a different perspective, an external perspective on Tipp. He and Eamon (O’Shea) became close when he was manager of Clarinbridge and he got Eamon in to do some work with them and I think they remained friends after.
“That’s really where that connection was, but it just brought a breath of fresh air to our set-up and a different perspective – and, of course, he shared the journeys up and down with Eamon which was great for Eamon.
“A very good guy, Micheál Donoghue will always be a friend of us and this group in Tipp.
“We do wish each other well, but I don’t think we can do it this time around. I will wish him well, but I just hope he doesn’t win. And, that’s how it should be. People go and work with other counties and unfortunately you may just meet your own – it’s just a risk.”
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GAA Hurling Michael Ryan revenge mission Galway Tipperary