Gaelic Games

Tipp ‘well set up’ to derail Kilkenny, says Sheedy

‘I think there will be a few lively matches to be had in training before you pick the team’

Liam Sheedy: Tipp’s All-Ireland winning boss is confident of repeat success.” Photograph: Lorraine O’Sullivan
Liam Sheedy: Tipp’s All-Ireland winning boss is confident of repeat success.” Photograph: Lorraine O’Sullivan
Wed Aug 20 2014 - 19:21

Tipperary's 2010 All-Ireland winning manager Liam Sheedy believes the county is primed for a repeat performance against Kilkenny at Croke Park on September 7th.

Sheedy and Tipp smashed Kilkenny's "drive for five" four years ago and now the aim is to stop Henry Shefflin in his tracks as the Cats superstar aims for a 10th All-Ireland medal, with Brian Cody chasing his 10th success as team manager.

Sheedy has warned the Noresiders that Tipp are “well set up” to ruin another party. But he admitted that Kilkenny have their hunger back this summer after a desperately disappointing 2013 campaign.

And Sheedy was impressed by the manner of Kilkenny’s semi-final victory over Limerick.

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He told Tipp FM: “I think Kilkenny will be impressed because they were really tested . . . [and] it showed that their hunger was definitely intact. That will please Brian Cody and in terms of Eamon O’Shea last Sunday, that was a formidable Cork team and the word was that they had improved from last year.

“And we made very light work of them . . . We’re very well set up. People are saying that we haven’t been tested but anything that’s been put in front of the team, they’ve made it look easy in terms of their performance.

“There’s real competition for places as well. I think there will be a few lively matches to be had in training before you pick the [final] team.

"I'm sure Michael Cahill and others will be very anxious to stake a claim for a starting place. I think it's set up well for Tipperary. And as a Tipperary supporter, I'm really looking forward to the next three weeks. I think we'll have a great All-Ireland final then."

Tipp’s 2010 success was borne out of a massive intensity and Sheedy acknowledged that to beat Kilkenny, the Leinster champions will have to be matched for work rate.

He said: “If you’ve got any chance of beating Kilkenny, you’ve got to match them for work rate.

“Limerick came very close in the semi-final. I think Eamon is slowly building this team up and management deserves great credit. I felt coming through the back door, after losing to Limerick, was going to be a very, very difficult assignment.

“But they have really got the team playing and they really look to be a group enjoying their hurling.

“They’re in a great space and they’re well aware of what they need to do to beat Kilkenny. It’s not going to be an easy ask but where we are, three weeks out from an All-Ireland final, I don’t think we’d change too much in Tipperary right now. We’re in with a real chance.”