Tipperary manager Michael Ryan adopted a diplomatic stance when he was quizzed about John 'Bubbles' O'Dwyer's red card in today's Munster SHC semi-final win over Limerick.

Referee James McGrath sent the Tipp star for an early shower after he lashed out at Richie English in the 14th minute and when the subject was raised in his post-match interview with RTE's 'The Sunday Game', Ryan replied: "I know I'm going to sound like the soccer boys - I didn't see it!

"I think that's a great quote but I genuinely didn't see it. But look, James I'd say was within 20 yards of it, if he called it a red card, I assume it was a red card. I'll see it on the television.

"Look, you know, it's unfortunate, I feel for the player because these things, it's a split second reaction, that's all it ever is. He'll feel worse than anyone. The important thing is the team wins and that's what Tipp is about."

The Premier boss was delighted with how his players reacted to that early set-back.

"Immensely proud of them. It was exactly what I said to them at half-time, that I was so proud of the effort that they put in.

"It's always a shock when you get brought back down to 14 men. It didn't disturb what we were trying to do, we were still trying to do the right thing with the ball.

"We showed plenty of experience and belief. It effectively always comes back down to that bit of belief that we had today thankfully that saw us over the line."

He added: "I'm delighted for our boys. We came to win, the prize is great, the prize for Limerick or Tipp here today was to go forward in three weeks time and contest the Munster senior hurling final and we here in Tipp absolutely love the opportunity to play in a Munster hurling final.

"We were reared on not getting to enough Munster hurling finals, at least my generation were, so we value it. It's special and we'll have to regroup and think about Waterford but we'll do that tomorrow."

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