In 2011 Tipperary won the Munster Final against the Déise by a whopping 21 points scoring 7 goals in the process. It was their third Munster title in four years.

They had stopped the 'drive for five' the previous September with a breathtaking display in the final.

At that stage everyone was predicting that they'd be a force for years to come, even whispers that they'd dominate hurling for a number of years to comme.

They did add another Munster title in 2012 but were hammered by the Cats in the semi-final.

They've really declined since the heady days of 2009-2011 where they looked ready to take the mantle from the Cats as hurling's dominant force. Today they were beaten, on their own patch, by Limerick for the first time since 1973.

Noel McGrath is a class act but time and time again today he made the wrong choice with sideline balls, as well as driving some terrible wides. Séamus Callihan won loads of ball and clipped a couple of points but was blocked down a number of times and didn't look right.

Tipp in the last couple of seasons haven't looked like a team imo. When push has come to shove and games are there to be one this Tipp side go missing in a bad way.

They've some serious hurlers but for whatever reason it just isn't coming together for them.

MesAmis (Dublin) - Posts: 13802 - 01/06/2014 20:02:09    1596421

They are playing as individuals instead of a team!!

waynoI (Dublin) - Posts: 13654 - 01/06/2014 20:05:43    1596423

They've never really recovered from the loss of Sheedy, if he came back would be fascinating to see what might happen.

commercials1 (Limerick) - Posts: 115 - 01/06/2014 20:11:44    1596427

Its only speculation as I don't know anyone on the team or anything like that but I think discipline might be an issue. Also, the steel they had in 2009 and 2010 seems to have gone. The losses to the cats in 2011 and 2012 knocked a huge amount of confidence out of them Id say, which is a shame because they have some unreal players. Hopefully they'll bounce back from this.

joncarter (Galway) - Posts: 2692 - 01/06/2014 20:18:08    1596438

Poor choices. How many tines today did they go for goal when a point was on and visa versa. If they played the game the way Limerick played then I think they could be a better team. You really do have to look at the line when assessing their problems, lack of passion and fire in their bellies.

ZUL10 (Clare) - Posts: 708 - 01/06/2014 20:35:56    1596453

What happened is they got beat, again, not good enough!

realdub (Dublin) - Posts: 8756 - 01/06/2014 20:38:57    1596455

I agree with Commercials, it would be interesting to see what would happen if Sheedy went back as manager. Neither Declan Ryan nor Eamonn O'Shea have been particularly convincing. Remember O'Shea is yet to win a championship game and Tipp themselves have lost their last 4. And in Ryan's case, the tactics against Kilkenny that day were strange to say the least. Also the previous year leaving Sheflin isolated on an inexperienced wing-back for much of the game.

Seamus Callinan has always been very flaky. He had a good League but there'd be a question mark about his temperament on the big day. Noel McGrath looked a serious hurler back in 2010 but hasn't ever pushed on. There today he has good moments but he fades in and out of the game. 3/4 years ago he was outshining the likes of Lar and Eoin Kelly. One player I do rate highly is John O'Dwyer who looks another Eoin Kelly to me. Bonnar Maher is another man they can always depend on.

On the subject of Tipp forwards so many looked so good in the last few years but we barely hear of them anymore. Buggy O'Meara, Pa Bourke, Jason Forde, Seamus Hennessy. What has happened these players?

Former_Poster (Meath) - Posts: 394 - 01/06/2014 20:48:39    1596463

Quite simply, their problem is they're Tipp. The most mentally weak sports team i've ever seen. The constant fist pumping and celebrating like you've won an All-Ireland when you've only won a league QF is not healthy for a team.

RebelCork (Cork) - Posts: 789 - 01/06/2014 20:49:21    1596465

No point in being too harsh on Tipperary, they are still a force and will be there or there abouts. But the game is changing and Tipp are making poor choices in front of goal and ill-discipline in front of their own, god they give too many frees away, some teams are really struggling to adapt.

arock (Dublin) - Posts: 4954 - 01/06/2014 21:52:53    1596496

Looking over their shoulder at their supporters and former players and managers who rip the bejaysus out of them every time they lose. Time was that arrogance was the trade mark of the Premier, no matter how bad they were!, now they are as nervous as a herd of sheep (to use a famous analogy :-)

hurlingdub (Dublin) - Posts: 6978 - 01/06/2014 21:55:36    1596501

Well done TJ

Miler (Mayo) - Posts: 1015 - 01/06/2014 21:57:45    1596504

I'd agree with all the posts except RebelCork who seems to have a chip on the shoulder when it comes to Tipp.

Killarney.87 (Tipperary) - Posts: 2513 - 02/06/2014 09:09:56    1596523

PS Buggy and Pa were never good enough, Forde is in the panel and he will probably feature the next day, Hennessy has been ravaged with serious injuries which is very disappointing as he was a serious talent.

Killarney.87 (Tipperary) - Posts: 2513 - 02/06/2014 09:14:09    1596527

We have few or no leaders on the team, we haven't had a settled midfield partnership in a long long time. I didn't see one hurl broken yesterday or one hefty shoulder. We are way too soft and our keeper takes an age to puck out the ball. P Maher is wasted in at full back too, I would have him centre back and push Brendan Maher into midfield. We need to toughen up mentally and physically.

hurlinortoggin (Tipperary) - Posts: 30 - 02/06/2014 10:18:51    1596555

As well as being uncomplimentary to tipp I think the above posts are uncomplimentary to Limerick

Ppl are calling tipp forwards heartless etc but this limerick backline is as good a back 6 as is in the country. Last year with a non existent midfield and an average to poor set of forwards we won a munster final. Our backs near enough won munster c ship on their own last year.

disillusiondfan (Limerick) - Posts: 4279 - 02/06/2014 10:20:42    1596558

Nothing happened.They lost by 2 points to a very good Limerick team.Move on.

Condorman (Dublin) - Posts: 983 - 02/06/2014 11:20:15    1596596

Nothing happened.They lost by 2 points to a very good Limerick team.Move on.

Condorman (Dublin) - Posts: 983 - 02/06/2014 11:26:48    1596601

disillusiondfan
County: Limerick
Posts: 2283

1596558
As well as being uncomplimentary to tipp I think the above posts are uncomplimentary to Limerick

Ppl are calling tipp forwards heartless etc but this limerick backline is as good a back 6 as is in the country. Last year with a non existent midfield and an average to poor set of forwards we won a munster final. Our backs near enough won munster c ship on their own last year.

Disillusionedfan , what has happened to Tipp can be asked over a broad period of five years , in that context the comments made are very valid , the forwards for a long time have not been winning the 50/50s , yesterday the Limerick lads worked so hard and showed up a flaw thats been around for a while , the title of thread is Tipp based so its going to highlight their weakness , if somebody started a thread " whats working for Limerick " then those same mentioned six defenders would get serious praise from me and many others

Damothedub (Dublin) - Posts: 5193 - 02/06/2014 11:58:47    1596634

Nobody in Tipp wrote Limerick off before the match yesterday. Limerick have heaped pressure on themselves now to put on another big performance in the Munster final now after this 'lack of respect' paranoia that they have been queuing up to spout out after the win yesterday. They need to learn from last year, the big break to the semi final with Clare probably wasn't managed and it looked like they didn't show Clare RESPECT before that match. In all likelihood they will face the same opposition on the 13th of July so they will get their chance to write that wrong.

The media haven't been very kind to Tipp since 2011 but instead of getting offended we have to take it on the chin because they are probably right about us. Whatever happened to being glad to win a big championship match is that not enough.

Killarney.87 (Tipperary) - Posts: 2513 - 02/06/2014 12:12:56    1596653

Limerick played on Tipps achilles heels, lack of fight in their forwards, bonnar Maher excepted and poor use of a sweeper system which O'Shea implemented during the league as they were conceding goals for fun.

Limerick either went for the long range point, not always successfully I might add, or dropped a high ball in top of the full forward which Paudie Maher struggled with in general. He'd one or two clean catches, but missed a good few otherwise which Limerick proffered from.
O'Shea should have seen his tactic of Brendan Maher sweeping wasn't that effective and changed it about, but he didn't and paid the price.
The Limerick defence and forwards hounded their opposite numbers and didn't give them anything easy, but some of the goal chances spurned by Tipp were bordering on criminal, but could be looked upon as good last chance defending by the Limerick fullback line.
If they'd went in, then Tipp would be back as to the home of hurling!!

bricktop (Down) - Posts: 2503 - 02/06/2014 12:18:42    1596662