Can Tipp sing their redemption song in Walsh Park?

We're not mad, just disappointed

We've all heard those words at one stage or another in our lives, usually from our parents, and you'd nearly rather they were mad because the disappointment hit home more.

I think this sums up how many Tipp hurling people felt when the final whistle blew in the Gaelic Grounds last Sunday.

Not rage, but disappointment.

In the current hurling landscape, victory against Limerick is often more a hope than an expectation. So there was always that realism that a win against them on Sunday would require an alignment of all the stars for Tipp - a brilliant team performance, an under-par Limerick, and a bit of luck.

One of those three occurred and it was an under-par Limerick showing. All you can do is laugh when you reflect on the fact they still won the match by 15 points. That’s just where they are at right now.

Why the disappointment? I have been a part of groups who took some serious drubbings with Tipperary and nobody will feel it more than those players or management, but it was just the manner of defeat that really hurt so many Tipp people.

There was no drive, no last-ditch tackles, no hanging out of lads to block runs or make space for others - no real gameplan to be totally honest.

A case and point: the space David Reidy was allowed at times in the game. He actually couldn’t believe it himself and possibly ended up striking one or two efforts wide because he nearly had too much time.

We all know Limerick’s movement is top class but it was criminal the amount of time and space Reidy found and you have to wonder what was going on out on the pitch.

How did someone not bust their gut to close him down or put him under some pressure? That’s not hours of tactical stuff and nor does it require a world of