Allianz Hurling League Division One Group B, round four Limerick 0-26 Tipperary 3-16
LIAM Cahill expressed his disappointment for Séamus Kennedy after the Tipperary defender suffered a knee injury in their one-point defeat to Limerick.
The two-time All-Ireland winner crumpled to the ground in agony in the 45th minute as he checked his forward run for the sliotar.
With their Munster Championship opener away to Limerick seven weeks away, his manager hopes a severe diagnosis can be avoided.
“We don’t know yet but it’s definitely a knee injury,” said Cahill. “I hope it’s not too bad but we’ll get in behind that tomorrow and Monday and see how he is.
“I’m just so disappointed for Séamus, he was playing so well, and he’s a big player for us. Hopefully, it’s nothing too serious.”
Cahill was frank about Tipp’s inability to contain Limerick in the second half, saying it felt like a greater margin existed between the teams.
“We hung in there. The margin was three points for a long time. It didn’t feel like that on the sideline from where I was.
“If I’m being honest, it probably felt it should have been more but very encouraged with the way our boys stayed at it.
“I’m not going to sugarcoat it. Limerick didn’t do anything that Limerick don’t do every day they go out. They didn’t come with anything extra special.
“To be fair to Limerick, they’re just so good and so consistent at what they do.
“I can’t say that we didn’t know what was coming but we just weren’t able to counteract it again, call a spade a spade.
“We have to go away, keep chipping away at it, and find the answers.”
John Kiely was disappointed with the three goals conceded to Jason Forde, Patrick Maher, and Jake Morris that kept Tipp in touch, even if Limerick more than cancelled out the first pair with four-point barrages.
“We responded to the goals but that response shouldn’t be necessary really. In all three cases, we’d be very disappointed with the way we conceded those goals,” he said.
“They were mistakes on our part. But listen, we’ll learn from that.
“The most disappointing part for us was the number of unforced errors we made, the number of handling errors we made. Dropped balls, misplaced handpasses, and missed pick-ups, that type of thing. It’s a piece of work for us to go back to.”
Darragh O’Donovan was ruled out from the team named in the programme due to a short-term injury, while Kiely added that Kyle Hayes was also out due to an ankle injury as he exited the media room.
Hayes is currently on bail as he awaits sentencing at Limerick Criminal Court on March 20 for a violent disorder conviction.
Kiely thanked the Limerick fans among the 5,605 crowd who travelled to SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh as their Gaelic Grounds home pitch has been ruled out of action due to remedial works.
“It’s not anybody’s fault, I have to say that. It’s just been unfortunate.
“Very grateful for the supporters that travelled here, travelled to Semple Stadium for the Antrim game, and we’re asking them to come to Galway again next week.
“We’d love to be at home but it’s just not possible.”
Limerick N Quaid; F O’Connor, D Morrissey, M Casey (0-1); D Byrnes (0-3, 0-1 free), C O’Neill, C Coughlan (0-2); W O’Donoghue, B Murphy; G Hegarty (0-2), C Lynch (0-2), C Boylan (0-1); D Ó Dálaigh (0-3), A Gillane (0-8, 0-7 frees), P Casey
Subs T Morrissey (0-1 free) for Boylan (59); G Mulcahy (0-1) for P Casey (59); S Flanagan (0-1) for Gillane (64); A English (0-1) for Murphy (70)
Tipperary B Hogan; C Morgan (0-1), R Maher, M Breen; C Bowe, B McGrath, S Kennedy; E Connolly, P Cadell; A Tynan (0-1), C Stakelum, G O’Connor (0-3); J Forde (1-7, 0-3 frees), J McGrath, J Morris (1-3)
Subs D McCormack for Bowe (3-10, temporary); B O’Mara for B McGrath (h-t); P Maher for O’Connor (41-45, temporary); McCormack for Kennedy (47, inj.); S Ryan (0-1) for J McGrath (52); P Maher (1-0) for Tynan (57); C Quinn for Cadell (64)
Referee Liam Gordon (Galway)
Attendance 5,605
