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 skill - that just comes down to effort; pure honest effort.
Paul O’Connell had a great quote that he always wanted teams he was involved in to be "the best at everything that required no talent".
Getting up from rucks, running back to help out, making selfless runs, encouraging each other. Things that require no talent just an effort and an honesty.
It hurts me to say we just didn’t see that from Tipp last Sunday and I do not know why.
You are gearing up for this game for weeks, you know you have to bring it and the whole thing just falls flat.
Paul O'Connell had a great quote that he always wanted teams he was involved in to be "the best at everything that required no talent".
Now there were moments in the game when you thought maybe, just maybe.
Like in 22nd minute, when trailing by just one point, Eoghan Connolly gets a big turnover, slips it to Alan Tynan, who passes to Sean Hayes - and his shot is swallowed up by the sprawling Nickie Quaid.
Not long after that chance was missed, Limerick reeled off six scores in a row to build up a lead by half-time.
I think Sean Hayes is a great talent and he will have learned so much last week but I think if that chance fell to a Bubbles or Seamie Callanan then the result is a green flag. Sean will learn from these moments and be a better player because of it.
Limerick got 49 shots off without being at full tilt. Tipp had 33 shots at goal.
Limerick were getting a shot off every 90 seconds or so. It doesn't take a stats person to tell you that is just not good enough from Tipp.
To put that figure into perspective, Limerick only had 31 shots at goal in their first round game against Clare.
I love Tipp, I am so proud to be from Tipp and to the day I die I will defend my county. So I could sugar coat last week and say, 'ah sure Limerick are unreal' (they are) or 'our lads will learn from this'. But I am asked to write these articles and to be honest.
Are Tipp good enough to win Liam MacCarthy in 2024? Honestly, the answer for me right now is no. But we are not 15 points worse than Limerick either.
How to respond?
It’s very simple - go out and die with your boots on in Walsh Park against Waterford on Saturday. Give everthing you have inside to block, hook, hassle or get that ball back and when we have it then try to use it properly. And play with freedom again.
We looked like a group that were afraid to make mistakes last Sunday. It’s the fastest game in the world played on grass, mistakes are part and parcel of it. People understand mistakes. But not giving everything for that jersey, that is where the disappointment comes in.
Motivation shouldn't be an issue this week. The players will be hurting so much, they will badly want to make amends. And I really do hope the majority of that 15 that started against Limerick will get that chance because, as a player, you never want to play as much as after a bad performance, to prove to yourself and to others that, 'I deserve to be here, I want this, look how much this means to me'.
If this feeling can seep into the Tipp squad this week, I'd imagine a carpenter in the Waterford city area will be busy in Walsh Park next Monday repairing a door that was lifted of its hinges two days earlier.
Waterford will be licking their lips at the thought of Tipp coming to town and I have no doubt their manager Davy Fitzgerald will play on every possible emotion.
'Tipp don’t respect ye, everyone is against us', etc. But I also think you can only play that card so many times before players start rolling their eyes.
Waterford hurled against Cork in a manner we hadn't seen since the 2022 league. Will they change tactics now and maybe just run at this Tipp team like they have before? For me it’s not broke so no need to fix it.
For Tipp, this is a chance of redemption for the group, a chance to prove to everyone, but most importantly to themselves, that 'we are a good team and that was not us last week'.
One of our team songs when a certain Mr Sheedy was at the helm was the Bob Marley classic Redemption Song, specifically the Johnny Cash version.
A song about a chance to send a message, to sum up everything you stand for in life.
To this day, when I hear it it takes me to a special place in my mind. Do I think Tipp can win this game? I honestly do. If they don’t, that's it for 2024.
So as the song goes, "Emancipate yourselves from mental slavery, none but ourselves can free our minds".
Only the Tipp players can free their minds now, throw off the shackles and give it their all because that is all people can ask of anyone.
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