GAELIC GAMES:TAKING OVER management of the All-Ireland champions is a challenging task and Declan Ryan must have known last winter that he was on a hiding to nothing.
Regaining the Munster title for a third title in four years was presumably a relief for the Tipp manager and to his further satisfaction the post-mortem is all to do with the quality of the victory rather than its mere happening.
“It was just a super performance from the players,” he said afterwards. “I’m delighted with the way they went about their business and everything seemed to go right on the day.
“Thankfully, our guys took the breaks when they came their way. We won plenty of good ball out around the middle of the field and in our half-back line.”
Frisking a 21-point victory for any hidden downside isn’t that easy. Nonetheless, the concession of 20 frees was a rise in the usual rate of concession and handed Waterford its principal source of scores.
“It’s something we worked on earlier in the season, and I think we only conceded eight against Clare, which was a big plus for us. It’s obviously something we can work on for the next day.”
Lar Corbett has now scored seven goals in the most recent Munster and All-Ireland finals, his spring-heeled breaks and movement around the pitch creating the ideal receiver for the raking deliveries from a dominant centrefield and half-back platform.
“He’s an incredible player when he gets the right type of ball,” said his manager. “We know we have scoring potential there in our forward line, and if we get them enough ball we can do some damage. The ball seemed to fall right for us today, it didn’t seem to fall for Waterford at all.”
Davy Fitzgerald has been through this sort of ordeal previously when Waterford were on the receiving end of Kilkenny’s display in 2008. Like was like a man hit twice by lightning, he was shocked but practised.
“I would like to remind people that we have had more good days than bad days in the last three years. The last two teams Tipp have played they have beaten them by around 10 points as well.
“We were up in the 20s today and if they get a run on you in top gear it would be tough for anyone. We are better than that and I know that. It is just back to the drawing board again on certain things.”
