Passions run high on the pitch and sideline
Jackie Cahill
Rival managers Brian Cody and Liam Sheedy were quick to play down the touchline collision between the pair that took place at the end of last Sunday’s National Hurling League encounter.
A challenge by Kilkenny defender J.J. Delaney on Tipp sub Jody Brennan sparked a furious spat between the two bosses, as fierce rivalry briefly spilled over in Thurles.
Sheedy shoved Cody, who was standing in the Tipperary technical area, and verbals were exchanged before the pair shook hands a few minutes later after referee Barry Kelly blew the final whistle.
The sideline feud shows how passions between these two counties are running high following Tipp’s re-emergence as a serious force under Sheedy’s guidance.
Tipp almost denied Kilkenny a fourth successive All-Ireland crown last year and are viewed as the biggest challengers to The Cats in 2010 as they go in search of an historic five-in-a-row.
Sheedy said: “When the match is close like that, it’s high tempo stuff. We’re managers - maybe they (players) watch our body language but for us, it’s Tipp and Kilkenny, the second round of the league. If we lost today it would probably have finished our involvement in the league - it would be out of our hands.”
Meanwhile, Cody insisted: “No, there was no battle on the sideline. It was a battle for anyone out there. It was a flat out game and huge commitment from both teams.”
Sheedy also admitted: “It wasn’t a classic by any shape or form. For us, it was important after last Sunday. We were all severely disappointed.They set themselves high standards over the last two years and they never really found a level at all last Sunday (against Dublin).
We were just delighted to able to come back out today and try to rectify a few things. You saw today that the lads really were hurting and some of that hurt might have come out in the jersey today. It’s two points - it’s good.”
Kilkenny already had two points on the board before they travelled to Thurles last Sunday and Sheedy acknowledged: “It was a must-win game for us more so than Kilkenny - they had one victory already.
They’re missing an awful lot of their big guns today but we definitely showed in the last ten minutes that we probably needed it that little bit more. I wouldn’t be getting carried away or anything but it’s nice to get the two points.”
The bumper attendance of over 20,000 people also pleased Sheedy, who suggested: ”Maybe in recessionary times they should think of letting some people in free every Sunday. It really did add to the spice of the game. It was great to see such a crowd out there - very vocal supporters from both sides. It’s really nice to see. We’re lucky in a sense - we may not have got that type of match if we had to go in the snow.”
Sheedy also heaped praise on Tipperary’s magnificent defence, adding: “They set the standard for the forwards in terms of ball-winning ability and composure on the ball. They really attacked the ball. It’s unbelievable for us and the forwards to look in and see a corner back bursting out first to the ball and winning it.”
The Portroe man concluded: “Nobody’s getting carried away - it’s only the beginning of March. Galway next Sunday; another very tough match. Any team will have a job going through this league undefeated. The only two matches we have left at home are Galway and Waterford - what more can you say? Top-class opposition everywhere you go.”
Email to a friend
Print this page
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Weather for Clonmel
Saturday 04 February 2012
Today
Heavy rain
Temperature: 2 C to 9 C
Wind Speed: 18 mph
Wind direction: South
Tomorrow
Light rain
Temperature: 6 C to 7 C
Wind Speed: 9 mph
Wind direction: South west
