Tipperary manager Liam Cahill could hardly have been more effusive in his praise for his cohesive side as they topped the Allianz Hurling league Division 1A table and laid a few ghosts to rest with a 2-22 to 1-21 win over Cork on Saturday night.
A 10-point personal haul for Darragh McCarthy and goals from Jake Morris and Dylan Walsh for the hosts at FBD Semple Stadium proved too much for the Rebels to counter, despite the brief threat of a comeback at the start of the second half.
Cork's record in Thurles in recent years has been a strong one, making the result pleasing for Cahill, with the manner of the victory the cherry on top.
"I'm really happy with the way we stemmed a bit of Cork pressure when it came as well.
"Players really got to grips with what was happening on the field.
"They're all building blocks, but it's a great place to be at the moment with this bunch of players.
"They're really giving everything for Tipperary."
Semple Stadium was a sea of red when Cork obliterated Tipperary in last year's Munster SHC. The ignominy generated by that chastening defeat might just be the fuel that is firing the Premier County forward in 2025, with Cahill sensing something of a symbiotic relationship between the players and the fans.
"I was thrilled with the big Tipperary support here, and you could feel the energy of the players seeping into the stands and vice versa.
"That's what we're trying to aim for here and every time we play, and obviously when we play at home here in Thurles."
The Tipperary team is a blended one in terms of experience. Joe Caesar made his senior debut for Tipp on the night, with his manager expressing maximum faith in the older players who will help mould the county's nascent talents.
"Apart from their leadership on the field, their leadership off the field is incredible," Cahill said of his experienced stars.
"We're setting a really good culture about where this group is going, and please God there's a lot of new young talent coming through that will stand Tipp in good stead in future years."
Jake Morris and his Tipperary team-mates are determined to put a disappointing 2024 behind them. pic.twitter.com/Cvad5mJpf4
— RTÉ GAA (@RTEgaa) February 22, 2025
For goalscorer Morris, the focus is on creating a year to remember after one to forget, as he said: "All we can do is put our best foot forward this year.
"We tried our best to address last year. It's not easy. We know we weren't up to scratch or up to the level.
"It's a big honour to represent that Tipperary jersey and we felt like we let it down, but all we can do is rectify it now.
"We're trying to do our talking on the field. It's not perfect, but we're working hard and that's a decent result tonight."
