[ad_1]
Tipperary manager David Power said his team had an “honest talk” with themselves at halftime as they overcame a seven-point deficit to defeat Limerick after extra time in a dramatic Munster semi-final at the LIT Gaelic. Grounds.
The Division 3 team trailed 2-06 to 0-05 at the halftime break, but scored 1-06 with no response during a crucial period before the second water break to roar back into competition.
And while this momentum diminished in the final quarter of normal time, Tipp was able to pull it off in overtime, Brian Fox kicked the winning score to reserve his spot in the Munster final.
“At halftime, we had a good honest talk. We knew we hadn’t acted,” Power told RTÉ Radio 1’s Saturday Sport after the game.
“We said we have two options. We can either go out there and do the moves or just hit the right shot.
“And by God, the first 15 minutes of the second half were excellent. That’s probably the most frustrating thing. Why couldn’t we do that in the first half? But it is what it is.
“Those kinds of wins can also be huge. The last few weekends, we’ve been winning the entire game. So this is a great, great victory for Tipperary football.”
Tipp’s final quarter allowed Limerick to regain the lead in the final moments, setting in motion the most dramatic moment of the game, Captain Conor Sweeney’s last gasp to force overtime.
Tipperary has forced extra time against Limerick after Conor Sweeney’s magnificent free kick in injury time.
See all the action of the weekend on The Sunday Game @ rte2 from 9:30 p.m. #rtegaa pic.twitter.com/5Bk3CYJ8WT
– Sunday’s game (@TheSundayGame) November 7, 2020
Power praised Sweeney’s attitude and his influence on his teammates.
“He’s a decent captain, that’s all I’ll say. He’s always cheering for the youngsters, he never gives up on them. He stood there, but he was always there 20 minutes before training, always practicing free, practicing shooting. That really paid off. worth it today. “
Before the pandemic, Tipperary flirted heavily with relegation to Division 4. Since the restart, they have won four games in a row, preserving their league status and progressing to Munster’s first decisive game in four years.
“We are back in a Munster final. Pre-Covid, I guess things had not gone so well in terms of results. But the attitude was good, the training was going well. I was just turning it into results. And since we got back, we have gained momentum, we have two or three good challenge matches and this is our fourth (competitive) win now and that’s huge. “
The Munster final will take place on the centenary of the Bloody Sunday massacre at Croke Park, another match involving the Tipperary footballers, where 14 people were killed.
“It’s a great honor. We’ve been trying to downplay it because we really didn’t want to talk about it. But now that we’re there, it will be a great occasion for the people of Tipperary football.”
Limerick manager Billy Lee was disappointed but philosophical after his painful loss.
Lee’s team enjoyed a solid 2020, winning Division 4 and narrowly missing a decider from Munster and the coach was inclined to focus on the bigger picture after the loss.
“We play good football,” he told RTÉ Sport. “We’re trying to get the guys to have fun when they’re inside with us and they work hard. And there’s no substitute for any of them. And if you do that and enjoy the company, it’s easy to work.”
“We just encourage them to play football and be the best that they can be and wherever that takes them, so be it.
“It’s very, very unfortunate, but there is always going to be a disappointment in the way the game was shaped. It was going to be Tipp or us. Losers are devastated and winners triumph and that’s sport.
“Tipp was always going to have a period of dominance, all teams have a period of dominance. But they probably made some hay at that point and got off to a fast start in the second half.
“When the time came, I think we probably had a few more gold-edged chances that we didn’t take advantage of in the second half. But look, Conor (Sweeney) stepped forward and started yelling. It was Maurice. I like Fitz, and on the second half hit the post and scored a goal.
“So maybe they had that fraction of luck. But credit where credit is due, Tipperary goes on and we stay and you go on.”
“I think there will be a little more progress on these guys. We just have to keep pushing hard and working hard. There’s only six inches between the rear and the top. We won’t forget it either.”
[ad_2]