
Following a 'terrible game in-house' Tipp got match-ups right to claim All-Ireland title
On Liam Cahill and Mikey Bevans's instructions, the A team operated with an extra player in defence last weekend. However, the initial results in FBD Semple Stadium did not suggest they were going to be bringing the Liam MacCarthy Cup back there.
'Liam and Mikey put in massive work in the background, we just got told last week as to what you were going after,' said Connolly. 'We actually trained last weekend and it didn't actually work out for us, we had a terrible game in-house, the A versus B. But we got our match-ups right on Sunday and thankfully got the result.'
The Cashel King Cormacs man said the margin was 'an awful score as well. There was wicked heat inside in Thurles last weekend and it was probably our first time playing with a plus one in a long time, since the Clare game I think, so it just took us a while to get to grips with it. But even by Friday evening we were training and we couldn't get enough of it.'
Connolly was assigned Joe Fogarty in the game and he was on the wrong side of their duel. 'He's sick, he's actually a carbon copy of Seamus Harnedy. I got an awful licking off him last weekend, I was even half worried as to what my form was at, to be honest.'
Meanwhile, Tipperary penalty goalscorer Darragh McCarthy said Jason Forde was keen to take the placed ball shot. It is believed the plan was for Forde was to take it but the Toomevara tyro assumed the responsibility.
'I suppose you have to do a bit positive talking to yourself. You have to steel the mind in a way. Three points up, score this and go six up, with a man up as well. There was pressure on that as well. I think Jason wanted a hit it as well, but I said I'd take it off him.
'Jason was getting ratty about it! I said, 'No, leave it off.' But Jason said, 'Go for it.' That gave me confidence as well to do what I do and stick it.'

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Irish Times
an hour ago
- Irish Times
Skipper Gaby Lewis stars with the bat again as Ireland wrap up T20 series against Zimbabwe
Second T20 international: Ireland 176-4 (20 ovs) (G Lewis 87, O Prendergast 52; T Makusha 2-30), Zimbabwe 111 (20 ovs) (K Ndhlovu 46; C Murray 3-17, L Paul 2-9, O Prendergast 2-17). Ireland won by 65 runs and win series 2-0 Skipper Gaby Lewis kept up her brilliant form with the bat as she hit 87 from 50 balls to secure a convincing 65-run victory and a T20 series win over Zimbabwe at Sydney Parade on Tuesday. Zimbabwe won the toss and put the home side into bat, and they got the early breakthrough when Tendai Makusha trapped Amy Hunter lbw for one in the second over. From 14 for one, however, Lewis came together with Orla Prendergast and the pair formed a 131-run partnership which occupied 14 of the 20 overs. READ MORE Lewis – who also top-scored with 67 in Sunday's series opener – was caught by Beloved Biza off Makusha for 87 as she tried to accelerate to three figures. Prendergast made 52 before being bowled by Kelis Ndhlovu as Ireland finished on 176 for four. Ireland took wickets at regular intervals to stop Zimbabwe from making a mark on the run chase but while Ndhlovu was at the crease, the tourists were in the contest as she top-scored with 46. But once the opener fell victim to Prendergast, Zimbabwe started to lose wickets at speed – Cara Murray claiming three for 17, Prendergast two for 17 and Leah Paul two for nine to ensure Zimbabwe fell a long way short of their target. The series concludes at the same venue on Wednesday, with a pair of one-day internationals to follow next week in Belfast.


Irish Independent
an hour ago
- Irish Independent
Martin Breheny: Cork are not the only ones facing closed-season pain
At 4.30 last Sunday, Cork appeared to have a hotline to the hurling gods and being told they were on their way to completing an All-Ireland, Munster and National League treble.


RTÉ News
2 hours ago
- RTÉ News
Gavin Devlin returns to Louth set-up as manager
Gavin Devlin has been appointed as the new Louth manager on a three-year term, replacing Ger Brennan. Louth GAA confirmed the news this evening, adding that Peter Dooley will be installed as assistant manager, having served as a coach during Brennan's term, which yielded an emotional Leinster title victory this season. Devlin, centre-back on Tyrone's 2003 All-Ireland winning team, was previously head coach in Louth during Mickey Harte's managerial reign between 2020 and 2023. The Ardboe clubman has been a long-time lieutenant of his former manager Harte, having been a coach and selector with Tyrone in the 2010s, before the successful stint in Louth and the ill-fated spell in Derry. After the pair left Derry following the 2024 season, they went their separate ways, with Devlin taking on a role of underage football development co-ordinator in Louth this year. Devlin's predecessor Brennan departed the role earlier this month after a historic second season in charge, in which Louth claimed a first Leinster title in 68 years, subsequently losing at the All-Ireland preliminary quarter-final stage to Donegal.