Tipperary had every reason to show fight

Hurling/Munster Championship: Seán Moran talks to former Tipperary manager Nicholas English who sheds light on his county's victory on Sunday

After his team's deft escape from the clutches of Limerick's supposedly best chance against them in years, Tipperary manager Babs Keating commented that Cork and Galway hadn't been subject to the criticism that his side encountered after losing badly in the National League.

There were differences of course but it raised the valid question as to whether too much had been read into the counties' different experiences in the league.

Nicholas English, the last manager to take Tipperary to an All-Ireland and who has helped out his old mentor this year, thinks that perceptions based on the league weren't comparing like with like.

"I think you had two teams at different stages. Limerick were going out to do well in the league and had figured out their first 15 but Tipp were not as settled during the league as ideally they wanted to be.

"The two big defeats by Kilkenny knocked them back big time. Being beaten at home in Thurles wasn't any part of the plan. Babs went out to find players.

"Lots of players got chances and Shane McGrath and Ken Dunne were examples. They were also missing Eoin Kelly for a lot of the League. The psyche in Tipp is funny. There's no big desire to win the league but people don't want not to win it either. It's hard for a manager to square that circle.

"Teams that do well in the league do well in the championship. Kilkenny won it and will be there or thereabouts. Galway got caught by Antrim in the first round. Otherwise they'd have pushed for it."

English was away in the lead-up to the match but on arrival home was surprised at the extent of Limerick's favouritism heading into a championship without a win at the level since 2001, especially as they had lost to Tipperary in four of the past five years. "Limerick put a lot into the league. But Tipp have been their bete noir and now they find themselves odds-on not having beaten Tipp in 10 years and not having won a championship game in five years."

The consensus contrast between the counties was bound to create pressure and motivate the opposition. The former Tipperary manager also believes that the weather played a role in the outcome of the match and not because Keating had selected some big forwards.

"Tipp were in a corner and they were bound to respond to some extent at home. Then the weather was wet, a day when skilful players should do well. Tipp players overall have better first touch than Limerick."

English also thinks that Limerick's blitz opening ultimately didn't help them as it contributed to over-confidence and blew away Tipperary's inhibitions.

"The good start maybe didn't suit them. Already you got the feeling that they thought they were going to win. Then two goals. What had Tipp to lose at that stage?"

He wasn't hugely surprised by the outcome given his faith in his county's ability. "I'd never any doubt about the level of skill and ability Tipp had. The question was about the desire."

After what had been such a satisfactory year to date - just one defeat in all matches since the season began - Limerick now have to deal with the aftermath of a match everyone seemed to agree would be disastrous for whichever side lost. Not alone was the match lost after such a good start but Limerick also attracted a lot of criticism for their management's performance on the sideline, the failure to move Damien Reale on to a rampant Eoin Kelly the most mystifying decision, a judgment with which English concurs.

"Eoin Kelly has said that the two markers he likes least having to deal with are Damien Reale and Ollie Canning. I couldn't understand that decision.

"Limerick had built up that match to be their target for the season. It was all geared towards beating Tipp. I've no doubt that was a big setback for them. They're better than they looked on Sunday but their scoring power is limited. Still I'd expect them to be in the All-Ireland quarter-finals, which is over two months away."