Donal Óg Cusack wasn’t buying Liam Sheedy’s explanation for Tipperary’s defeat to Cork, and he didn’t hide it.
Cork got their Munster Championship campaign off to a strong start with a 0-29 to 1-22 win in Thurles, controlling large parts of the second half as Tipperary struggled to find their rhythm.
On RTÉ, former Tipperary manager Liam Sheedy suggested the defeat came down to a lack of energy.
I think Tipp in that middle third lacked a lot of energy.
I’d say there was a serious block of work put in the last four weeks… they just looked a little bit off the pitch of it.
But sitting alongside him, Donal Óg Cusack appeared unconvinced, and even amused.
Donal Óg Cusack Has Wry Response To Sheedy’s Verdict On Cork V Tipp
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As Liam Sheedy outlined his theory, Donal Óg Cusack could be seen laughing, prompting Joanne Cantwell to put it to him directly.
“What are you suggesting with the giggles?” she asked.
I was just interested… the energy now Roy, is that the new thing?
The Cork legend seemed to suggest there was more to the result than simply tired legs, pointing instead towards the battle in the middle third as a more decisive factor.
When the serious analysts, with all due respect to ourselves go looking at the numbers and facts of the game, they’ll break it down. There’ll be more than energy that they’ll be talking about behind closed doors I can guarantee you. Unless that’s the new thing now Roy.
And on the evidence of the game, it’s hard to argue.
Cork’s long range free taking was something that the panel agreed Ben O’Connor’s side will need to work on with Tim O’Mahoney and Mark Coleman missing efforts from distance.
Either way, the debate around Tipperary and their performance, and Cork’s credentials, is only just getting started.
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