Former Tipperary hurler Paudie Maher has called for the Premier fans to be patient after Tipperary’s slow start to the Munster Championship.
Tipperary have lost their opening two games in the Munster championship to Waterford and Clare, with the Clare defeat exposing some major issues within the side.
The three-time All-Ireland winner had to retire on medical advice on February. With Brendan Maher also retiring and star forward Seamus Callanan injured, Tipp have lost a lot of experience.
Their style of play has been the target of some criticism, with Willie Maher speaking on Tipp FM on how they are in a “identity crisis.
However, Maher believes it will take time for Tipperary to get to the level they need.
“The Tipp public have to be patient because they’re trying something different and you just don’t click your fingers.
Limerick and Waterford didn’t just click their fingers and decide they were going to play this way and it worked straight away. They’ve been doing it for a few years now.
Tipp are starting to change a bit now and it’s not going to come together as quickly as people might think.”
They face Limerick in their next game of the round robin, and must win to give themselves any opportunity of progressing from the group.
While Maher is aware they face a huge task, facing the reigning All-Ireland champions is something his former side will relish.
“It hasn’t worked out the last few weeks, but what a way to prove people wrong than to go down to the Gaelic Grounds and give a good performance and account of yourself against Limerick and see where it takes you.
While it’s a very uphill task, build that siege mentality, iron out the few things that have to change in training as regards to the game plan or structurally on the pitch.
Obviously a few lads will have to look at themselves and up their performance as well. What better place and what better way to do it than against the All-Ireland champions?”
Watching Tipperary from the stands is a new experience for Maher, with the Six-time all star admitting it has been a difficult adjustment to step away from the game.
“It has been strange, difficult alright. Taken out of a routine of something I was doing all my adult life. It has been hard.
Going to the first round game against Waterford was very hard, it hit me that day, you’d love to be involved in it still.
Life moves on. I am getting to do other things with my life now, even getting to go to games I wouldn’t get to because I was involved with Tipp.
Doing a lot of other things. Fill the void as they say."
Padraic Maher was speaking as the countdown to Pieta House fundraiser Darkness into Light is underway. There is still time to sign up and donate ahead of the walk on May 7th, to add your name to a great cause click here
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