Paddy Stapleton believes Tipperary need to make games a ‘battle’ if they are to turn their Munster Hurling Championship season around.
The Premier salvaged an unlikely draw against Cork in Thurles after trailing by nine points in a thrilling encounter.
Michael Ryan’s side looked set for another defeat having already lost to Limerick but secured a potentially vital point in the new round robin format.
And Stapleton, speaking to Dave McIntyre, believes they will have to show more than an encouraging second half showing against Waterford next time out.
“They definitely need consistency,” Stapleton told OTB.
“For them to be contenders going forward this needs to be the level – and that’s only Munster championship – with a view to going higher again.
“We don’t know what’s going to happen next week. If Tipperary come out with that fluency of thought and urgency they showed in the second half, they’re a match for any team in the country.
“But if that was only an Indian summer or just one half – they’ll be right back down again and in serious trouble.
“It’s all to be seen next week. It’s easy to say but you literally can’t say whether they’ll come out next week. The signs are good. When they stop thinking and make it a battle, they have the quick hands and the brains they’re able to take their scores.
“But if they’re going tactical against teams they’ll find it very hard.”
The draw leaves Tipperary under pressure but their revival will have left rivals despondent at a missed opportunity to hurt one of the championship favourites.
And Stapleton believes Tipperary can build on their second half showing with further impressive performances.
“There’s a very real chance but Tipperary only have a draw so far,”
“But they have the potential to do something. It wouldn’t be beyond the realms of possibility that other teams are thinking: ‘Cork, you really should have finished them today’.
“I’ve been in Kilkenny before league matches and they’ve really tried to finish us. What would the more senior players have thought after maybe a hiding in that second half.
“But they’ve turned it around today and hopefully they’ll keep it going.”
Written by James Hopper
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