Four goals conceded is too much in this game

RTÉ News​

11-05-2025

Tipperary served a game for the ages to beat All-Ireland defending champions Clare, at Páirc Chiosóg in Ennis on Saturday.
Clare left themselves with a lot to do after their first-half performance saw them trailing by nine points, and it was a slow start that Brian Lohan's side couldn't come back from.
The All-Ireland champions are now effectively out of the running for the Munster final but could finish third depending on next weekend's results. Manager Brian Lohan says his side will take their beating.
"We're completely dependent on other results. You could be out of the championship and the All-Ireland series now. We'll just see how the other results go, and we'll just have to take our beating," Lohan told RTÉ Sport.
The All-Ireland winning manager says it is too early to assess the performance but admits Tipp's forward line caused some difficulty, which they didn't fully anticipate.
"With that kind of forward line, that kind of movement and the space that they were able to create, we were under pressure for that first 15 or 20 minutes.
"It's obviously an area that we had expected that we would do better," he then added, "Four goals conceded is way too much in this game."
Injuries may have played their part, with John Conlon, Conor Cleary and Diarmuid Ryan's absence from Clare's backline a possible explanation for so many goals conceded.
Conor Leen going off early and Shane O'Donnell only returning from injury were other factors, but Lohan thought it was something they were going to be able to cope with.
"We thought we were equipped to deal with that, but obviously not.
"We have been unlucky with the number of injuries that we had. But look, that's not an excuse."
Lohan also reveals that O'Donnell, who made his return to the field following shoulder surgery, has barely returned to the panel for training but was chosen to come off the bench in the 44th minute.
"He trained twice. That's effectively it. Not ideal preparation, but look, it is what it is."
Lohan's side did level the score in the 63rd minute and managed to gain some momentum, starting to get to grips with Tipp's aggressive forward line; it may not have been enough, but there were still some positives to take says Lohan.
"The momentum was (with us). We did very well for all of the second-half, really. But at the same time, Tipp did look dangerous.
"But we got to grips with their forward line. They certainly weren't making the same kind of runs in the second half as what they were making in the first-half.
"We were there at our bouts, but unfortunately we weren't able to get the victory" - Brian Lohan
Despite the gloomy outlook for the rest of Clare's season, Lohan says he won't be down about the result and claims his side only came up a little short.
"Sometimes you're beaten, regardless of all the planning that you do or all the effort and time that you put into things.
"It just came up a little bit short, but it was only a little bit. I wouldn't be that downbeat about it.
Tipperary manager Liam Cahill hailed the perseverance of Lohan's side in his side's exciting three-point win over the Banner.
"I think it served up a really exciting game. Clare showed the quality of why the All-Ireland champions today really never give up... a typical Brian Lohan team fought to the bitter end," Cahill told RTÉ Sport.
Claiming four goals in the first-half was somewhat unexpected. Tipp had several goal opportunities against Cork, even with a man down, but weren't able to convert them, it was a different story today, which Cahill thinks is crucial for championship success.
"It's encouraging, but I think any team in the championship now needs to tag on two goal opportunities, or three, to make sure that they're in the range of the scoreline that's required to take down any of these teams that are in Munster at present."
Next up for Cahill's side on their quest for a Munster final berth is Waterford at home, where they will need to repeat performance.