TIPPERARY MANAGER EAMONN O’Shea was satisfied that his team gave it everything in this evening’s All-Ireland SHC defeat to Kilkenny.
The Premier County were knocked out of this year’s championship early after suffering a 0-20 to 1-14 defeat in front of a capacity crowd at Nowlan Park.
Despite going into half-time level after Lar Corbett’s goal, the Cats took control in the second half and go on to face Waterford in Round 3.
Speaking to TV3 after the final whistle, O’Shea said: ”We’re shattered. We came here, it was a championship game, winner takes all and Kilkenny won it.
“I’m immensely proud of the team. They fought and fought until the end and that’s all I can ask for.”
“I thought the teams were very close. They got a few points and we missed a few points at crucial stages. Our lads fought and fought. It was very necessary for Tipperary for that to happen. I’m very proud of Tipperary the way they stuck in and tried to win the game.
This team, five U21s from 2010, these guys have a lot of hurling to do yet. So this Tipperary team will be disappointed today but I think we’ll be back again soon.”
Having found the back of the net, Corbett went off injured in the first half – robbing Tipperary of one of their biggest attacking threats.
“Larry was playing really well and we lost him in the first-half, which was a crucial blow,” O’Shea added.
“Look, these things happen in games. The guys that went in tried their best. We gave it everything over the last few weeks, we did everything we could and it just wasn’t good enough today.”
