He may have played down Tipperary’s “workmanlike display” on Sunday, but Eamon O’Shea was quick to heap praise on Patrick Bonner Maher’s performance in the immediate aftermath of the game.
O’Shea revealed after the game how Maher suffered a damaged rib early on in the first half, but the manner in which he kept fighting for possession meant he couldn’t be withdrawn.
“Bonner was extraordinary today,” O’Shea said. “And the reason he was extraordinary was, he was injured early on in the game. And he played with a lot of pain. In fact, we could have taken him off earlier. But every time we wanted to take him off, he was showing for another ball.”
“I mean the man is extraordinary, not just as an athlete. He’s a phenomenal player. He plays the game the way it should be played.”
O’Shea didn’t subscribe to the theory that Tipperary gave an exceptional performance to book their place in the All-Ireland, choosing instead to focus on the character his players showed.
“I was really happy with the character. They went about their business. They decided that it wasn’t going to be a shoot-out.
“And I think they worked accordingly. I was very proud of the way they approached the game. They decided what was going to happen on the pitch and they decided today that they weren’t going to let this opportunity pass them by.”
“But I thought the backs as a unit were great throughout today. I thought the goalkeeper was outstanding in terms of controlling the game.
“I thought our midfield was excellent. So there was a good platform there. In fairness to the forwards, I thought they worked really hard when they hadn’t the ball. I saw Seamus Callanan coming out there a few times and trying to stop the ball being cleared.
“I think it’s great credit to them. I said it to them up there before I left that they should be proud of what they’ve done in terms of the way they delivered on what they wanted to do themselves.
“We just put in a framework for them and I’m just happy for them.
Tipp scored 2-17 from play with Seamus Callanan and John O’Dwyer in particular standing out, but it wasn’t a performance without its faults, according to O’Shea.
“They’re not happy up there and I’m not happy,” he said. “And they know I’m not happy.”
“It’s very hard because they had a sweeper all through the game. Or most of the game. It’s very hard to play against that. So I think they deserve great credit but they’re still not happy.”
