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'Win, lose or draw, you can't dwell too much' - Moving on quickly key to Munster for Tipperary captain Ronan Maher

Tipperary's Ronan Maher (R) and Limerick's Aaron Gillane contest a dropping ball during the 2024 Munster Senior Championship
Tipperary's Ronan Maher (R) and Limerick's Aaron Gillane contest a dropping ball during the 2024 Munster Senior Championship

An Allianz Hurling League final trimming at the hands of Cork might have dented Tipperary confidence after an otherwise positive spring but Premier captain Ronan Maher knows the importance of moving on quickly as they prepare to start their provincial campaign.

"You can't dwell too much, whether it’s a win, draw or a loss," the two-time All-Ireland winning defender told RTÉ Sport ahead of Tipp's Munster SHC opener against Limerick on Sunday.

"If the result doesn't go your way, you have to be ready to go seven days later. That's the joys of the Munster championship.

"Any day you go out to play Limerick now is really challenging. We'll be expecting them to come to Thurles with everything. We’ll be ready for that.

"It’s a great opener. We’ll have to be on top form on the day to get off to a good start.

"We took a lot of learnings from last year. But we're looking forward now, not looking back.

"We're hoping to bring consistency every day we go out on the field and hopefully it will put us in the right position in the Munster championship."

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Tipp haven't beaten their neighbours since the 2019 round-robin, the last year they won Liam MacCarthy, though they did draw in FBD Semple Stadium two years ago.

Last summer, it was a 15-point thumping at the Gaelic Grounds, on the way to finishing rock bottom in the province, with one point and a -36 scoring difference.

Forward Jake Morris said there had been "a lot of hard conversations and honest reflections" in the wake of that disappointing campaign.

"Looking in the mirror, to realise where we were at and where we needed to go to.

Jake Morris (L) and Limerick's Kyle Hayes compete for the ball during the Treaty's 0-30 to 1-23 league win in February

"We're not fully there in terms of righting the wrongs from the last year but we’re taking it week by week and trying to improve.

"The workrate has been phenomenal. Lads are working hard and are playing for each other.

"We have had a good injection of younger players into the team. No baggage, no fear, just go out and play and work hard.

"We have married that with a couple of lads who are more experienced and it’s a nice blend we have at the minute.

"But we still have a lot to prove."

Three-time All-Star Noel McGrath is back for a 16th season but mostly had a watching brief as Tipp topped the table in the league - he only started the round seven win over Clare and was not on the panel for the final defeat in Páirc Ui Chaoimh, Sunday before last.

However, the elder of the panel says an infusion of young talent - Oisín Donoghue, Aaron O’Halloran, Conor Martin, Darragh McCarthy and Sam O'Farrell are all still Under-20 - has brought "new enthusiasm".

"I remember when I was coming in, all you want to do is play hurling for Tipperary," the 34-year-old said. "That's all that really matters when you’re that age.

"They have brought unbelievable commitment, drive and energy to the whole thing.

"There are loads of them stepping up. It’s great for me, as one of the older lads on the panel, to see, and that gives me energy and keeps me going as well.

"To be part of it is great. You would be itching to get in there as much as you can but the lads that have been in there have been doing very well.

"You can just drive them on and hope that when your chance comes you take it."

Watch Clare v Cork in the Munster Hurling Championship on Sunday from 1.30pm on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player. Watch The Sunday Game from 9.30pm on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player.

Follow a live blog on all matches on rte.ie/sport and the RTÉ News app. Listen to updates from around the country on Sunday Sport on RTÉ Radio 1

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