Ronan Maher says that he has no problem getting himself up for the new season after Tipperary’s annus horribilis in 2022.
Tipp return to action tomorrow night in the Co-Op Superstores Munster Hurling League against Waterford, with new boss Liam Cahill taking charge of the side for the first time and facing the county that he managed for the past three seasons.
The last competitive fixture that Tipp played was last May’s meek Munster Championship exit against Cork, their fourth defeat from as many games in the round robin as they finished rock bottom.
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Indeed, but for Kerry’s one-point defeat to Antrim in the Joe McDonagh Cup final, they would have had to reconvene and play-off for the right to stay in the top tier this year.
Maher said: “We didn't really play up to the standard that's needed and obviously that was shown, we didn't win any games. As bad as we were, we still could've nicked one or two games.
“That's really up to us as players to turn it around this year and try and get back up to the standard where Tipperary should be. We've a great base starting now just before Christmas and it's really good to get those games on as well so we know where we're at.
“It's easy to get motivated for it after last year the performances were so flat. We really have to knuckle down hard this year and attack the Championship as best we can and we'll see where it takes us.”
Maher was captain of Tipperary last year, a role that has since been passed to Noel McGrath with the Thurles man now the vice-captain, though he said consultation between him and the county board around the removal of Colm Bonnar as manager was minimal.
“Ah no, listen, I didn't really have any much input or anything like that, just I suppose speaking around to lads, and it was just the way it worked out, I suppose.
“Obviously our standards weren't high enough last year and it's just a refreshing way they've probably approached it this year.
“I wouldn't really have had that much input as captain. I wouldn't really have had too much to say,” added Maher, who said he hasn’t spoken to Bonnar since his departure though he did send him a text message.
“I'd great time for Colm. He took the job when probably nobody else wanted to take it and there was nobody else there and obviously, it didn't turn out the way he probably wanted it to turn out.
“He's probably hugely disappointed but he was really good to us in Tipp and we really appreciated him for taking on the job and giving it everything he could.”
There’ll be one member of Cahill’s new management team that Maher is more than familiar with, however, with his brother Padraic having been drafted in after being forced to retire from playing altogether early last year due to a neck injury.
“It's different alright having him on the sideline and not having him on the pitch beside you. It's nice to have him there. He brings huge experience as well so it's really good from that point of view.
“He is that link between the players as well. He would have hurled with a lot of them but there's a lot of new faces as well so it's good to get that bond as well.”
The elder Maher may have been in something of a quandary about coming back in that capacity so soon after his retirement, with most of the players having been his teammates not so long ago.
“He didn't say anything to me anyway. He didn't say much. It was out of the blue more than anything. He wouldn't really say too much to me anyway, we keep to our own sides.
“But it's really good to have him in there and it fills a void for him as well not being able to play. He's lots to offer there as a selector.
“I'm sure he thought about it long and hard before he took on the role and I suppose it's a really hard role to turn down, you mightn't be asked again.
“I'm sure that came into his mind and I probably came into his mind as well and obviously he had a good think about it. He's in now so we're absolutely delighted to have him in there.”
Sadly, there’s a vacancy to be filled alongside Maher in the Tipperary half-back line this year following the tragic death of Dillon Quirke after playing for his club Clonoulty-Rossmore against eventual county champions Kilruane MacDonaghs last August.
Maher said that the team will carry his spirit with them when they take the field this year.
“Obviously, it's really, really hard for a lot of lads who would have been really friendly with Dillon.
“It just puts everything into perspective, hurling-wise. We had a really tight unit there as a team and it affected us all.
“We'll definitely be playing with him in the back of our minds now going forward and we'll try and represent him and his family as best we can.
“Obviously it was really tough at the time and it is tough for lads still going forward.
“As long as we're there to support each other and if they need anything, we're all here to help each other out.
“It's nice to get back onto the pitch then as well with your teammates and represent him in the best way possible.”
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