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McGrath: Sheedy factor getting most out of Tipp

Liam Sheedy's second spell as Tipperary manager has gone to plan so far
Liam Sheedy's second spell as Tipperary manager has gone to plan so far

Shane McGrath has hailed Liam Sheedy's impact on Tipperary ahead of their visit to Ennis on Sunday.

The Premier Men are flying high on maximum points after wins over Cork and Waterford but will face a tough task against Munster's only other unbeaten team.

"The Liam Sheedy factor is getting the most out of the players. Tipp look really, really sharp," McGrath, who won an All-Ireland under the Portroe man in 2010, told 2fm's Game On.

"Their scoring and movement has been unbelievable. They've scored 4-58 in two games and 4-48 of that has come from play.

"Some people are saying they're going too well but I'd rather be going too well than looking for a win, and this time last year they couldn't buy a win.

"Have they really been tested yet? I don't think so. Waterford look all over the place at the moment and Cork didn't really have the hard-working guys. But what more can they do?

"What they're doing this year that they haven't really done for the last couple of years is analysing other teams, not just saying 'We're Tipperary and we'll drive the ball in and someone might win it'."

"They're actually working the ball through the channels and a lot of that is coming from the half-back line, Brendan, Ronan, Paudie (all Maher) have been phenomenal."

McGrath highlighted the defensive impacts he believes each side will need to make to come out on top. 

"Don't be surprised if we see a couple of man-marking jobs in Ennis.

"I don't think Tony Kelly will get the same space he got against Waterford. You could see someone like Alan Flynn picking him up. He did a super job on him earlier in the League.

"A couple of years ago in Pairc Ui Chaoimh (2017 All-Ireland quarter-final), Shane O'Donnell took James Barry for a run around the pitch.

"I don't think Tipp will allow that to happen. Cathal Barrett might mark him as he's so tight and tenacious and has the speed.

"Clare will try to shut down where a lot of the attacks are starting for Tipp, the half-back line and Noel McGrath in midfield. Noel is like the Xavi or Iniesta of hurling, he just pings passes. If Clare don't shut down Tipp's half-back line they could be in trouble for the game. 

"Is Diarmuid Ryan going to be able to do it? It's a big ask to ask a 19-year-old to come in and curtail Paudie Maher and Brendan Maher.

"Tipp will have a lot of homework done on Clare. Last year, as bad as things were going, they were the width of the post away from getting through. Though of Clare's last 10 games at home they've won eight, drawn one and lost one. They're very good at home."

Follow all the hurling action this weekend via our live blogs on RTÉ.ie/sport and the News Now app, listen to live national commentary on RTÉ Radio 1 and watch live and exclusive TV coverage of Waterford v Limerick and Clare v Tipperary on RTÉ2 and the RTÉ Player this Sunday

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