AN A PLUS FOR CAHILL IN THE FINAL

Davy hails Tipp's All-Ireland clinching tactic

- GARRY DOYLE

DAVY Fitzgerald has credited Liam Cahill for producing the tactical masterstroke that landed Tipp this year's All-Ireland.

Tipp shocked Cork in hurling’s annual showpiece with a Plus One tactic — a strategy that reminded hurling fans of a trick Fitzgerald himself used to guide Clare past the Rebels in the 2013 All-Ireland.

Fitzgerald, never one to mince words, was impressed.

“You see, I thought it was very smart of Liam,” he said. “Because it wouldn't be popular. Jesus, you'd get nailed for it if you did it and then lost. But Cork weren't expecting it. Never in a million years.”

The element of surprise, he says, was key.

“If you're not expecting something, it f***ing throws you. And that's exactly what happened. Fair play to Liam and his management.”

Did it stop Cork outright? Not in the first half. But it changed the rhythm of the game. Cork, who hammered seven goals past Dublin in the semis, were restricted to just one in the final.