Liam Sheedy has praised his Tipperary players for their effort and commitment since he took charge, and believes that they have answered questions about their character with their All-Ireland win.
Sheedy's men beat Kilkenny 3-25 to 0-20 at Croke Park this afternoon, and he was keen to refocus the minds of the general public towards his players.
"It's a special day. All-Ireland final day is the big day in all of our calendars. To have come here today and have won is really, really pleasing.
"I suppose when we started back in November, this was the dream but we felt a long way away from it. We had a bit of a blip in the road at the end of June. There were a few questions asked of us as a group, and today we have come up with the answers.
"It was an outstanding victory and we're absolutely thrilled."
Sheedy had kept up his intense approach to management until the very end - and made no apology for it, looking to secure a twenty-eighth victory for Tipperary against Brian Cody, a man that has twelve titles to his name alone.
"This game of hurling can change in the puck of a ball - one goal can make all the difference. We felt that we had to retain composure - sometimes we wasted ball and didn't take the right option. We set ourselves very high standards.
"When they did take the right options, we were very impressive. We were sucking for air there in the first half and trailing by five points. The goal by Niall O'Hara was a massive score.
"We are just thrilled for the group. The effort they have given since November is just phenomenal and whether we had won or lost today, I couldn't have asked for more."
Whether he himself could have given any more is up for debate, as he said he was 'smashed' following the energy that he had to put into the day's play.
"There is a huge amount of effort that goes in from everyone. This day was never about me, it is about the best backroom team in the country and outstanding players that can do wonderful things with a hurley and ball when they go out after that white line."
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