"Vital, vital for the squad. Like, if you come down to Limerick and see some of the vultures we have down there and read what's being said. There's hidden agendas all over the place."
TJ Ryan took aim at the local media following Limerick's quarter-final success over Dublin on Saturday evening.
"The players were disappointed with their first-half performance. The weren't as composed on the ball as they had been all year."
Dublin didn't do themselves justice according to Ger Cunningham.
"When you're a manager, the one thing you look for is a team who will leave its soul on the field. They certainly did that today. They ran themselves into the ground. I couldn't ask for more."
Clare ticked all the boxes for Davy Fitzgerald.
"It's very disappointing for us. We really wanted to progress in this League. We created a lot of chances today but we didn't capitalise on them."
Tipp were made to pay the price for a lack of accuracy in front of the posts, says Michael Ryan.
"Obviously, to pick up knocks is not ideal and two weeks is a short enough turnaround until the next day, so we can't guarantee we'll have everybody available. But we just don't know yet."
Kilkenny's facile victory over Offaly came at a cost for Brian Cody.
"We were really up for this fight. We weren't coming down here to fulfil a fixture. Maybe we were too pumped up, and that's something we need to look at."
Eamonn Kelly's Offaly side suffered a 24 point hammering at the hands of the All-Ireland champions.
"Obviously we are bitterly disappointed, but look, we just have to push on. Other teams have been here before an ended up having a good championship so hopefully that'll happen us."
It's Division 1B for Michéal Donoghue and Galway in 2017.
"I don't take much notice of the media comments because when you win, you're a hero, you're fantastic, you're tactically very good. And when you lose, you're tactically naive and your defenders are wrong."
Kieran Kingston didn't allow newspaper criticism distract him from the important task of securing the Rebels' Division 1A status.
"I remember we were relegated in our first year and, before the club championship, I went with my wife and two children to Portugal for four days. I missed no session. But I got a text saying, 'Waterford hurling's in crisis and the manager is in Portugal!"
Waterford boss Derek McGrath could relate to the predicament that his Wexford counterpart Liam Dunne found himself in last week.
"Sure 'twas hardly worth our while coming here in the first place according to everyone. We had a different view, but no-one was believing me."
A point was all that separated Liam Dunne's Wexford and the league holders.
"Today was our biggest game of the year as far as I am concerned because it was crucial to maintain our status in 1B and they hurled in accordance with that in mind."
Ciaran Carey and Kerry secured their Division 1A status in style against Laois.
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