Brendan Cummins believes the season could still have a silver lining for Tipperary after yesterday's Allianz Hurling League final defeat to Kilkenny.

The Premier County were many people's favourites to win in Nowlan Park, but they faded badly after Walter Walsh's goal just after half-time turned the tide in Kilkenny's favour.

"I'd have concerns," the former Tipperary goalkeeper admitted to RTÉ Radio 1's Morning Ireland programme.

"Going into the game, looking at the two teams, I thought Tipperary might be a little bit stronger, even though I might have been wearing my heart on my sleeve saying that.

"The way the league had went, I said to myself that Tipp might sneak a win, but five minutes into the second half, when Bubbles' (John O'Dwyer) shot was saved by Eoin Murphy, it was a turning point - Kilkenny went up the field and got a point and never really looked back after that."

He added: "For me, Tipperary need to tweak the style of play a small bit. When we got to 40 yards from our own goals, nobody looked up; they just hit the ball as long and as hard as they can. 

"The inside forward line with Jason Forde and John McGrath; when the ball is played in low to them they can create havoc, but we played into the hands of Paddy Deegan in the full back line alongside Joey Holden and Padraig Walsh.

"All is not lost. How often in sport have we seen a team go out and be bad one day, great the next? I think Mick Ryan will tweak that style of play and if we see a few of those lads coming back from injury, Tipperary will still have a big say in the championship this summer."

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