In the stunning summer of 2010 Tipperary realised their potential, Liam McCarthy Cup was captured, and the future glimmered with promise. 

Six years later on the eve of the Munster Championship Brendan Maher believes that Tipperary are ‘very close’ to performing at such a high level again.  Sunday’s Semple Stadium encounter with Cork promises to be interesting with Maher adamant that Tipp are moving in the right direction.

"I think we're very close,” Maher replies when asked about whether the current group of players can deliver once more. “If you look at how close we've been, we've been involved in some very close games, very close in '14 again, All-Ireland in ‘11 and ‘09. I think we're doing a lot of things right. We just have to make sure that we can get ourselves 100 per cent for each game and perform to the best of our ability."

Throughout the Allianz Hurling League Maher formed a fine midfield partnership with Michael Breen, who is emerging as a key figure for Tipperary under Michael Ryan.

"I don't really mind what position I'm in as long as I can get a consistent position,” the versatile Maher said. “Not be moved around. In fairness to Eamon (O’Shea) last year it was a specific role I had.

“I was wearing the No 11 jersey but I played more as a third midfielder. This year with Mick (Ryan) I played a few games starting off at half-back but he's had me midfield now and I'm quite happy there and hopefully can bring some good form into championship.

“It can be frustrating when you are moved from one place to another because it's quite hard mentally to approach a game, to focus. That's something I would have discussed with Eamon and with Mick, they're happy to say that they'll settle on a position.  The downfall of being versatile is that can happen and it has happened me before.”

Maher is encouraged by Breen’s emergence as a senior inter-county player of considerable substance.  "He does all the running and I hold the middle, it's great,” Maher smiles. “He's had a great league and hopefully he can transfer it to Championship.

“Obviously he's a fantastic athlete, midfield suits him. He's worked really hard because he is probably knocking on the door over the last year or two. He's really open, really motivated and tries to get the best out of himself.”

Despite Seamus Callanan’s brilliant display Tipperary’s 2015 campaign culminated with a bitterly disappointing All Ireland semi-final loss to Galway.

"It was an off day, we probably did as well to be close to them considering how poorly we played as a team,” Maher admits.

“Without Seamie doing what he did, who knows what the scoreline would have been. We just under performed.

“The long lay off is a challenge that we need to try to overcome if we're faced with again. We're hoping we'll be faced with it again. Five weeks to contend with again. We have to be able to cope with that long break.  Replicating it in training is a hard thing to do but it's something that you have to do.

“That's where you get your form and your consistency. That's something we fail on, maybe we trained too hard for the five weeks, we were flat for the semi-final. It's all about finding the right approach. We haven't managed to do it yet but hopefully if we're faced with it again we'll get it right.”

Cork manager Kieran Kingston has spoken about Tipperary being heavy favourites for the upcoming provincial encounter, but Maher expects a demanding clash.  "He's obviously going to say that and the Cork public will play themselves down,” Maher commented.

“Cork have a massive tradition. Tipp and Cork rivalry is there and it will always be there so regardless of what has happened in the build up, it will be a 50/50 battle. We need to be 100 per cent right to get over this game.”