I don't disagree that our performances went through bad patches and I wouldn't criticise anybody for the criticism. This is life. Sometimes I think Tipp are a team that have to have rhythm." In the league quarter-final on 30 March at Semple Stadium, Tipperary defeated Cork by 3-25 to 4-19. Tipperary scored 2-4 without reply in the opening eight minutes, Denis Maher with the first goal inside a minute and corner-forward Niall O’Meara with the second when he doubled on a miss-hit shot by James Woodlock. Cork recovered to lead by two points at half time on a 3-11 to 3-9 scoreline. Cork goalkeeper Anthony Nash had a late free saved which would have sent the game into extra-time but Tipperary held on to win by three points. On 20 April, Tipperary beat Clare at the Gaelic Grounds to set up a hurling League final against Kilkenny for the second year in a row. Two goals from Patrick Maher and a haul of 0-12 from Seamus Callanan saw Tipperary win in the end by seven points. Tipperary lead by seven-points at half time. Tipperary made it to the league final in spite of losing three of their opening four league games and conceding 12 goals and 67 points. The last time that Tipperary beat Kilkenny in a league final was in 1968. In the final played on 4 May at Semple Stadium, Kilkenny won on a 2-25 1-27 scoreline with TJ Reid getting the winning score in the last minute after extra-time. Tipperary had led by 1-11 to 1-9 at half time, the Tipperary goal coming from John O'Dwyer when he connected with Noel McGrath's sideline cut to touch the ball to the net from the edge of the square. The game finished in a draw at 2-17 to 1-20 after 70 minutes with injury time points for Tipperary from Shane Bourke and Kieran Bergin sending the game to extra time. Both goals for Kilkenny came from penalties and both scored by TJ Reid and the sides were level 11 times. Tipperary faced Limerick in the Munster Senior Hurling Championship semi-final on 1 June at Semple Stadium. Speaking before the match against Limerick, Tipperary manager Eamon O'Shea said "There are probably nine teams that can win the All-Ireland,It's very competitive – there's a great equality among teams.