Injuries threaten to jeopardise Tipperary's league ambitions

MEATH v TIPPERARY

Pairc Tailteann, Navan

Sunday 27^th January

Throw-in @ 2.00pm

Referee: Niall Cullen (Fermanagh)

 

Tipperary could be without five of their first choice players as they begin their Allianz Football League Division 2 campaign in Navan this Sunday.

With Tipperary opting put of the McGrath Cup for the second year in a row, it hasn't led to Liam Kearns charges having a clear run to the first round of the league.

Current captain Robbie Kiely won't feature in the league campaign as he is currently travelling but is expected back ahead of the start of the championship in May.

With half back colleague Bill Maher out long term with a ruptured achilles tendon sustained with his club Kilsheelan-Kilcash last autumn, with manager Liam Kearns describing the losses as “a big blow).

For it leaves a critical void in that line of the field which has been strong in recent years, with Jimmy Feehan only recently back in training after injury while his brother Paudie, who was with the Tipperary senior hurlers in 2018 and won an All Ireland Under 21 hurling medal, is currently recovering from a broken leg and is expected to miss at least the first three games.

There are also major doubts over corner back Shane O'Connell who is recovering from a quad injury but could make the bench, which is also likely for star forward Michael Quinlivan who picked up a knee injury for his club last autumn and has only returned to full training last week.

With Philip Austin and Josh Keane also working their way back from injury, it hasn't been the easiest pre-season for Tipperary, who did manage five challenge matches away from the glare of the official competitions playing Galway twice, Laois, Sligo and the Garda College Sigerson Cup team.

“Short term we'll be under a little pressure,” admitted Liam Kearns ahead of Tipperary's second successive campaign in division 2 of the Allianz League.

““We were in better shape going into the league this time last year when we had no injuries and had everybody ready.

“We have prepared well but being down the players we are down is going to put us under pressure in the short term.”

The 2019 version of division 2 looks a lot tougher than last year with Donegal and Kildare dropping down from the top tier, with Tipperary's nemesis Armagh and Fermanagh coming up from division 3, joining Cork, Clare and Meath in an extremely competitive looking competition.

Of Tipperary's seven games, four will be at home but getting off to a good start is vital if they are to achieve their goal of maintaining their division 2 status come the end of March.

“You have to take the first three games together. In three weeks we have Meath away, Fermanagh at home and Donegal at home,” Kearns added.

“Meath in Navan is going to be very difficult. We beat them well here in Thurles last year but I would say they will be well us for us and all the noise coming out of there is they want promotion so if you want promotion you have to win your home matches so they'll be delighted we are going to be missing key players."

 

To read more, pick up a copy of this weeks Nenagh Guardian locally or subscribe to our e-paper to access it online each Wednesday.

 

Tipperary's National Football League schedule

Sunday 27^th January: Meath v Tipperary in Pairc Tailteann, Navan @ 2.00pm

Sunday 3^rd February: Tipperary v Fermanagh in Semple Stadium @ 2.00pm

Sunday 10^th February: Tipperary v Donegal in Semple Stadium @ 2.00pm

Sunday 24^th February: Armagh v Tipperary in the Athletic Grounds, Armagh @ 2.00pm

Saturday 2^nd March: Tipperary v Cork in Semple Stadium @ 7.00pm

Saturday 16^th March: Kildare v Tipperary in St Conleth's Park, Newbridge @ 2.00pm

Sunday 24^th March: Tipperary v Clare at Semple Stadium @ 2.00pm

 

 

Tipperary Senior Football panel

Philip Austin (Borrisokane)

Daire Brennan (Kilsheelan-Kilcash)*

Liam Boland (Moyle Rovers)

Luke Boland (Moyle Rovers)

Alan Campbell (Moyle Rovers)

Liam Casey (Cahir)

Paddy Codd (Killenaule)

Evan Comerford (Kilsheelan-Kilcash)

Jack Delahunty (Newport)*

Kevin Fahey (Clonmel Commercials)

Jimmy Feehan (Killenaule)

Paudie Feehan (Killenaule)*

Shane Foley (Moyle Rovers)*

Brian Fox (Éire Óg Annacarty)

Ben Hyland (Fr. Sheehy’s)*

Josh Keane (Golden-Kilfeacle)

Conal Kennedy (Clonmel Commercials)*

Jack Kennedy (Clonmel Commercials)

Ciarán Kenrick (Moyle Rovers)

Robbie Kiely (Carbery Rangers)

Jason Lonergan (Clonmel Commercials)

Tommy Lowry (Arravale Rovers)*

Bill Maher (Kilsheelan-Kilcash)

Paul Maher (Kilsheelan-Kilcash)*

Dave McGrath (Moyle Rovers)*

Liam McGrath (Loughmore-Castleiney)

John Meagher (Loughmore-Castleiney)

Emmet Moloney (Drom & Inch)

Steven O’Brien (Ballina)

Cian O’Connell (Golden-Kilfeacle)*

Shane O’Connell (Golden-Kilfeacle)

Kevin O’Halloran (Portroe)

Darragh O’Leary (Ardfinnan)*

Dan O’Meara (Kiladangan)*

Michael O’Reilly (Clonmel Commercials)

Colm O’Shaughnessy (Ardfinnan)

Michael Quinlivan (Clonmel Commercials)

Paul Shanahan (Upperchurch-Drombane)

Conor Sweeney (Ballyporeen)

Gavin Whelan (Ardfinnan)*

* - denotes newcomers