Minor footballers to get going at the third time of asking

Tipperary’s minor footballers will finally get their Munster Championship campaign underway this Saturday evening when they host Clare in the quarter final.

By Liam Hogan

The game is getting the go ahead at the third time of asking having been originally scheduled for last April, and after the first Covid restrictions were lifted, it was postponed for a second time just four days before it was set to have been played on Saturday 24th October.

“The initial break was the best part of eighteen weeks,” revealed Tipperary manager Johnny Nevin.

“Within that we asked the lads to stay fit and healthy and they would have had a training programme monitored by Declan (O’Rahilly) and Chris (Ryan). It was difficult as there was no collective training, but they did their own skill sessions and obviously their running and conditioning work as well so when they did comeback on September 14th, they were quite good.

“We were well set in late October against Clare and it was called off again. Again, they did sessions on their own because of the regulations so we only got back together only last Tuesday week. We met on 2nd December and had a trial match last Saturday. We had a full panel, and we are training this week on Tuesday and Thursday.”

Next Saturday will also see Limerick at home to Waterford in the other quarter final. The draw is similar to senior level where Cork and Kerry have been avoided and they will play in a semi-final next Tuesday night. It is a chance for Tipp to go all the way to the final but Nevin is not looking beyond the Clare game.

“When the fixtures were made known we were preparing for the Daryl Darcy Tournament which always involved Tipperary, Waterford Limerick and Clare,” he said.

“It was a two-stage process, first of all to win the Daryl Darcy and thankfully (after Covid) the draw remained the same. Cork and Kerry are on the far side. So, there is an opportunity to the get to the Munster final.

“But we are not looking beyond Clare. They have given us very difficult games over the last three or four years. Last year they were deserving winners. They had the upperhand in the physical sense. The major disappointment from last year is that we never delivered the performance that we knew was in the lads.”

Nevin and his management team have planned for this day from early 2019. 35 players are on the panel, five remaining from last year, James Griffin in goals, corner back Enda Butler, full forward Rory Collins, as well as Conor Neville and Jack Buckley.

“In February 2019 we started open trials after the Tom Collum Tournament we had over ninety players,” Nevin said.

“Around this time last year, we brought in the under 16s and we cut down the panel between January to March this year. It’s been a process of developing players so there are no dual players involved this year.

“We have a panel of 35 but we can name just 24 and eleven lads are not going to be able to attend which is unfair on them and all the training they have done. It would be great if the decisions were made to allow the larger panels were extended to the minor grade. It would be very fair thing to do. Look there is nothing we can do but to be thankful for the opportunity to play are important because we still have Covid.”

Tipperary Minor Football team v Clare

1. Thomas Burke - JK Brackens

2. Sean O'Meara - Grangemockler-Ballyneale

3. James Morris - Clonmel Commercials

4. Kevin Cahalane - Lorrha-Dorrha

5. Darragh McVicker - Clonmel Óg

6. Emmet Butler - Kilsheelan-Kilcash

7. Oisin Maher - Cahir

8. Toby Lambe - Holycross-Ballycahill

9. Ciaran Condon - Cahir

10. Jack Nevin - JK Brackens

11. Jack Buckley - Cahir

12. Sean Ryan - Upperchurch-Drombane

13. Eoin Craddock - Holycross-Ballycahill

14. Rory Collins - Moyle Rovers

15. Liam Mc Cormack - Thurles Sarsfields

Subs:

16. Lorcan Cummins - Thurles Sarsfields

17. Conor Neville - Kilsheelan-Kilcash

18. Conor O'Brien - Mullinahone

19. Niall Duffy - Newport

20. Paul Mullin - Drom & Inch

21. Tom Downey - Rockwell Rovers

22. Anthony Keely - Clonmel Commercials

23. Cian Smith - Clonmel Commercials

24. Declan Nee - Clonmel Commercials