Early New Year start for Tipp

By Shane Brophy

As if fate decreed it, Liam Cahill’s first competitive game as Tipperary senior hurling manager will be against an old foe.

The new Tipp boss will come up against his old side Waterford in the first game on the Coop Superstores Munster Hurling League just three days into the New Year, on Tuesday, 3rd January 2023.

Not long after the New Year festivities have ended, the competitive hurling year begins with Tipperary making the trip to Dungarvan for a 7.00pm throw-in, with all games in the competition being live-streamed by Munster Council.

The Premier County will host Clare in their second game on Sunday 8th January at 1.30pm in Nenagh, and should they progress from this triumvirate of teams, the final of the Munster League, with the winners of the other group involving Cork, Kerry and Limerick, will be played on Sunday, 22nd January, two weeks before the start of the National Hurling League.

Speaking at the launch of the Coop Superstores Munster Hurling League in Limerick on Monday last, Tipperary defender Ronan Maher is eagerly looking forward to the new campaign.

“It’s going well,” he said.

“We are trying to get a good block of work done before Christmas. It’s tough going at the minute, it’s heavy going training wise but it is great to be back.

“We were gone early last year and there is a lot of work to catch up on and to get done at this time of the year.

“Obviously it is really exciting set-up with the lads coming in as well so I am really looking forward to the year ahead.”

Tipperary have been busy in the short time since inter-county activity resumed on November 24th with challenge matches played against Laois, Offaly and Dublin with many players, over and above the forty players named on the panel last month, getting game-time to impress the new management.

More on page 76.