Tipp fine-tune league preparations
Hurlers see off Laois while Footballers proving not to be challenge friendly
By Shane Brophy
With the start of the Allianz National Hurling & Football Leagues just over a week away, the Tipperary senior teams are fine-tuning their preparations, although they have been far from straightforward.
With the GAA doing away with the pre-season competitions such as the Munster Hurling League and McGrath Cup for the first time this year, it was felt that managements having the flexibility to create their own schedule, particularly around the third level competitions which are underway to take some pressure off the players, would have been a benefit, rather than being tied to prearranged games.
However, the Tipperary senior footballers, in particular, have found it difficult to arrange challenge matches with first year manager Philly Ryan revealing that his side are “not challenge” friendly.
So far, Tipperary have only played a Kildare selection since the turn of the year when challenge matches were allowed. They were due to play the Tipp under 20’s last night (Tuesday), but no other challenge games are scheduled as yet ahead of their National League start away to Carlow on Saturday evening week.
It was one of the potential negatives of doing away of the pre-season competitions that counties such as Tipperary, that ply their trade in division 4, might struggle to get teams from higher divisions to play them when in the past Tipp could have always been guaranteed two games in the McGrath Cup, and a crack at the likes of Cork and Kerry on an annual basis.
Tipp’s issue was highlighted further when it was revealed that Cavan made the long trek to Kerry to play the home side in a challenge game last week, overlooking near neighbours Tipp.
The Premier County have always had a good relationship with Waterford and Limerick but with playing both in the National League in the coming weeks, scheduling them might not have been easy, as well as other teams in the region such as Carlow.
Hurlers
The Tipperary senior hurlers haven’t had things straightforward either, with their first challenge game against Clare cancelled last week, while a planned game against Cork last weekend failed to materialise.
In the meantime, they managed to get a game against All-Ireland Senior Club finalists Sarsfields in Glanmire last Friday night, while in Moneygall on Sunday, they played the Tipp under 20’s.
Things pick up a notch this week, including last night’s game with Laois in Templemore where 23 players lined out in a facile 4-38 to 0-18 win. Tipp looked extremely lean and fit, with a high workrate. Everything was done at speed with the quickness of the movement of the ball a notable feature.
Next Saturday lunchtime on the grass pitch at Fethard Town Park they are scheduled to play Dublin in what is likely to be their final hit out ahead of their National League bow against Galway on Sunday, 26th January.