Tipperary senior hurling panel named for National League

By Shane Brophy

No matter how poorly a previous campaign is, on the advent of a new season, there is always that sense of optimism that this year will be different. And that is how it will be for three Tipperary senior teams who begin their National League campaigns this weekend.

Hurling

Most of the focus will be on the senior hurlers who take to the field competitively for the first time in seven months when they take on Galway in Salthill on Sunday.

Tipperary completed their pre-season schedule over the past week with easy wins over Laois and Kerry, plus a defeat to Dublin in what was a spikey affair at Fethard Town Park on Saturday.

Speaking afterwards to Clubber TV, Tipperary manager Liam Cahill admitted his side really needed that type of game ahead of their league bow.

“Today was a real step up for us,” he said to commentator Garry Toohey.

“It was vitally important to get that intensity into the legs.

“We are trying to put our own stamp on it in terms of our style of play versus where we were twelve months ago, and that young personnel gives us that dimension as well.”

The Tipperary panel for the National League was confirmed on Thursday morning of 38 players, not including Joe Caesar and Conor Stakelum who are rehabbing mid-term injuries and will return later in the campaign.

The five players not retained from the training panel are Sean Ryan, Sean Hayes, Cathal Quinn, Stephen Walsh, and Jack Leamy.

Ronan Maher has been retained as Captain for 2025, with Jake Morris continuing in the Vice Captains role.

There certainly has been a new feel to the teams selected in the games against Laois and Dublin, with Cahill happy with how the younger players are progressing but warned it will take time.

“This is the job of work we have to do in Tipperary at the moment, the likes of Mikey Corcoran, Darragh McCarthy, young Sam O’Farrell at wing back, Conor Martin at 11, they are all very young and novices at this grade, so we are where we are in Tipperary,” he said.

“But he have to give these lads the exposure to see how they react and thankfully to date they are really embracing it and are looking like fellas that will stand Tipperary in good stead for a long number of years to come.”

Tipperary panel listed below

The panel is as follows:

Johnny Ryan Arravale Rovers

Michael Breen Ballina

Dylan Walsh Ballingarry

Ray McCormack Borris-Ileigh

Conor Martin Cappawhite

Gavin O’Halloran Carrick Swan

Aaron O’Halloran Carrick Swan

Oisin O’Donoghue Cashel King Cormacs

Eoghan Connolly Cashel King Cormacs

Danny Slattery Clonoulty/Rossmore

Robert Doyle Clonoulty/Rossmore

David Nolan Gortnahoe/Glengoole

Bryan O’Mara Holycross/Ballycahill

Andy Ormond JK Brackens

Barry Hogan Kiladangan

Willie Connors Kiladangan

Billy Seymour Kiladangan

Craig Morgan Kilruane MacDonaghs

Brian McGrath Loughmore/Castleiney

John McGrath Loughmore/Castleiney

Noel McGrath Loughmore/Castleiney

Joe Fogarty Moneygall

Seanie Kenneally Moneygall

Rhys Shelly Moycarkey/Borris

Kieran Cummins Moycarkey/Borris

Gearoid O’Connor Moyne-Templetuohy

Conor Bowe Moyne-Templetuohy

Jake Morris Nenagh Eire Óg

Josh Keller Nenagh Eire Óg

Sam O’Farrell Nenagh Eire Óg

Alan Tynan Roscrea

Jason Forde Silvermines

Michael Corcoran Silvermines

Peter McGarry St Mary's Clonmel

Seamus Kennedy St Mary's Clonmel

Darragh Stakelum Thurles Sarsfields

Ronan Maher Thurles Sarsfields

Darragh McCarthy Toomevara

Gaelic Football

The Philly Ryan era in charge of the Tipperary senior footballers gets underway on Saturday evening when his charges head to Carlow for the start of their division 4 campaign.

Expectation levels are low such is the turnover of players on the panel with just six remaining from the 2020 Munster title win, including Steven O’Brien who has been retained as captain of the 37 man panel which was confirmed on Monday night.

Ladies Football

Sunday afternoon in Tipperary Town will also see the Tipperary Ladies Footballers make their bow in division 2 of the National League.

Under new manager Ed Burke, they start off with a tough task against All-Ireland final runners-up Galway, but with AFLW players Aishling Moloney, Niamh Martin and Anna-Rose Kennedy on board and Caitlin Kennedy back on board, Tipp have the potential to challenge for promotion.