IN ALL FAIRNESS - Tipp banking on summer surge

IN ALL FAIRNESS

 

So as Tipperary's interest in the Allianz Hurling League comes to an end, it's time to take stock ahead of the championship which was always going to what the Premier County's year was going to be measured on.

Few cared how inconsistent Tipperary were in the league in 2019, exiting eight weeks before the start of the championship, when Seamus Callanan lifted the Liam MacCarthy Cup on the steps of the Hogan Stand last August.

While the phrase “back to back” won't have been uttered within the group, winning a league title would count for nothing if Tipperary aren't fit and firing come the start of the Munster Championship, away to Waterford in just over eight weeks time.

Tipperary were the one county under little or no pressure in this years National League and they certainly played like that, particularly in the latter games against Waterford and Galway. Ironically Tipperary performed best in their first two games against Limerick and Cork, even in defeat, when they were supposed to be late back to training but certainly the hard work being done to catch up physically certainly seemed to come against Tipperary over the last two weeks in particular.

If were to look at the body language of manager Liam Sheedy, there is no element of pressure or panic from the Portroe man as he knows, based on 2019, that they have plenty of time to get the team ready for the summer, beginning with this weeks training camp in Spain.

This years league was about giving more experience to fringe players who could become vital cogs during the summer. However, based on what we have seen so far, it is hard to see any few faces breaking into the starting line-up which would have to be a concern.

One or two new faces to the starting fifteen is always welcome and while the likes of Bryan O'Mara, Paddy Cadell, Jake Morris, Dillon Quirke and Cian Darcy have done well, have they done enough to force themselves into the starting team for the opening game of the championship against Waterford? At this stage I would say not.

Now there will be time for players to come into form and as we saw with Brian Hogan who appeared to be understudy to Paul Maher at the end of last years league, come championship he was number one and Maher is now no longer part of the panel.

That Darragh Mooney was drafted back into the panel this winter suggests Hogan isn't the certaintly for the summer, despite winning an All Star last year. He will have been disappointed with some of the goals conceded in the league but come championship last year he was excellent while his distribution should improve again when the team does more on field hurling over the next few weeks.

It's hard to see the full back line being anything but Cathal Barrett, Ronan Maher and Barry Heffernan. The full back line is still an area Tipp are a little short on despite Paul Maher, Craig Morgan and Sean O'Brien all getting game but no one really impressed.

The half back line looks set to be Seamus Kennedy, Padraic & Brendan Maher although Padraic's performances in the league would be a cause for concern, particularly with teams running at him through the middle, however, in Brendan Maher they have an able deputy to hold the middle if needs be.

No one has really put their hand up to be Noel McGrath's partner at midfield. Michael Breen is still struggling for his best form. Paddy Cadell's performances against Limerick and Cork in particular were probably the most impressive of all the newcomers, while Alan Flynn can't be ruled out there either having started all five league games and is seen as Mr. Dependable by the management in any position from corner back to midfield.

Up front with Patrick Maher nearing a return, Tipperary's options look well stocked with Seamus Callanan, John McGrath, Jason Forde and Dan McCormack all likely summer starters along with Niall O'Meara. The one who could be vulnerable is John O'Dwyer but 'Bubbles' has always been a summer hurler so his best is yet to come.

They have young options in Quirke, Morris, Darcy and Kehoe but you would have liked to have seen one of them really stake a claim this spring with Jake Morris probably the leading candidate as a championship starter at the moment.

In terms of squad depth, Tipperary do look stronger than last year, even with the retirements of James Barry and Donagh Maher. However, they don't have the depth as Limerick do who are the team to beat despite Tipperary being defending All Ireland champions and Liam Sheedy knows this as retaining the Liam MacCarthy Cup this year is unlikely without having to go through Limerick on at least two occasions.