Tipp U20's aiming to make up for 2019 disappointment
GAA: Eirgrid Munster Under 20 Football Championship Quarter Final Preview
By Shane Brophy
LIMERICK v TIPPERARY
Mick Neville Park, Rathkeale
Wednesday 19th February
Throw-in @ 7.00pm (E.T. & Pens)
Referee: Padraig O'Sullivan (Kerry)
Tipperary's under 20 football team includes nine survivors from the side that were defeated by Limerick last year for this evenings Munster quarter final.
It's a game that still haunts the players and management as Tipperary led by eight points early in the second half but as last gasp 45 from Jack Downey put Limerick in front for the only time in the game.
In total, Tipperary have twenty of the panel still available from that campaign, while Limerick have eleven, of which eight were starters, including Noel Calnan who scored 1-3 and was the different in the game.
That game was played in early July but the under 20 championship has been moved back to the spring which caught a lot of counties by surprise.
“For all the under 20 managers it came as a shock when last November we were told the schedule was changing from the summer to February,” admitted Tipperary manager Tom McGlinchey.
“We all had to get on with it. We assembled a panel and got them together. We were lucky from last years panel there was twenty players still available so that was a headstart in itself.”
Tipperary have failed to win a game in the grade since reaching the 2015 All Ireland Final, suffering successive first round defeats in the last four years, including last year at the hands of Limerick but Tom McGlinchey is optimistic that his side can turnover Limerick on their own patch.
“It's a new year and a new competition and the lads have prepared very well,” he said.
“The Andrew Corden Cup was a big help to us. I know people can dismiss these small league competitions but for Tipperary is was a big victory, and especially to win it the way we did down in Carlow was a great victory.”
The under 20's have also benefitted from training with the senior team with David Power putting together a comprehensive plan together which hopefully will have long term benefits for Tipperary football as a whole.
““It has been fantastic,” said McGlinchey of the link-up with the seniors.
“In fairness to David Power when he took on the senior job he took on a overall view of Tipperary football. He wanted a link between the minors and under 20's and then up to the seniors.
“The strength & conditioning coach with the seniors is Robbie Cannon and his staff is working with the under 20's and minors with Robbie overseeing the whole programme. You might not see the benefits of it this year but give this time we'll see the benefits of it for years to come.
“There is a good structure in Tipperary football and there is a continuity involved. I know the lads benefit greatly from being involved with the seniors and already Sean O'Connor and Riain Quigley have been involved with senior squads and I have no doubt when the under 20 championship is over that a good few more lads will step up to the mark as well.
“From last year, the likes of Jack Harney and Conal Kennedy have stepped up to the senior panel and are playing great stuff so you have to have that continuity if Tipperary football is to be successful into the future.”
Tipperary team v Limerick: Kuba Beben (JK Brackens); Paul Devlin (Éire Óg Annacarty), Darragh O'Leary (Ardfinnan, Capt), Brian McKeown (Moyle Rovers); Mark O'Meara (Grangemockler/Ballyneale), Martin Kehoe (Mullinahone), Éanna McBride (JK Brackens); Kevin Grogan (Cahir), AJ Willis (Portroe); Conor Ryan (Loughmore/Castleiney), Riain Quigley (Moyle Rovers), Mark Stokes (Kilsheelan/Kilcash); Adam McGrath (Galtee Rovers), Seán O'Connor (Clonmel Commercials), Kyle Shelly (Moycarkey/Borris).
Other panellists: Billy Murphy (Kilsheelan-Kilcash); Billy O’Connor (Kilsheelan-Kilcash); Christy English (Ballyporeen); Ciaran O’Dwyer (Killenaule), Conal Moran (Shannon Rovers), Conor Anderson (Clonmel Óg), Conor Shanahan (Inane Rovers), Eoghan Power (Ballina), Fabian Kerton (Clonmel Óg), Jamie Holloway (Carrick Swan), Lorcan Roche (JK Brackens), Mark Stokes (Kilsheelan-Kilcash), Noel Oblior (Carrick Swan), Paddy Creedon (Thurles Sarsfields), Rhys Shelly (Moycarkey-Borris), Shane Lowe (Moyne-Templetuohy), Shane O’Connor (Clonmel Óg), Stephen Grogan (Cahir)
Management: Tom McGlinchey (Newport) – Bainisteoir; Niall Fitzgerald (Moyle Rovers) & Liam England (Inane Rovers) – Coach/Selector; Paddy Lowry (Upperchurch/Drombane) – Strength & Conditioning Coach; Adrian Condon (Ardfinnan) – Logistics; Sean McKeown (Moyle Rovers) – Statistics; Tommy Toomey (Arravale Rovers) - Video Analysis; Vivienne Glynn - Physiotherapist; Hugh Coghlan (Moyne-Templetuohy) - Team Secretary.