Woodlock wary of improved Clare threat in Munster Final

By Michael Dundon

TIPPERARY v CLARE

TUS Gaelic Grounds, Limerick

Wednesday, 11th May

Throw-in @ 7.30pm

Referee: Nicky Barry (Waterford)

After Tipperary had seen off the challenge of Waterford in the Munster minor hurling semi-final at Semple Stadium last week, manager James Woodlock immediately turned his thoughts to this Wednesday’s clash with Clare in the final.

Tipperary had disposed of a well-regarded Waterford side in impressive fashion to set up a re-match with Clare in the final, having already beaten Clare 2-13 to 0-13 in the round robin section of the championship.

Goals by Tom Delaney and Paddy McCormack in the space of three minutes early in the second half decided that encounter but the Drom & Inch supremo is under no illusions about the task facing his charges this week.

“It’s going to be tough,” he admitted.

“I know Clare were very disappointed with how things went against us the last time and they will be all out to make amends. There is a huge energy about them, and they have lots of pace. They have since beaten Cork and Kerry so they will be really up for the game.”

But the manager also believes that his own side has made progress since the last encounter with Clare.

“I’m happy with how we played tonight,” he added.

“We needed to be better than we were in our last games. I was pleased with how we started. We were lucky enough to beat Waterford when we first met them, but I felt that we did not play to our ability then and that if we did, we would beat them again and happily that happened.”

A particularly pleasing aspect of the win over Waterford, according to the manager, was the impact made by the lads who came in as subs.

“The boys who came on made a huge, huge, impact and that is very important for us”, he said. Clearly, they have given the Drom man food for thought as he ponders his starting fifteen for the final.

Man of the match, Cahir’s Tom Delaney, who scored 1-12 of the Tipp tally of 3-27, all from play, came in for special mention by James Woodlock.

“He is a free spirit – magic,” he said.

“He has great feet, and he actually did not train in the run up to tonight’s game because of a calf injury.”

He was also happy to report that the players came through without injuries,” touch wood”, and that was validated on Monday night as an unchanged selection was confirming for the showdown with Clare.

In the second year of his three-year term as manager, James Woodlock will be hoping to go one better this year having been eliminated by Waterford in last year’s championship, a campaign greatly hampered by the Covid restrictions.

Tipp have twelve of last year’s extended panel but facing a good Clare team for a second time is not going to be easy. The manager will be hoping that the Tipp lads continue their improvement and that this will be enough to see them through to the All-Ireland stages of the competition as Munster champions.

The Tipperary minor hurlers will play Clare in the 2022 Munster championship final in the TUS Gaelic Grounds this Wednesday evening, May 11th at 7.30pm and ahead of this game the Tipperary minor hurling manager James Woodlock along with his management team of Conor O'Brien, Cormac McGrath, Brendan Ferris, Damien Ryan and Ray Doyle have announced their team and subs, which shows no changes from that which was picked for their semi final win over Waterford last week.

The team and subs are:

1 (GK) Eoin Horgan Knockavilla Donaskeigh Kickhams

2 Chris O'Donnell Ballylooby/Castlegrace

3 Aaron O'Halloran Carrick Swan

4 Jack Quinlan Fethard

5 Sam O'Farrell Nenagh Eire Óg

6 Tadhg Sheehan St. Marys

7 Jack O'Callaghan Portroe

8 Ciarán Foley Borrisokane

9 Adam Daly Knockavilla Donaskeigh Kickhams

10 Conor Martin Cappawhite

11 Joe Egan Moycarkey/Borris

12 Paddy Phelan Upperchurch/Drombane

13 Damien Corbett Gortnahoe/Glengoole

14 Tom Delaney Cahir

15 Paddy McCormack Borris-Ileigh

16 (GK) Harry Loughnane Roscrea

17 Senan Butler Kilsheelan/Kilcash

18 Cathal English Fr. Sheehys

19 Jack Hayes Moycarkey/Borris

20 Keith Loughnane Durlas Og

21 Darragh McCarthy Toomevara

22 Evan Morris Holycross/Ballycahill

23 Jamie Ormond JK Brackens

24 Sam Rowan CJ Kickhams Mullinahone