Tipp 17's in Celtic Challenge final
Tipperary are chasing a second All-Ireland hurling success in the Marble City of Kilkenny next weekend in the final of the Celtic Challenge on Sunday.
By Shane Brophy
TIPPERARY BLUE v KILKENNY
UPMC Nowlan Park, Kilkenny
Sunday, 2nd June
Throw-in @ 2.30pm
Referee: James Owens (Wexford)
This under 17 competition was first established in 2016 and has been hugely successful since its inception. The ethos is a developmental one with teams initially competing at group stages. Depending then on results teams are graded for the knockout stages giving all an opportunity to compete at their own level.
The inclusion of second and even third teams from tier 1 counties has proven very successful with Tipperary the defending champions. This year, Tipperary fielded two teams in the competition, Blue and Gold, both of whom reached the semi-finals where they played each other in Golden two weeks ago with the Blue team emerging victorious.
The Tipperary panel for the final includes a number of players on the extended minor panel who are preparing for the upcoming All-Ireland semi-final.
The Tipperary Blue team were defeated by Kilkenny in the round-robin stage by four points, so another tight contest is expected.
Tipperary Blue panel
Tommy Blackmore – Ballingarry
Tom Bradshaw - Lattin Cullen
Ning Brennan - Golden Kilfeacle
Alex Britton – CJ Kickhams Mullinahone
Cian Broderick - JK Brackens
James Butler - Sean Treacys
Max Carroll - Sean Treacys
Cillian Collins - Newport
Larry Collins - Sean Treacys
Michael Collins - Templederry Kenyons
William Colville - Rosegreen
Sean Dempsey - Drom & Inch
Cillian Direen – CJ Kickhams Mullinahone
Leelan Donoghue - Durlas Og
Cillian Doran – Moycarkey/Borris
Darragh Dunne - Carrick Swan
Bill Fogarty - Durlas Og
Diarmaid Fogarty – Kiladangan
Jake Galvin – Holycross/Ballycahill
Shay Gleeson - Moneygall
Conor Grace - Burgess
Cathal Hannon - Newport
Darragh Hayes - Toomevara
Killian Franks - Shannon Rovers
Emmet Jones – Nenagh Eire Og
Tony Maher – Holycross/Ballycahill
Jack Marnell - JK Brackens
Jack McCarthy - Newport
Shane McGrath – CJ Kickhams Mullinahone
Tommy McGrath - Ballingarry
David McSweeney - St Mary’s
Richard Morris – Loughmore/Castleiney
William Murphy - Borrisokane
Charlie Noonan - St Patrick's
Billy O’Brien - Toomevara
James O’Brien - Cahir
Liam O’Callaghan - Portroe
Kyle O’Dowd - Durlas Og
Dara O’Dwyer - Kiladangan
Oisin Power – Skeheenarinky
Micheal Quinlan – Upperchurch/Drombane
Tadgh Ryan – Holycross/Ballycahill
Tony Ryan - Killenaule
Jamie Shanahan - Drom & Inch
Lar Stapleton - Borris-Ileigh
Declan Teehan – Gortnahoe/Glengoole
Riain Treacy – Upperchurch/Drombane
Sean Walsh - JK Brackens
Management: Sean O’Meara (CJ Kickhams, Mullinahone), Shane Connolly (Nenagh Eire Og), Gerry Maguire (Lattin Cullen), David O’Connor (Borris-Ileigh), Jack Bergin (Moycarkey/Borris), JP Grace (Burgess)