Eight seniors on U-21 team as Tipp bid for second All-Ireland Hurling crown in a week
Winning a second All-Ireland title in the space of six days will be Tipperary's target, and that of eight players in particular, when they take on Galway in the Bord Gais Energy All-Ireland U-21 Hurling Final at Semple Stadium on Saturday evening (7 o'clock).
Eight U-21s were part of the senior panel that lifted the McCarthy Cup on Sunday. Padraic Maher, Noel McGrath, Patrick Maher, Michael Cahill and Brendan Maher all started against Kilkenny, while Seamus Hennessy appeared as a late substitute. Brian O'Meara and Michael Heffernan were also on the panel.
Sunday's victory would be a huge boost for the U-21s, according to manager Ken Hogan.
"It was a fantastic win by a great bunch of people. They definitely got what they deserved for all their work. The knocks along the way steeled them for a bigger effort and the five subs showed that you need a strong panel".
And fortunately for the U-21s, the five players who were in action in Croke Park emerged from the game unscathed.
"Touch wood, everybody got through okay. They had a good night on Sunday but the lads were back in the pool on Monday", said Ken.
The team trained last night, Tuesday, in preparation for their bid to win Tipp's first U-21 Ireland since 1995, when they beat Kilkenny in a final also played at Semple Stadium.
Ken Hogan is expecting "a huge challenge" from Galway.
"We've been training with just 19 players (because of the seniors' progress), whereas the full Galway panel has been training for four nights a week with no club games played in the county. They have nothing to lose and are really up for the game. We realise that and just have to make the best of it", he said.
He also pointed out that Galway had won the All-Ireland Minor Championship two years ago while Tipp had won it three and four years ago.
The teams played a challenge earlier in the year and Ken described Galway as a tough and formidable side.
"The lads are well focused and motivated. They just have to be ready and fresh, and ready to go", the manager stated.
The final has been overshadowed to some extent by Galway's objection to Semple Stadium as the venue. Galway hurling board secretary John Fahey was reported as being disgusted by GAA president Christy Cooney's insistence that the game would go ahead in Thurles instead of a neutral venue.
Ken Hogan said that the venue had been arranged since March, and as former Galway manager and commentator Cyril Farrell stated "everybody wants to hurl in Thurles".
He said that Tipp trained in Dr. Morris Park in any event and Semple Stadium was a neutral pitch where everyone wanted to play.
Tipp have reached the final by beating Cork, Clare in the Munster Final, and Antrim in the All-Ireland semi-final.
Ken Hogan's selectors are Tommy Dunne (Toomevara, coach); T.J. Connolly (Cashel King Cormacs) and William Maher (Ballingarry).
A big attendance is expected and tickets are on sale for both stands in Semple Stadium for Saturday’s final, which will be shown live on TG4. The referee is Westmeath’s James McGrath.
The curtain-raiser, which will also be broadcast live on TG4, is the Bord Gais Energy All-Ireland Under B Hurling Final between Meath and Kerry.
Kilkenny’s Dominic Connolly is the referee for a match that starts at 5 o’clock, and if necessary extra time will be played.
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Weather for Clonmel
Wednesday 08 February 2012
Today
Light rain
Temperature: 4 C to 6 C
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