Tipperary

An Early White flag.

Another year down the drain. Whilst I can relate to the fact that ultimately only one team, the best can win Liam McCarthy I can also show the ultimate disdain for the ultimate shambles that is becoming Tipperary Hurling. It was 3 years ago on September 9th, that Tipperary reached the holy grail for the first time in ten years. Ill admit some moments were shaky also that year though we could count on many the forward to get us out of jail, Declan Ryan, Eoin Kelly, Tommy Dunne, O’Leary and so on. We went in to the All Ireland final vs Galway that year full of confidence yet wary of the threat their forwards posed as well as the strength they showed in upsetting Kilkenny in the semi final. A week later I stood 6 feet from the famous trophy at eye level as it passed through the street of Mullinahone on its way to the GAA pitch. A lot believed that Tipperary could only get better and would rival Kilkenny’s emergence to the throne.
However it saddens me to see the team peaked on that famous day back in 2001. Declan Ryan retired and the Same squad of a players of which many achieved their first Celtic Cross, has rapidly went down hill. In fact it has to be said many are no longer good enough to hurl’ inter county where the intensity required is ferocious and concentration levels have to be at their upmost. Young hurlers from last years U21 Munster success and 3 yrs running Munster minor champions, are just not getting their chance as experience is essential for a Tipperary panel in the opinions of the mentors, ironically it is some of the Seniors barring the inclusion of Eoin Kelly and Brendan Cummins that found wanting when the push has came to the shove.
You only have to look at the Jacobs, Brian Carroll, JJ Delaney, John Gardiner Setanta O’Hailpin, Michael Kavanagh and our own Eoin Kelly to see what talented young hurlers can achieve when entrusted at the highest level. Their pace, their youthful enthusiasm and attitude to go out there and hurl’ should be an indication to coaches and selectors that this is the way forward. The balance of Youth should outweigh experience. Don’t get me wrong, experience is also vital, but when early exit in Munster, Leinster whatever the case may be follows early championship exit, it is time to shake things up. Tony Scroope a young forward from Burgess up north scored a tally of 3-3 Wednesday night, yet didn’t even get a single run out in Killarney on Saturday. John Carroll was relied upon instead to fight a losing battle with Diarmuid O’Sullivan. Declan Fanning won a Minor Medal for Tipp back in 1996 but only made his championship debut aged 24 or 25 whatever the case may be. At this time the intensity of Senior Championship hurling is all new to him. Some other factors contribute to Tipp’s decline.

1. That Clonmel, One of Irelands largest towns hasn’t one senior hurling team
2. ..And that only Donnacha Fahy and Theo English have represented Tipp in the code in the GAA’s long history.

3. That there is no schools, similar to St Kierans in Kilkenny which nurture Young Talented Hurlers.

4. That Thurles have just one senior hurling team the Sars.

5. That Toomevara and Mullinahone dominate the club representation on the Senior panel in recent years.

Big Ears

I agree with pretty much all of what u have said, but id just like to add in a few things .

I know Ken Hogan hasnt been manager for that long but I think think we're going anywhere with him in charge .

The players were even doing the simple things wrong aginst Cork and Waterford , something which he shouldnt have let happen .

Decide where to play Benny Dunne , a player cant remain consistent if there constently being played in different poositions .

also I would like to add that Philip Maher is always up to the challenge just as much as Cummins or Kelly (who can be very inconsistent ) is when push comes to shove .

Tipp needs some hungry forwards , Lar Corbet is not of Inter-County standard .

I have been very concerned at the performances from John Carroll , he just dosent seem to do anything for the team at all .

MarK O'leary seemed to be well fired up for the Cork game , but only saw a late introduction .

to be honest I think a new manager could change a lot , for the better .

Yeah i do agree that the management seem very naive (i.e picking Tom Costello on John Mullane) but i mean 3 managers in 3 yrs might be hasty aswell.

John McIntyre was originally meant to be named boss and wanted John Leahy as a selector. Leahy declined as some of the Toomevara players and him do not see eye to eye and he feared disrupting the panel thus McIntyre declined the chance.

Dinny cahill would be a great choice as he has brought through a very young antrim team. it will be interesting to see how they fare vs Cork. personally i think hes cracked to drive all the way up there to train a team.

Maher and Corcoran + young Fitzgerald have also given their all in a Tipp shirt this year. the one weakness maher had is his habit of being dragged out way beyond his own 21. he should perhaps stick to his guns a bit.

On Benny Dunne i think his attitude this year was poor. Not once did he pass the ball v waterford apart from Eoins Goal but i agree that he has being shoved from pillar to post though alot of hurlers are.

Imposter

As I said in another post this week the GAA is very weak in Urban areas. In most cases it is barely in second place in the popularity stakes behind soccer. The problems you mention with Clonmel and Thurles could be applied to most towns in Ireland. The one thing in tipperary hurling's advantage is that gaelic football is very weak and that helps the hurlers. In places like Cork and Galway both sports take from each other and that causes other problems.

Big Ears

one reason why theres only one club in major towns in Tipperary (that includes Nenagh aswell as Clonmel and Thurles )
is the Parish rule , where you are only allowed to play in the Parish u live or used to live (although it is possible to get transfers to other clubs if your local club agree )

currently I break that rule myself .

and on the part about Dinny Cahill and Antrim I think they'll give Cork a very hard game , but will lose by a bit in the end . Antrim hurlers have come on in leaps and bounds since he took over .

Originally posted by Big Ears

Decide where to play Benny Dunne , a player cant remain consistent if there constently being played in different poositions .

In fairness going back to that point Tommy walsh played half wing fwd v wexford and had a great game. Kilkennys best player by a long shot. he then had a stormer vs galway at Corner Back so perhaps Benny hasnt anything to hide behind like you said

Big Ears

Originally posted by tipp_Gunner
In fairness going back to that point Tommy walsh played half wing fwd v wexford and had a great game. Kilkennys best player by a long shot. he then had a stormer vs galway at Corner Back so perhaps Benny hasnt anything to hide behind like you said

well it mightnt affect some players the way it would others .

I just feel Benny has put out better performances when he's played in the same position for a few games .

the Tipperary Voice

I was at the 2001 final. I was very optimistic leaving the stadium, that the future was bright. Roll on the years and a similar feeling in 2010. Hard to believe its gone so pear shaped. The reality is that maybe this team will never hit the heights again.
Sometimes in sport you build yourself up to an incredible level of performance and cannot repeat or even get near it.
Kilkenny play at that level all the time, so they just kept doing what comes naturally.
We are unable or unwilling to give the massive effort needed year in year out.
The players appear to be happy with One All Ireland every decade. They say they dont, but perfomances on the pitch dont lie.
The Problem with Tipp and many other counties, is they hold onto players too long. They also give players a long time to find their feet.
A number of players have been hugely tried. Seamus Callanan, James Woodlock, etc. A number of great club hurlers, have failed to make their mark at inter county level. Anyone remember Seamus Butler. Johnny Ryan as well.
Noel McGrath is another who would have been culled in Kilkenny. He does not give any meaningful involvement, despite his wonderful talent.
The new manager must have wondered how he got himself into this mess.
The County is angry and frustrated. The players seem drained and lethargic. devoid of the key requirement needed to win All-Ireland's- hunger.
Where has it gone?
Its clear mental surgery is needed big time. Confidence is low. Talent is not an issue. We appear a yard slow, thats down to lack of sharpness mentally.
I wouldn't write us off just yet though.
O'Shea is a very shrewd man. He alluded to this in a recent interview, that the team had been on the go for 5 years, something different is needed.
I think he has the key to unlock our prodigal son Lar as well. I noticed a different Corbett in Cork.
Next week will tell a lot. The gloom will lift big time, if we give a performance.

Hammer Archer

Please don't resurrect nine year old threads. Either use current threads or start a new one.