The Tipperary GAA Discussion Thread

Mantis Toboggan

Lots of new players, big transition going on. Lots of good young players. Interesting to see the team next week, tough opening game.

thamus doku

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123070202#Comment_123070202

In my opinion Cahill has to go all out for the league. He cannot be chopping and changing too much.
He needs to decide on the spine of his team now and back them.
we cannot enter championship not knowing our best team.

Mantis Toboggan

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123070523#Comment_123070523

No doubt he will but there's no obvious spine to the team so it will still be experimentation I think although I'd stick with Ronan centre back. Connolly might be the answer at full back but will need to be tested.

thamus doku

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123071288#Comment_123071288

I agree there is no obvious spine, but he can’t spend the whole league finding his championship team.
He need to make the big calls now and settle on his championship team and spend the league moulding and tweaking it.

I know that sounds very simplistic but sometimes the simplest option is the best option.

windy shepard henderson

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123071755#Comment_123071755

in fairness what happened half of the u20 teams that won munsters and all irelands , the likes of max hackett , peter mcgarry , jack leamey and paddy creadon , there was a lad called landon fairbrother that was a quality minor hurler back before covid where did he go , there is no way tipp could be still in transition with all them players available , in my opinion tipperary came to ennis and won well bit the second time it seemed the younger lads were not getting enough of a look in , seanie ryan showed well for the 15 minutes he got and scored 1-1 but i cant remember any of the other lads getting a look in

challengerbell

Would reserve judgement until competitive games start. Cahill has admitted in an interview that he didn't settle on a team early enough last year and it was a mistake.

As it stands the spine is looking like

Shelly

Connolly

Maher, Kennedy

Connors Morgan

Morris McGrath

Forde

With the likes of O'Mara, O'Connor, Breen and Bowe more experienced guys along side.

Then a host of younger, new lads in and experience in the like of the 2 McGraths off the bench

Competition for places in every line atm. Concern would be the full back line. Need to unearth a good corner back ASAP.

Bowe is starting in FF line atm I think, but I believe he's best in half forwards. But he does bring pace and power and could be deadly up there on hard ground along side Forde who I think has to start at 14 to get anything out of him.

challengerbell

I'd also add that I think Dublin will target the year early this year with a view to securing promotion in the league knowing that relegation from Leinster is a long shot. Many have commented that they are a team of big units this year.

This would suit their development long term, playing 1A hurling next year. They have lost some big names from last year I believe like Eoin O'Donnell switching to the footballers so it is somewhat of a rebuild year for them. New Manager too.

They also bet Limerick last weekend I believe.

I see no reason why Galway, Wexford or Kilkenny will be anywhere further ahead of us at this moment in time. It is most likely us and those 3 vieing to avoid relegation. Although I would not be suprised to see a slow start to the year from Clare. Cork, by the sounds of it are ready to rock already and Limerick you would expect, would pick up enough points, as it seems they have been put down as having 4 home games in the league and only 2 away, with Galway being listed as having only 2 home games.

Anyone know why this is?

thamus doku

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123072355#Comment_123072355

tipp are not in a good place at moment. Last years championship was hard going. I hate being negative but we just lack quality all over the field.

For me it will be a very good year if we can avoid relegation.

challengerbell

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123075126#Comment_123075126

I wouldn't claim to be optimistic this year, and thought we should be starting it with a new manager, but hope to be proven wrong.

What I will say is there's a few teams with us in 1A who also obviously lack quality atm. And I would say more so than us. Wexford and Galway being the obvious 2. Galway also appear to only have 2 home games.

limerickabroad

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123072764#Comment_123072764

The GG wasn't available last spring for Limerick, so Limerick's 'home' games against Tipp and Antrim were moved to Cork/Thurles, and Limerick agreed to travel to Galway, with Galway returning the favour this year - that's why Limerick have 4 home games this year, and Galway only 2 home games

challengerbell

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123076237#Comment_123076237

Thats the one. Thanks.

Considering the change in format, it could prove to be a poor decision by Galway in retrospect, although options at the time were probably limited.

farmerval

Good win yesterday. Very welcome. Newer guys impressed, much less sure about the tactics, but I assume if we turn over the yellow bellies next weekend we'll be safe in division 1a.

Sam O Farrell looks like he always has time on the ball. Great to see Gearoid O Connor back in form.

osullic

It’s hard to know what to make of yesterday. Main positive for me was the willingness to fight for every ball was on full display. All the newcomers impressed and the spine was solid.

Galway were abysmal though and only for the couple of flukey goals would have been a very bad hammering. The pitch in Salthill was a disgrace and it’s lucky we didn't pick up any injuries.

Not sure the tactical approach would be effective against the better teams but certainly greens shoots and always positive to get a win in Salthill!

Tipp Abu

thamus doku

delighted with the win as relegation is a possibility. If we could beat Wexford it would help further.

I agree with Cahill that tipp hurling is not in a good place and we have to be realistic that rebuilding will take time.

I think avoiding relegation and if we are competitive in Munster and that will be a good year. Cork Limerick and Clare are a good bit ahead of us and Waterford will also be hard to beat and so getting out of Munster will be a very good achievement.

YabaDabaDooley

Big win for Thurles today in Harty Cup final against St Flannan's. Three Tipp winners last three years, Cashel, Nenagh and now Thurles CBS.

Tipperary animal lover

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123123597#Comment_123123597

PluS high school clonmel won the B final earlier

YabaDabaDooley

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123123603#Comment_123123603

Caps off a great day 👍

Mantis Toboggan

Great win for the Footballers also with a 2 pointer in the last minute to win it 💪

realdanbreen

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123107033#Comment_123107033

Cahill never said that Tipp hurling is not in a good place! We need to cut out this talk of rebuilding, transition etc and we certainly will not be content with just getting out of Munster!

callaway92

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123128883#Comment_123128883

Agreed. It should never be a case of Tipp being happy to just get out of Munster, even if in reality we probably know where they stand.

thamus doku

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123128883#Comment_123128883

we are where we are. I don’t like it no more than you.
But let’s deal with reality, we are no where near limerick cork and Clare.
And Waterford will be difficult in Munster.
I wish it was not like that now and I do think we have good hurlers coming that will change things but it will take time.

realdanbreen

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123129321#Comment_123129321

Carlow beat Waterford yesterday!

thamus doku

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123129656#Comment_123129656

that’s just Waterford being Waterford.
If tipp are to get out of Munster we need to improve massively on last year.
that means we need new players and specifically forwards who have the speed and physicality to take on Clare cork and Limerick

That’s easier said then done , it is going to take time and money to get tipp back to being a serious contender.

Antics21

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123130089#Comment_123130089

Time yes. Money in part. The strength and conditioning of the minors and 20s looks to be at the level required the last few years.

Our major issue at senior, as far as I can see, is a lack of dog work rate in our forwards. Even yesterday against Wexford we allowed way too much time on the ball for the Wexford defenders. I think Cahill knows this but is hamstrung with the individuals he has at the moment.

There looks to be an improvement in the full backline and midfield in the three games I've seen this year - the road to being competitive lies in that front six.

thamus doku

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123130193#Comment_123130193

there is very good work being done but we are at least 5 years behind the others.
Unfortunately it’s all about the money now, the cost of running a professional youth development programme is considerable never mind the senior team.

money does not guarantee success but if you don’t have it in the first place you are guaranteed to fail.

realdanbreen

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123130316#Comment_123130316

Absolute rubbish! Cork got out of Munster by the skin of their teeth (Waterford blew it in extra time against tipp) and yet contested the all Ireland final. It's this sort of " 5 years behind " nonsense that grigs real tipperary hurling people! Just get out and support the team ,that's where we're lacking, we need supporters actually attending our matches.

challengerbell

Agreed, this 5 year spiel doesnt cut it with me. It takes very little for a team to make that step up and also very little for a team to have a bad year or two.

We have a conveyor belt of Munster and All Ireland winning underage players coming through now. We have won 5 of the last 10 Munster Minor hurling Championships and added 3 All Ireland to our haul in that period.

As well as multiple Harty Cup winners. 3 in a row in that U19 competition now with one of those years having 2 Tipp schools in the final. We also had 6 of the 8 quarter finalists in the Schools B competition this year, with Clonmel Highschool winning the final comfortably. Schools now from Carrick up to Nenagh all competing at the sharp end of competitions.

We have an excellent Tony Forrestal record also.

Even now, the spine of a very good Senior team is there. It will take very little to make that step.

We have 2 good goalies, with Cahill looking like he has finally chosen one in Shelly. A few mishaps, nothing fatal so far, and definetly with the ability to be on a par with all Munster Goalies bar maybe Quaid.

We have the makings of a big, strong mobile, fiery, full back line now also in Connolly, Breen, Corcoran/Doyle.

We have the looks of an excellent half back line also in Maher, Kennedy, with O'Mara, O'Farrell, O'Halloran, McGrath. Morgan can also drop back there, or the full back line. Connolly can play anywhere up to midfield.

Midfield looks to be taking shape also in Connors and Morgan, Tynan has excelled there in the past also and Stakelum has been playing there for UCC in Fitzgibbon I believe. Theres also the ageless Noel.

Half forward also beginning to look strong. Bowe, O'Connor, Tynan, Morris, John/Noel McGrath, with Josh Keller and especially Oisin O'Donoghue look like good prospects.

Full forward line is one we need to make shapes with but young McCarthy looks to have what it takes, hopefully Forde grows into the year, Walsh and Ormond were excellent against Galway, Bowe has been tried there already this year and could be a force on hard ground.

There is a good mix of youth and experience in that squad now, I would hazard a guess that most days we are putting a team out with an average of only 24 or 25 but still with experienced lads in there, probably the youngest team of everyone. But with Noel McGrath 3 All Irelands, John McGrath, Jason Forde, Michael Breen, Seamus Kennedy, Ronan Maher with 2 each and Jake Morris and Willie Connors playing a part in 2019 also. Thats experience and success only outmatched by Limerick and Clare right now.

It will take very little to make the step up to be challenging and the main ones are workrate and cohesion. I think Cahill learning to settle on positions early will help with the cohesion part. Workrate will hopefully follow. I hope they can make that step up this year and will be disappointed if they dont, because I think the talent is there.

The likes of Cork are still turning to Horgan, Harnedy and Lehane who are not getting any better. Still playing lads like Kingston who have failed to produce for years now. Still picking greyhounds with limited hurling in them like O'Connor, injury ravaged players like O'Flynn and hope for different results. They were a stupid Kyle Hayes decision away from being knocked out last year and Pat Ryan would have been out of a Job.

Clare, All Ireland Champs, will probably be starting nine 30+ year olds this year. Quilligan, Cleary, Conlon, McInerney, Malone, Duggan, Kelly, Reidy, and O'Donnell. I remember in 2019 we were called too old with only Bonner Maher at 31, Paudi, Brendan and Seamus at 30. We werent old, we proved it, but 2 or 3 years later we were old.

Limerick will start shedding their old guard year on year from now on. They look to have 3 or 4 really good lads coming through, the only problem is they'll need 7 or 8 over the next 3 years.

Even 1 year from now, Munsters landscape will be very different, never mind 5.

As Paudi O'Shea once said, a grain of rice will tip the scales.

thamus doku

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123130447#Comment_123130447

It is very naive to simply think people showing up is going to change anything on its own

Cahill said himself that support, time and money is what is needed, I agree 100% with that.
And he also said real tipp hurling folk understand that.

Cork since Munster last year have pushed on and are now a serious player. But that did not happen overnight and they have been building since 2022.

It will take time but the CB and those tasked with developing hurling will turn the screw, I am confident we will win an all Ireland this decade.

Mantis Toboggan

Lots of prospects no doubt but not many really putting their hands up at senior level yet. We've had a decent start but tougher games lie ahead.

Big problem for Tipp currently is that Cork, Clare and Limerick are the 3 best teams in the country and to progress out of Munster we have to beat at least one of them.

Long term we do need to get the centre of Excellence setup to the highest standard. Limerick will be a big test on Sunday, we need to start to see some of our younger players stand up and be counted, there's plenty of positions up for grabs so hopefully some of them can make the step up.

challengerbell

Lots of prospects and I would say a few putting their hands up. 13 of the 20 used on Sunday were 25 and under.

Connolly full back, Doyle, O'Farrell, Morgan in midfield, McCarthy, Walsh all putting their hands up so far in my view.

Cork, Clare and Limerick are top right now, whether that lasts the year is questionable. Whether it will be the same next year is even less likely. If 1 of the 3 lost to the other two, they are then in trouble, and it opens a door for us straight away.

Cork play Clare rd 1. and both travel to Limerick.

A Cork win in Clare, we get to go to Ennis (even if we have lost our first two games) with the chance of inflicting terminal damage to their year, leaving them with a trip to Limerick to try and get 4 points and us with a home game against Waterford to also get 4 points and having head to head on them. Average Tipp teams have caused Clare problems in 21 and 23 and even last year. Waterford caused them awful trouble in Ennis last year too and they capitulated there against Limerick. Their spine a year older, their motivation may even be 2% down, it changes a lot. Its a winnable game.

A Clare win, Cork are under serious pressure to get a result against us as they have Limerick in their round 3 game, in Limerick. It wont be the juggernaut of momentum they took off the back of the Limerick win last year. One thing Cork bring to the championship is inconsistency.

A win at home to Limerick Day 1 sets us up for 4 points with a win against Waterford with us just needing Clare or Cork to beat them to have the same points and head to head on them.

I wouldn't rule us out, and even 2 losses from the first 2 games may not be the end of our year once people keep their heads.