Philip Austin prepares to shoot. Photograph: Bridget Delaney

Mayo’s travelling hoards for Thurles

For the first time in twenty years, the Tipperary senior footballers remain in the championship later than the hurlers.

In 1998, Tipperary were knockout out of the Munster hurling championship by Waterford in mid June while the senior footballers went all the way to the provincial final in July, losing to Kerry at Semple Stadium.

However, Tipp’s hopes of kicking football into July will be severely tested after being drawn against 2016 & 2017 All Ireland runners-up Mayo in the second round of the All Ireland Football qualifiers on Saturday 23rd June at Semple Stadium, Thurles.

On that date, Tipperary would have planned to be hosting Kerry in a Munster final but the disappointing provincial semi-final performance and defeat to Cork put paid to that dream and now instead are hosting another footballing giant in Mayo for a repeat of the 2016 All Ireland semi-final which Stephen Rochford’s charges won 2-13 to 0-14.

 

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