Big 48 hours for Tipp teams in Thurles
Could Tipperary's summer have turned the corner?
The cloud that hung over the county last week was lightened a little last Sunday as the county's minor hurlers booked a place in the Munster minor hurling final.
And now the under 21 hurlers and senior footballers look to lift the mood another bit at Semple Stadium in the space of 48 hours later this week.
The county's hurling supporters are guaranteed some July action as the minors got the favour they needed to reach the Munster Final. Cork's win over Waterford in Thurles last Sunday proved to be the result they needed to progress, although there were some hairy moments when Cork's winning margin looked to be threatening Tipperary's score difference advantage.
However, the fifteen point margin wasn't enough and coupled with Limerick's last gasp win over Clare in Ennis, it is the Shannonsiders who progress along with Tipperary into the final on Sunday 1st July, with Tommy Dunne's charges also benefitting from home comforts as the game has been confirmed as the curtain-raiser for the senior final between Cork and Clare at Semple Stadium.
Limerick defeated Tipperary in the opening round on Mayo 20th last at the Gaelic Grounds, with a late scoring burst to win 1-17 to 2-12 so Tipperary won't be short of motivation.
Tipp's progress to the semi-final means they are also guaranteed a minimum of two, and possibly three more championship games.
If they win the Munster Final, they will go straight to the All Ireland semi-final on Sunday 29th July. However, a loss would see them into a quarter final round-robin along with Galway, and the Leinster runners-up, with the top two teams then joining the provincial winners in to the All Ireland semi-finals, so there is still a lot to play for.
While Tommy Dunne's charges are potential players of the future, those of the immediate kind will have much focus on them this Thursday evening as Tipperary face Limerick in a Munster Under 21 hurling semi-final.
Arguably, this game is bigger than a Munster final as due to a tweak to the format, both the provincial finalists progress to the All Ireland semi-finals so a win would be a huge benefit to Tipperary's hopes of winning a first Munster and All Ireland title since 2010, but also in terms of generating confidence in Tipperary hurling that there is young talent there to re-energise the senior squad next year.
“Definitely, it is important we put some enthusiasm back into Tipperary hurling as a result of the last few weeks,” said manager Liam Cahill who is relishing the importance of the game for the county as a whole.
“I have had them at minor, and it’s a step up again to 21 and they are really on the final furlong to being able to see if they are able to step up to senior hurling or not. So what bigger and better test than Limerick where under 21 hurling is flying at the moment, to test whether you are up to it or not and we have to find out these things.
“We need to have options as well as replacement of bodies on the senior team in time and that’s the whole objective of what we are about,” he said.
Those words from Liam Cahill are likely to ensure a big home support at Semple Stadium, as there will be on Saturday evening when Mayo come to Thurles for the tie of the round in the All Ireland Senior Football Championship round 2 Qualifiers.
Tipp would have been hoping to have been hosting a Munster final against Kerry on the same evening, but instead it is Mayo and their mass ranks of supporters who descend on Semple Stadium, with a crowd of around 15-20,000 people expected, with fine weather already forecast.
“It's the glamour draw,” said Tipp manager Liam Kearns.
“Mayo supporters are the best in the country. They'll bring 10-12,000 to Thurles without doubt. They bring colour and atmosphere everywhere they go.
“The Mayo team, outside of your own county, is everybody's second team and would love to see them and their supporters rewarded with an All Ireland.
“It's the tie of the round, Sky are covering it on television.
“As a player if you don't want to be involved in these matches, why do you train and play? Tipperary footballers many times have played in front of 200 people and getting a couple of lines in a match report, these are heady days for Tipperary football and we have got to make the most of it,” he said.