Big week for Tipp underage football
CLARE v TIPPERARY
Cusack Park, Ennis
Wednesday 25th April
Throw-in @ 6.30pm (E.T.)
Referee: Eddie Walsh (Kerry)
The Tipperary minor football management have made a raft of switches ahead of this evenings Munster Minor Football Championship playoff with Clare in Ennis.
There are only two changes from the sides which lost heavily to Cork in round 1 two weeks ago with Darragh Bolger and Adam McGrath coming into the side for Eanna McBride and Darragh Tynan.
However there are positional switches all over the field with joint-captain Jake Flannery moving from midfield to full back in a direct swap with Stephen Grogan while Diarmuid Mulcahy moves from wing forward to corner back while Conall Kennedy switches from wing back to full forward.
Tipperary face a Clare side who lost their first round game to Kerry but rebounded last week to beat Waterford 5-11 to 0-6 in the first playoff in Ennis.
It will be a tough ask for Tipperary who will have to produce a marked improvement if they are to get out of Ennis with a win, but also to create a little momentum going into the semi-finals.
Tipperary team v Clare: Jack Dolan (Fethard), Jack Harney (Moyle Rovers, J-Capt), Jake Flannery (Galtee Rovers, J-Capt), Diarmuid Mulcahy (Moyle Rovers), Darragh Bolger (Moyle Rovers), Paul Devlin (Éire Óg Annacarty), John Ryan (Boherlahan-Dualla); Stephen Grogan (Cahir), Shane Ryan (Galtee Rovers), Ríain Quigley (Moyle Rovers), Ryan Lambe (Clonmel Commercials), Calvin Boland (Clonmel Commercials); Adam McGrath (Galtee Rovers), Conall Kennedy (Clonmel Commercials), Mark Stokes (Kilsheelan-Kilcash).
Subs: Eoin Power (Clerihan), Eanna McBride (JK Brackens), Darragh O'Leary (Ardfinnan), Conor Ryan (Loughmore-Castleiney), Liam Cleary (Borrisokane), Cavan Mc Kenna (Cahir), Manus McFadden (Grangemockler-Ballyneale), Darragh Tynan (Inane Rovers), Cian O'Sullivan (Clonmel Óg).
Extended panel; Jamie Grant (Newcastle), Aaron O'Neill (Newport), Aidan Keane (Carrick Swan) and Ian Holloway (Carrick Swan).
Attention then switches to the Under 17's who face the daunting task of heading to Tralee next Tuesday, 2nd May to face Kerry in the Munster semi-final of the competition. Tipperary defeated Clare 0-14 to 0-10 in the quarter final earlier this month, also under the guidance of manager Matt O'Doherty (Arravale Rovers), coach-selectors David Power (Kilsheelan-Kilcash) & Mick O’Sullivan (Drom & Inch); selectors Johnny Nevin (JK Bracken's), Donal Hayes (Upperchurch-Drombane) and Jason Coffey (Ardfinnan) Strength and Conditioning Coach.
Eight of that side have featured for the minors so far meaning they have gotten plenty of game time under their belts with which to get ready for a Kerry side whose underage conveyor belt has been producing great quality in recent years. The Tipperary team will be confirmed over the weekend.
KERRY v TIPPERARY
Austin Stack Park, Tralee
Tuesday, 2nd May
Throw-in @ 7.00pm
Referee: Alan Long (Cork)