Christie not getting carried away ahead of semi-final

By Shane Brophy

Tipperary manager Paddy Christie was undeniably pleased that his charges had ended a six-year losing run in the under 20/21 grade against Limerick in the Munster quarter final, however, he was keen to temper the acclaim too much with a semi-final around the corner.

“In a general sense it is a fantastic performance, in light of the last five years. It was 2015 since Tipperary last won an under 20-21 match and that is too long,” he said.

“We started with very modest ambitions, we said we would try and beat Limerick by a point, and we beat them by three and that is where we are.”

There were a few nervy moments towards the end as Tipperary sat back on their lead which was as large as eight points at one stage and that sloppy conclusion took the shine off the win for Christie, but it gives him and his management team a focus ahead of the semi-final.

“From the tenth to the 55th minute, that is as good a football as I would have seen the lads play,” Christie added.

“Hopefully we can produce that again against Waterford. In that time, the workrate and the basic skills were very good.

“All you can do is try and hope they will make good decisions on the pitch without your help as I can’t run along beside them. That is a reflection of a fella becoming a mature senior footballer and that is what we hope we are beginning to produce.

“What I liked was we were dangerous up front, it’s an awful pity Sean O’Connor’s shot didn’t go in as it would have killed the game and would have given up the opportunity to relax a little, but that tension was always there.”

“I can excuse the first ten minutes because there are nerves, it is a big stadium, it’s daunting for fellas but the last five minutes we have got to nail that game and we didn’t and we have got to learn from that.”

With Waterford having upset Clare in the other quarter final last Wednesday, the clash with the Deise will be seen as a great opportunity for Tipperary to reach a Munster Final, but the Tipp manager isn’t for putting the cart before the horse and that Waterford won’t be taken for granted.

“Our next ambition is to beat Waterford by one point and that is where we are,” he said.

“Waterford here on Thursday will be a massive challenge and they’ll be on a massive high after beating Clare, and Clare were rated.

“Some people might be looking at a Munster Final, but I am not. Waterford will be thinking that this is a chance for them to reach a Munster Final so you have got two teams matched up evenly and it will come down to a break of a ball.

“When we start beating Limerick, Waterford and Clare consistently then we can start thinking about Munster Finals but at the moment we are very much small fry in the scheme of things, and we have to know our place. We are going to have to work very hard.”

TIPPERARY v WATERFORD

Semple Stadium

Thursday 15th July

Throw-in @ 7.30pm (E.T. & Pens)

Referee: John Ryan (Cork)

Ahead of this Thursday evenings Munster Under 20 Football Championship Semi Final against Waterford, Tipperary Manager Paddy Christie has named his team. Having overcome a fancied Limerick side in last week's Quarter Final the manager has kept faith with the same starting 15 for the visit of "The Deise" to Semple Stadium this Thursday.

The game will throw in at 7.30pm and the team in full is:

1 (GK) Callan Scully Nenagh Eire Og

2 Sean Daly Grangemockler Ballyneale

3 Tadhg Condon Clonmel Commercials

4 Brian McKeown Moyle Rovers

5 Emmet Butler Kilsheelan Kilcash

6 Billy O Connor Kilsheelan Kilcash

7 Leon Kennedy Grangemockler Ballyneale

8 Cathal Deeley Clonmel Commercials

9 Kevin Grogan Cahir

10 Conor Cadell JK Brackens

11 Ryan Walsh Fethard

12 Jamie Holloway Carrick Swans

13 Mark O Connor Clonmel Commercials

14 Barry Kehoe Kilsheelan Kilcash

15 Sean O'Connor Clonmel Commercials

16 Cian O'Mahony Ardfinnan

17 Ben Comerford Grangemockler/Ballyneale

18 Jamie Duncan Knockavilla-Donaskeigh Kickhams

19 Christy English Ballyporeen

20 Jake Kiely Cahir

21 Mikey Lyons Grangemockler/Ballyneale

22 Jason Madigan Kilsheelan/Kilcash

23 Conor McGrath Loughmore-Castleiney

24 Matthew Power Ballina