Maher to skipper Tipp as Cats come calling

By Shane Brophy

TIPPERARY v KILKENNY

FBD Semple Stadium

Sunday 13th February

Throw-in @ 3.45pm

Referee: Liam Gordon (Galway)

Ronan Maher will captain the senior hurlers for the coming year.

In the week his elder brother Padraic was forced to retire from the game through injury, the 28-year-old will become the latest Thurles Sarsfields clubman is skipping the Premier County, join his sibling who captained Tipp in 2017 and 2018.

“We let the players choose, and he was overwhelmingly voted in as captain,” revealed manager Colm Bonnar in making the announcement following the win over Laois on Saturday night, where Maher made a brief cameo from the bench.

“It was done by secret ballot. No one knew who was voting for who, but he was the huge clear-cut winner so we couldn’t go against the players as they have a lot of say in terms of what we are doing here, they have to drive it and bring this team where they can bring it. We can do so much for them, but it is really their choice as to where they want to bring it.”

Maher only re-joined the Tipperary panel in late January after an extended break following Thurles Sarsfields run in the county championship to the end of November, the same for the Loughmore/Castleiney contingent, none of whom played on Saturday night, while Seamus Callanan only got a few minutes late on.

They could well see more time next Sunday as they latest instalment of the Tipperary v Kilkenny will take place, and with the cats without their Ballyhale contingent who will be in All-Ireland Club final action the day before, there is a great opportunity for Colm Bonnar’s men to secure their second win before a two-week break to round three.