Woodlock is relishing Tipp Minors title defence

GAA: Electric Ireland All-Ireland Minor Hurling Championship Preview

By Liam Hogan

CLARE v TIPPERARY

Shannon

Tuesday, 21st March

Throw-in @ 7.00pm

Referee: David Deady (Limerick)

It’s only March but Tipperary set off in defence of their Munster & All-Ireland Minor Hurling crowns when they travel to Clare next Tuesday evening.

Manager James Woodlock is going into his third year in charge and he says it will be more of the same in terms of preparing his team, no matter what time of the year.

This encounter will send shivers down the spine following the teams incredible Munster final meeting last year when Tipperary came from behind to force a draw before winning the penalty shootout at the Gaelic Grounds.

Tipp’s defence could not come at a better time in a period when second level schools competitions have drawn to a close with Tipperary schools very much mix in terms of chasing honours with many players up to speed.

“The minute the All-Ireland final was over it was done and dusted as far as I was concerned,” admitted James Woodlock.

“We can’t go back but we can go forward. There is no pressure, I don’t do pressure. I am looking forward to making sure we are well organised and well prepared.”

The Drom & Inch clubman says that four of the first twenty-four from last year’s All-Ireland squad are available, including new captain Jamie Ormond, Sam Rowan, Evan Morris and Robbie Ryan, with another five from the extended panel in Shane Buckley, Darragh Linnane, Keith Loughnane, Oisin O’Donoghue and goalkeeper Harry Loughnane.

Woodlock acknowledges that his side is facing a Clare team that will be anxious to get one back on Tipp especially the manner in which they lost last year’s Munster final.

“I am sure they will be ready to get back at us,” Woodlock said.

“I remember the first game last year when we took on Waterford in Fraher Field and we were seven points down and only fifteen minutes on the clock. It didn’t look rosy for us, but we turned it around.

“We have a huge amount of work gone in on this team. The players have put in a massive shift. It’s going to be a strong start especially going away but that’s the cut and trust of Munster minor championship hurling. We have great belief in the team.

“It will be a huge learning curve. The championship is different in that it is a round robin basis and it’s also played off in a couple of weeks earlier. There will be no pressure but huge expectation, but we will have to perform really well.”

With Kerry having opted out of Munster, the minor championship will be run off in the same round-robin format as the senior championship and in the same sequence of game with Tipperary starting out away to Clare and Cork, before finishing with home games against Limerick and Waterford. The top team after the round-robin will go straight to the Munster final with the second and third placed teams playing in a semi-final.

So, how does the Tipperary manager compare this year’s panel to last year’s?

“You have to understand that last year’s players were of a very high calibre,” Woodlock said.

“They were exceptional players. It showed last year, and we have the same this year. There is no question we are happy with what we have. Any given day a player can be stopped but we expect some other player to step up to the plate.”

Then again Tipperary hurling is in happy space with three schools reaching the semi-finals of the Harty Cup and Nenagh CBS unlucky not to make the penultimate stage.

“There is a lot of talent out there,” Woodlock added.

“Two schools reached the Harty Cup final and contested the Croke Cup. Last year we won the Arrabawn ‘B’ final and of course Tipp won the Irish Press Cup in 2022. It augers well for the food chain. It’s about development and getting them ready for senior hurling.”

He added: “With the success that came last year everyone wants to be associated with it. We have a bundle of players who are playing well with their schools. That’s a good thing but unfortunately we can only play fifteen. We have the panel and we are happy with the competition and we are happy with the talent coming up.”

It’s a difficult start for Tipp with away games against Clare and Cork but Woodlock is relishing the challenge.

“No, it doesn’t matter. We have to win the game. Look I am only thinking about the first game. It’s going to be game by game,” he concluded.