Tipp teams keeping mum as training starts

By Shane Brophy

We might be approaching the festive season, but the 2024 GAA inter-county season has begun in earnest. Last Friday, 24th November was the commencement date for collective inter-county training and both Tipperary senior hurling and football managers Liam Cahill and Paul Kelly wasted no time in getting together with both squads gathering at the county training grounds at Dr Morris Park, Thurles.

In terms of the senior hurlers, it was expected that a training panel would be released in advance, as it was the case twelve months ago but Tipperary manager Liam Cahill confirmed that he will not be making a final decision on his senior hurling panel for 2024 until late January, as he intends to give as many players as possible the opportunity to claim a place on the panel for the Allianz Hurling League.

A number of events are planned for the coming weeks that will give Liam and his management team the opportunity to assess players who performed well during the recent club championships.

With the retirements of Seamus Callanan and Niall O’Meara, there will be changes but it is expected the two longest serving players remaining, 2023 captain Noel McGrath and Patrick Maher will be retained.

Of the new faces who have been invited in, they include Kiladangan’s Billy Seymour who had a superb campaign in his clubs run to the county title, with teammates Sean Hayes and Willie Connors also among the rumoured inclusions. Portroe’s Robert Byrne has also been handed a recall, while there is a look to the future with Toomevara’s Darragh McCarthy and Borris-Ileigh’s Paddy McCormack among those drafted in. Mullinahone’s Mikey O’Shea, who had played the last two years with the senior footballers, is also among those under consideration after a fine club campaign.

The Tipperary senior football panel also hasn’t been confirmed, unsurprising considering new manager Paul Kelly was only installed last month with trials currently taking place.

Some members of both Tipperary hurling and football squads will be present at the Dome, Semple Stadium next Sunday for a Santa Dash 6K, sponsored by Thurles Fresh Milk, and Visit Santa event which is a fundraiser to support underage teams ahead of the 2024 season.

There will be cash prizes for race winners plus spot prizes for all participants including: Hotel Break Vouchers, Computer Tablet, A set of jersey’s from O’Neill’s (1st & 2nd prize for GAA club with most entries); Spinning Bike (1st & 2nd prize for GAA club with most entries), as well as vouchers from a number of local businesses.

You can sign up for the 6k and book your spot to visit Santa by going to the Tipperary GAA website.