Tipp Senior Footballers finally get the chance to make their response in Tailteann Cup

The Tipperary team to face Antrim shows two changes from the defeat to Waterford five weeks ago with Tadhg Condon, Jack Kennedy (JK Brackens) and Darragh Brennan in line for first championship starts, while captain Steven O'Brien and Sean O'Connor return from injury to take their places on the subs bench.

By Shane Brophy

ANTRIM v TIPPERARY

Corrigan Park, Belfast

Sunday, 12th May

Throw-in @ 2.30pm.

Referee: Kieran Eannetta (Tyrone)

Unlike their senior hurling counterparts who had six days to try and right the wrongs of a poor championship defeat, the Tipperary senior footballers will have had to stew for five weeks by the time they return to competitive action again when they take on Antrim in the opening round of the Tailteann Cup this Sunday.

April 8th last was a low point for senior football in the county for quite some time when they were defeated by Waterford in the Munster quarter final, heading into a lengthy wait where things can go one of two ways, but the Tipperary players redoubled their efforts according to manager Paul Kelly.

“Obviously, it was a disappointing result against Waterford, particularly the second half performance,” he began.

“We intended to give the lads ten days or so off, but in fairness they wanted to get back in sooner and to be fair to the guys it shows the dedication and focus they have been giving all year, so in that context it has been business as usual.”

He added: “We have been conscious of a lot of lads doing exams and things like that, plus trying to get lads back and get them some game time, while keeping them fresh because at the other side of it when you had no game to plan for in the immediate future, it is important to keep lads fresh as you can, so we have played a few challenges and trained away.”

A result such of that and players not having a game in the immediate future can lead to some excited by the lure of the United States and opting out of the Tailteann Cup but Paul Kelly says the panel have remained pretty similar, bar a couple of players stepping away for the moment to concentrate on college exams.

“The group have remained very focused over the last few weeks. One or two lads have for reasons of study have pulled away for now, but the core of the group is still there and focused,” Kelly said.

“The year has seen a significant number of new chaps coming into the group, some that would have very limited experience playing inter-county underage or played a little bit but not regularly.

“It has also been a year where that core group of senior players, a number have had ongoing injuries. We obviously got to see Conor (Sweeney) return for a few minutes against Waterford, and hopefully, if it is not this week, definitely games 2 & 3 we might have some more guys back.”

Tipperary have been drawn in group 2 for the third edition of the Tailteann Cup along with Sligo, Wexford, and Antrim whom they start away to this Sunday in Belfast.

“At this level of football there is no easy draw,” admitted the Tipperary manager.

“We have Sligo who have been in good form over the league season and put in a fantastic performance against Galway in the championship. Under their management over the last four or five years have been building from the underage with good under 20 performances. I got to see them a couple of times last year with Wicklow and they are a fine team.

“Wexford have had a good year, significantly building on last season. They were arguably the unluckiest team in division 4, barring a questionable penalty against Leitrim, they would have been the ones to be promoted. They gave Louth a reasonable rattle in the championship for a period before succumbing to a few goals, and we have seen what Louth have gone onto.

“Antrim are a very physical, big, strong, athletic team and any day you have to go up to Corrigan Park is going to be a big challenge.”

The Tipperary team to face Antrim shows two changes from the defeat to Waterford five weeks ago with Tadhg Condon, Jack Kennedy (JK Brackens) and Darragh Brennan in line for first championship starts, while captain Steven O'Brien and Sean O'Connor return from injury to take their places on the subs bench.