Tipp set for Croke Park on the double

By Shane Brophy

Between 2008 and 2019, Tipperary supporters more than paid their fair share for the upkeep of the M7 & M8 through the toll booths, and after six years they can do so again as the Tipperary senior hurlers are back in an All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship semi-final.

Tipperary ended a three-game losing run to Galway, and in quarter finals, on Saturday evening, progressing to the semi-finals where it is Kilkenny, and not Cork, providing the opposition following Limerick’s shock defeat to the Dubs.

It means a Sunday semi-final for Tipperary against the old rivals on July 6th, and it could be on the double, as if Tipperary’s senior camogie team avoid defeat to Clare next Saturday and finish second in their group going into the quarter finals, it will be against Kilkenny in Croke Park as a curtain-raiser to the senior hurling semi-final.

Tickets went on sale on Monday, with Tipperary GAA revealing they won’t be issuing an allocation through the clubs as a crowd of around 50,000 is expected in the 82,300 capacity venue, with a full house likely for the first semi-final between Cork and Dublin the day before.

Stand tickets are priced at €60, €5 more than last year. The same €5 increase applies to discounted student and old age pensioner stand tickets, which are now €55 for the Cusack and Davin Stands. Admission to Hill 16 remains €40 as was the case last year. Entry for a juvenile (U16s) for the Cusack and Davin Stands is €10.

Tipperary senior hurling manager Liam Cahill is welcoming the return to Croke Park for the first time in six years but knows Kilkenny’s experience of playing at this stage is advantage to them.

“It'll be a big challenge in two weeks' time to go to Croke Park with a group of players that a high percentage of them won't have played there,” he said following their quarter final win.

“That will probably more than likely hand us the tag of being real underdogs, to be fair, and rightly so.

“It's a new experience for a high percentage of our players, but it's one that we'll relish and it's one that we have to go through as we try to progress.

He added: “Look, there'll be no margin for error up there in that place. It's unforgiving up there, isn't it?

“Kilkenny know that place like the back of their hand, they're playing day in, day out in it.

“Look, we won't use that as an excuse, obviously, we're not, but we have to highlight that it is a concern.

“As I said, it's part of our journey with this group of players. They'll relish it as best they can, and we'll go up and have a good go off of it. As I said, we will be underdogs, understandably so.

“But, having said that, when you take the field in a Tipperary jersey, you always like to think you have a chance. So, we'll give it everything we've got in two weeks' time and see where it takes us.”

Tipperary looked to harness the feelgood factor within the county by holding an Open Training session at FBD Semple Stadium last evening (Tuesday) before turning their full focus on preparing for the Kilkenny clash.

“It's an exciting time in Tipperary,” Cahill added.

“It’s brilliant to see the huge volume of Tipperary supporters on the field, boys and girls there.

“It does your heart good really to see it and it's something that I've always longed to see happening under my own watch here with this group of players.

“Please God it will continue in two weeks' time with more green shoots, hopefully.”

Continued on pages 68-71.