Minor Hurlers keen to maintain momentum ahead of final

By Shane Brophy

24 hours after their under 20 hurling counterparts defeated Limerick at the TUS Gaelic Grounds to book their place in a Munster final, the Tipperary minor hurlers did likewise on Thursday evening.

To do so with one game still to play against Waterford this Friday evening is credit to the players and management to emerge from the bearpit of the Munster Championship with a perfect record so far.

Manager James Woodlock admitted this year’s schedule helped a little with Tipp starting with two home games, which yielded wins over Clare and Cork, and provided a confident platform for his side to go on the road to play a Limerick side that had beaten Clare more comfortably than the Premier did.

“The draw suited us, we got two at home and got to settle in and we got two dry evenings at home and the hurling was good,” he began.

“Tonight, it was all about eking out the result, and we did that. Conditions weren’t great, and it was a dogfight, but the boys battled really hard, and we got the important scores when we needed them, we got the goals when we needed them.”

It was a win for the panel with top scorer Chris Dunne and scoring forward Zac O’Keeffe both ruled out with Kiladangan’s Rian McGrath and Newport’s Ollie Roche, assuming the free-taking duties, getting their first starts of the campaign.

“The entire panel were tested,” added the Tipp manager.

“Ollie (Roche) started tonight and so did Rian (McGrath) late on and the produced the goods. Everyone that came off the bench, seen the game home, they finished it out for us.”

He continued: “We wanted to start strong and we went after it. We lent on Limerick being beaten here already and we were coming in with two wins so we felt we have loads of confidence coming in and want to go after it early, and we did. We took our foot slightly off the pedal then

“Limerick only had two shots at goal in the first half from play, were just living off frees, and they got a lot throughout the whole game.

“That’s the way it goes, Limerick are a good team, it’s Munster championship hurling, no matter what grade you play, it's very difficult for come out with a win, so you'd be pleased with to win, disappointed with the performance.

“You’d be happy with the backs at the end, they were disciplined, stuck to their task when the conditions were difficult, and obviously pressure comes when you are a couple of points up and then it slips on you and Limerick are doing all the chasing; they had to go after the win but the boys fought it out really well and got to result.”

The win affords Tipperary a little breathing room when they line up against Waterford this Friday evening but with the Munster Final on the following Friday, Tipp won’t be easing up.

“It’s a difficult three weeks, tonight, next week and then you have to go again in a Munster final a week after,” said pointedly.

“Every game we go out to play be it challenge matches or championship matches; we want to win them. We just want to stay winning.

“The Waterford game coming up, we have a brilliant relationship with the Celtic Challenge and the county 16’s, so we have boys is our dressing room that will go and play with the county 16’s on Saturday, others will go and play the Celtic Challenge to make sure they are up to speed.

“You saw our panel was needed tonight, more so than ever, and that's just the way it is. We have to keep lads developing all the time, no matter where they stand on the panel and that is what the grade is about and pushing them on and I feel we are doing that.”