O’Gorman enthused for Tipp’s U20s Footballers in 2027

By Stephen Barry

Paddy O’Gorman believes the Tipperary Under 20s have laid the foundations for a big year in 2027 after losing on penalties to Sligo in the All-Ireland ‘B’ semi-final.

“We saved our best display for this game,” he said.

“We have something to look forward to going into next year. There's a bit of confidence there now.

“There's 24 or 25 of them lads underage next year and a few lads that couldn't commit this year because of the Leaving Cert that will be there. We'll have a great panel next year.

“It would have been great to be in a final, but they can be very proud.”

Dylan Cotter, Liam Freaney, and Emmet Bonner have been in with Niall Fitzgerald’s senior panel, although Bonner did his hamstring in training.

“That's our job at the end of the day, to get as many of them playing senior football for Niall. I guarantee you, more of them boys will be playing senior football for Tipp,” O’Gorman added.

Tipp conceded a first-minute goal for the second successive game, but recovered well to match a Sligo side that had lost by two points to Mayo and one against Galway.

“It's not losing on penalties, it's a lottery when you get to penalties, so I'm very proud of all the lads that stood up and actually had the guts to take one, because it's very hard taking them under pressure,” said O’Gorman.

“You wouldn't practice them because you never think it's going to go that far. Maybe it's something we could do next year, but we were confident the lads would step up there.

“Some of them play a bit of soccer, so that's what we went for. We asked them who wanted to take one, and those boys put their names forward. We were happy with that.

“It’s hard on Charlie (Walsh) missing it, but Charlie's kept us in games all year long. He's been a super player.”