Munster business done for the Minors…now for the All-Ireland challenge

By Stephen Barry

For James Woodlock and his group of players, winning a Munster title on home turf was extra sweet.

Tipperary and Limerick agreed to a coin toss for home advantage, with FBD Semple Stadium coming out on top.

It was the opposite scenario of the 2024 All-Ireland final, where Tipp had to travel away to Kilkenny. Both games finished with the same outcome.

“We've won two in the Gaelic Grounds. It's nice to come to Semple Stadium and win at home,” said Woodlock of his third Munster title as minor manager in five years.

“That brings added pressure as well. We went for the toss for Nowlan Park and lost and went down there; we got the business done. It's just about getting the business done.”

Despite leading 2-6 to 0-8, the group felt “really disappointed” at half-time with their first half performance.

“The message was that Limerick had thrown everything at us and we had thrown very little at them,” added Woodlock.

“They had asked an awful lot of questions and we had failed to answer them. The standards that we hold for the group, the intensity we want to play at, and the correct decisions… An attacking team that makes good decisions is what we build ourselves on. I didn't think we took good decisions in the first half. In the second half, it was about doing that.”

Woodlock feels that developing players and winning championships can go hand in hand. He points to the previous Wednesday’s Munster U20 final. Eighteen of the 24-strong matchday panel possessed All-Ireland minor medals.

“Now, that's development. Winning helps. It breeds it,” said Woodlock.

“I’m really disappointed they didn't get over the line the other night, but there is huge talent, huge experience in that group, albeit playing a different game than we'd have played at minor.

“Ultimately, that's our job, to push them up the ladder. The boys here will have a huge amount to offer to Tipperary in the years to come.”

Adding an All-Ireland title is Woodlock's next aim as they progress to an All-Ireland semi-final next month.

“We've five games played and we've 28 players used in championship hurling, and that's development. You've got a Munster Championship out of it, so it's all positive,” he added.

“But that championship is over. The door opens for another championship with two games in it for us. We'll go after that now again.”

In his sixth year, Woodlock finds the job as enjoyable as ever.

“It's my drug. I enjoy it. I love to see young players coming in, to see the player they are, and what we can churn out in seven or eight months of coaching and proper development.

“We're all Tipperary men at the end of the day. The drought we went through from 2019 to 2025, I wouldn't like to see that happen again. We're bringing players through now that can really push on.”