There’s breeding in these Tipp Minors

By Shane Brophy

When supporters start to learn about the make-up of an underage panel each year, one of the first things they look for, outside of their club, is what family do they come from, and whether there is a hurling tradition in them, and certainly this 2026 Tipperary minor hurling squad have the breeding.

Wing forward Eanna Tucker, of Nenagh Eire Og, is the son of Kevin Tucker who captained Tipperary to a Munster Minor title in 1993 and won an All-Ireland Under 21 with Tipp two years later before going onto play at senior level, including the 1997 Munster Final where he scored four points from play in the defeat to Clare.

On the other wing, Conor Kennedy from Clonoulty/Rossmore is the son of Michael ‘Bonny’ Kennedy who starred for the Tipperary minors in their run to the Munster & All-Ireland titles in 1996, before going onto play at under 21 and senior level for the Premier.

Corner forward Zack O’Keeffe from Holycross/Ballycahill is the great-grandson of eight-time All-Ireland senior medal winning defender John Doyle who himself won an All-Ireland minor medal in 1947.

In the other corner will likely be KJ Dunne who is the son of Ken Dunne who won 11 county senior hurling titles with Toomevara and also lined out in the blue & gold at all levels.

KJ is also a second cousin of full-back Daniel Groome from Borris-Ileigh who is a nephew of Tipperary All-Ireland winning full-back from 2001, Philip Maher.

Semi-final man of the match Chris Dunne from Gortnahoe/Glengoole, is the son of the same name, who played minor for Tipperary in the late nineties.

Elsewhere on the panel, John O’Meara from CJ Kickhams Mullinahone is the son of 2001 All-Ireland senior winner Brian, while Killenaule’s Owen Fanning is the son of 2010 All-Ireland winner Declan. Kiladangan’s Ruairi Hackett is the son of Dan Hackett who lined out for Tipperary in both hurling and football.