Tipp and Limerick go again for the All-Ireland marbles

GAA: Electric Ireland All-Ireland Minor Hurling Championship Final Preview

By Shane Brophy

TIPPERARY v LIMERICK

TUS Gaelic Grounds, Limerick

Saturday, 27th June

Throw-in @ 3.00pm (E.T.)

Referee: Caymon Flynn (Westmeath)

Tipperary go in search of a record 23rd All-Ireland Minor Hurling title when they head into the Lions den to face Limerick in the decider this Saturday afternoon.

A bumper crowd is expected at the Ennis Road venue with Tipperary supporters set to cross the border on mass to back their team whose brand of hurling has enthused the county.

In the other corner is a Limerick side that have improved game on game and will be driven and confident of beating Tipperary at the third time of asking in this campaign and winning a first All-Ireland in the grade for the Shannonsiders since 1984, and a fourth in all.

Home advantage, granted by Tipperary, shouldn’t be too much of a factor as Limerick lost both their games in the Munster round-robin at the Gaelic Grounds to Waterford and Tipperary, while the Premier County has played twice there in this campaign, including the semi-final victory over Cork two weeks ago.

There is no doubt that the two best teams in the grade are left standing in the final. When the sides met in the group stage in Munster on April 30th last, Tipp won 2-13 to 0-16, holding Limerick to just five points from play. However, the Shannonsiders have improved massively since then, their subsequent win away to Cork instilling them with confidence and booking a place in the Munster Final against Tipp.

Tipp won 3-14 to 0-16 at FBD Semple Stadium on May 15th but it was a real struggle. They got the breaks too in the form of Limerick keeper Sam Collins dropping the ball into his own net early on while Limerick also had a second half goal ruled out for a square ball.

The development element of this championship structure allowing more teams play longer into the summer has certainly benefitted Limerick who bounced back from the provincial final loss with a win over Clare in the All-Ireland quarter final before emphatically disposing of Leinster champions Galway in the semi-final.

Their style of play is similar to their seniors, confident on the ball with plenty of movement, with midfielder Xavier Nelligan and centre forward almost Adam English and Cian Lynch-esque in the way they play the game.

The difficultly Tipperary had with Limerick in both meetings so far was the intensity they brought to the middle third, something which James Woodlock and his management referred to following the Munster Final. It is likely to have been a lot of their focus on the build-up to the final to steel the team in terms of winning those battles for possession, an area Tipp also had issues in against Cork in the semi-final.

This game will be a real contrast in styles; Limerick very much about working the ball through the lines before playing quality ball into their forwards whereas Tipp favour the direct approach, although not overly so. It is certainly a risk-reward strategy as you risk losing possession more in attack if the delivery is aimless or if the breaks don’t fall your way, however, if they do this is where this Tipp team comes into its own, scoring nineteen goals in six games so far, as their first sense if they have the defence on the turn is to go in on goal.

As much as Tipp will be planning for Limerick is as much as what the Limerick brains-trust will have for the Premier, and what they plan to do to stifle their ability to get goals which was the decisive factor in their two meetings so far.

Another plus for Tipperary is the consistency of their team so far which is the same that started in round 1 against Clare, apart from the final round-robin game against Waterford when they were already qualified for the Munster Final, making seven changes, but the manner of that win highlighted the strength in depth Tipp have.

Goalkeeper Eoin Connolly is very assured between the posts and doesn’t look to force risky puckouts. Daniel Groome is a physical presence at full-back with corner-backs Colm Ryan and skipper Conor Collins hugely impressive in the campaign both in terms of distributing the ball and in their defensive duties and will have key battles with Rian Horgan and Eamon O’Sullivan.

The Tipp half-back line is physically imposing in Oisin Kennedy, James Finn, and Travis McLoughlin although they can tend to take on too many shots, particularly when have so many potent forwards to get the ball into.

Shane Ryan and Hugh Healy have been workhorses in the middle of the field and their battle with Nelligan and Jack Roche could go along way to deciding the outcome, with Healy possibly getting a man-marking role on Nelligan.

Conor Kennedy has really come to the fore in the last two games, particularly dropping deep to support his midfield and get on the ball. On the other wing, Eanna Tucker plays a more attacking role and should be full of confidence after his 1-4 contribution in the semi-final.

Chris Dunne and Conall Morrisson will likely rotate between centre and full forward with both bringing the full package of ball-winners as well as scorers with Dunne the top-scorer in the championship so far while Morrisson is the leading sharp-shooter from play with 2-21 in just five games played.

Inside, Zack O’Keeffe has a finishers mentality in terms of goals, many set up by KJ Dunne, who is electric when he gets his hands on the ball.

Tipperary will also have a strong bench to call on with Ciaran Gantley, Rian McGrath, Josh Moroney, John O’Meara, and Sean Burke having contributed when sent into the fray and with a tight contest expected, one of them may well be the hero to get Tipp over the line.

Some still lament the minor final not being still part of All-Ireland senior final day at Croke Park but arguably they are better occasions now, being centre-stage rather than being the curtain-raiser to the senior show. The crowds that have gone to the minor finals in Kilkenny and Thurles in recent years are proof of this, particularly as they are more family friendly in terms of location and cost.

Something in the region of 15,000 men, women and children are expected at the TUS Gaelic Grounds on Saturday afternoon for what should be a terrific contest.

Beating the same team three times in the one campaign is going to be a challenge for Tipp as Limerick get more used to how they like to operate but the Shannonsiders also have a little added pressure of being at home, plus looking to end a 42 year wait for minor glory.

Tipp manager James Woodlock has been there and done it, and has challenged his players once again, like in 2024 against Kilkenny, to go onto the backyard of their opponents in the All-Ireland Final.

It should ensure Tipperary are focused for the significant challenge ahead of them, but they have shown on route to the final they have the ability and quality to complete the perfect campaign by winning the Irish Press Cup.