Tipp Master Hurlers bidding for three-in-a-row against Galway

GAA: Gaelic Masters Association All-Ireland Hurling Final Preview

By Noel Dundon

TIPPERARY v GALWAY

Kenny Park, Athenry

Saturday, 25th July

Throw-in @ 3.30pm

Tipperary are looking to make it three All-Ireland Masters Hurling titles in-a-row when they take on Galway next Saturday afternoon in what is being billed as a must-see game.

The Tipp lads have already beaten their hosts by a tight two-point margin in the round-robin section of the championship and the expectation is that the final will be even tighter, with Tipp set to be without Paul Curran who will be playing with his club CJ Kickhams Mullinahone in the county senior hurling championship - attempts to avoid clashes with the games have unfortunately failed according to Tipperary manager Ger 'Redser' O'Grady.

"Yeah, it's a pity that this is the case but there is nothing we can do about it at this stage,” said the former Tipperary senior hurling captain.

“Paul has been one of our main players and the fact that he is still playing senior club hurling will tell you how fit he is and what a big loss he will be to us on Saturday. We tried to avoid clashes but it is very difficult with next weekend being a hurling weekend in Tipperary.”

Ger himself is also ruled out of the contest with a sprained wrist. He had been coming in and out of the games and making an impact, but the injury picked up will force him to sit the game out and he will instead take his place in the dugout alongside fellow selectors Eoin Brislane, Declan Maher, Michael McCarthy and Michael Tierney. Also in the backroom with the side are Jim Mackey, Peppi Joe Cleere and Darragh McCarthy.

The panel has prepared very well for the final having beaten Galway, Dublin, Kildare and Cork en-route. They lost to Wexford but were without a number of first choice players for that game and while the journey to the final has been fairly straight forward, the team has grown and developed over the course of the games with almost thirty players used throughout. This includes former All-Ireland senior hurling winners Lar Corbett, Eoin Kelly, Shane McGrath and captain Declan Fanning. Also, highly influential in the side are the likes of Derek Horan, Matthew Stapleton and Tom Collins to name just a few.

"Any time you have lads in the team who are still playing at adult level, you have a real chance,” Redser added.

“The mix we have is very good and we really enjoy travelling to play the games and having a bit of craic afterwards. We enjoy the social side of this championship and it is really lovely to see kids coming along and watching their fathers playing - they might not have seen that before and it's great.

"Our home games are played in Borrisoleigh and Stapletons always look after us so we are very lucky. For the final we will have a bus going to Galway and thanks to the sponsorship of OMC in Thurles, and Lar Corbett Sports, we will be able to look after the players, which is only right. The County Board has also helped us out and we are very grateful for that.”

The game will be preceded by the runners-up final between Limerick and Cork, but Ger would love to see the Masters Final receiving a bigger platform. He cites Masters All-Irelands having been played before National Hurling League Finals in the past, and opines that having the final as a curtain raiser to the All-Ireland senior hurling final would be fantastic.

"There is no curtain-raiser for the All-Ireland finals at present - maybe this could be an option,” Redser suggested.

“Wouldn't it be great to see the likes of Lar and Eoin out there hurling in Croke Park again?

“We would give our right arm to have that. It would be fantastic and it would do wonders for the Masters championships.

Ger is encouraging as many Tipperary supporters as possible to get along to the final in Athenry. All support would be greatly appreciated and while the game is expected to be streamed live on YouTube, nothing beats being there. So, if you are free, why not get along and support the team.