Fitzgerald pleased with early weeks

By Stephen Barry

Tipperary manager Niall Fitzgerald says that Holycross/Ballycahill dual talent Eoin Craddock will only improve with more football.

The Munster U20 hurling and Fitzgibbon Cup medallist, who won a county U21 title with his club on St Stephen’s Day, has now thrown his lot in with the Tipperary footballers for the coming year.

Having played U20 football under Fitzgerald in 2023, the Premier boss had no doubts over Craddock’s big-ball ability.

“I had him at U20 a few years ago and I know what he's capable of,” said the Moyle Rovers clubman.

“That's why he's on the panel. He's a guy who will only improve as he plays more football.”

Paddy O’Keeffe and Charlie King were others to impress as Fitzgerald fielded a team packed with young prospects in their McGrath Cup opener.

“Limerick were more experimental than we were. That was clear,” he stressed.

“We still had a vast majority of our players under the age of 21, so we’re a very young side.

“There was a lot of lads there who have never played championship or even league games with Tipp.

“We're trying to build from the bottom and these young players are going to be very important to us, so it's good that they're getting a bit of experience.”

He added:

“The first half was good. The second half was very sloppy. A lot of unforced turnovers. We weren't happy with it at all. Look, it's January, it's a run out, and it's good to get games this time of the year.”

Fitzgerald added that Darragh Brennan, who scored 1-3 off the bench in a challenge against Kerry last month, is expected back in “a few weeks” as he recovers from a hamstring strain.