Tipperary’s Band of Brothers in Hurling League squad
By Shane Brophy
Tipperary Senior Hurling manager Liam Cahill has named a 43 man panel for the National Hurling League, which gets underway this Saturday night against Galway at FBD Semple Stadium, including five sets of brothers.
The McGrath’s, McCormack’s and Stakelum’s, are now joined by the McCarthy’s and Morgan’s, with Kevin McCarthy and Aaron Morgan joining their brothers Darragh and Craig respectively.
There are a number of changes from the squad which guided Tipperary to a never to be forgotten All-Ireland success last July. Those not being retained include Moneygall’s Joe Fogarty, Kiladangan’s Billy Seymour, Gortnahoe/Glengoole’s David Nolan, while Silvermines’ Michael Corcoran is ruled out as he recovers from a cruciate knee injury sustained in the week before the All-Ireland Final.
Carrick Swan’s Under 20 All-Ireland winning defender Aaron O’Halloran hasn’t committed for the coming campaign while his older brother Gavin, along with Moyne-Templetuohy’s Conor Bowe, Kieran Cummins (Moycarkey/Borris) and Danny Slattery (Clonoulty/Rossmore) weren’t part of the panel named before the start of training in November.
Of the players promoted from last years under 20 All-Ireland winning panel, Adam Daly (Knockavilla-Donaskeigh Kickhams), Joe Egan (Moycarkey/Borris), Cathal English (Father Sheehy’s), Cathal O’Reilly (Holycross/Ballycahill), Adam Ryan (Arravale Rovers), and Stefan Tobin (Carrick Swan) have been retained, the latter three still eligible for under 20 in 2026, along with Oisin O’Donoghue.
Upperchurch/Drombane’s All-Ireland Intermediate winning captain Keith Ryan has been included in the panel for the first time, while Jack Leamy of Golden Kilfeacle and Thurles Sarsfields Paddy Creedon have also been retained.
The panel will also carry three goalkeepers for the first time under the current management with Barry Hogan and Brian Hogan vying to usurp All-Star goalkeeper Rhys Shelly.
Other players not retained from the training panel announced last November are Borris-Ileigh’s Tom Delaney and Boherlahan-Dualla’s Charlie Ryan, although both still eligible for under 20, while Roscrea’s Darragh Tynan, Nenagh Eire Og’s Mason Cawley, Toomevara’s Adam Hall, and Boherlahan-Dualla’s Brian Og O’Dwyer were also let go.
Senior Football
New Tipperary senior football manager Niall Fitzgerald hasn’t confirmed his panel as yet as he awaiting an injury assessment on a couple of players as they build-up to their division 4 opener in London on Sunday.
However, he has announced Paudie Feehan as the new captain, succeeding Steven O’Brien who has skippered the squad for the last two years. The Ballina clubman is retained in a leadership role as one of two vice-captains along with Sean O’Connor.
The Tipperary ladies also get their National League campaign underway this Sunday away to Wexford with new manager David Power confirming star forward Aishling Moloney won’t be part of the panel ahead of the next AFLW campaign, with five Tipperary players committed to playing down under this year.