Strong start will set Tipp well to achieve 2026 goals

GAA: National Hurling League Division 1A Preview

By Shane Brophy

TIPPERARY v GALWAY

FBD Semple Stadium

Saturday, 24th January

Throw-in @ 7.00pm

Referee: Sean Stack (Dublin)

It’s go time! After what feels like an eternity, true inter-county hurling is back with the start of the National League this weekend.

Challenge matches and Munster League games might take the edge off for some, but the National League is when the urgency levels up a few notches, both on the field and in the stands and terraces.

For Tipperary, the 2026 league starts as it did in 2025, against Galway, but they come into this game and campaign in a completely different situation. As the bus negotiated the road west twelve months ago to Salthill through the aftermath of Storm Eowyn, the players and management went to Salthill not knowing where they stood after the disastrous 2024. They were under pressure and had to start in a positive manner, but not even they would have thought the big win that day would end up leading to an All-Ireland title six months later.

This time round, there is still pressure, but a different kind. Tipperary are now the hunted rather than the hunted for each team they play, starting out against a new-look Galway who are unlikely to be as callow as they were in their two meetings with Tipperary last year as manager Micheal Donoghue heads into his second year in his second term back in charge.

The challenge also is within the Tipperary playing group. Last year it was about redemption for letting themselves, the jersey, and the supporters down the year before. That is a powerful motivator which they won’t have time this round. The aim now is to be better than last year.

Tipperary’s All-Ireland success was ahead of schedule with the potential there for more, but that will be down to having the same hunger and desire. To that end, manager Liam Cahill has done so much right to ensure the players are focused as they can be for the new campaign. The vast majority of the All-Ireland celebrations were done and dusted prior to the return to collective training. 2025 is the past, Tipperary are down at the bottom of the hill like everyone else at this time of 2026.

Cahill laid down the challenge at the medal presentation in November of what their next goal is, to retain the All-Ireland title.

“Our players now stand in a position to emulate some of the greatest names to ever wear the blue & gold, Tony Wall, Donie Nealon, Babs Keating, Len Gaynor, the late Sean McLoughlin and Mackey McKenna, their legacy shines brightly as this team has the chance to carve its own place alongside them,” he said.

“The challenge is clear; we push on, build and create foundations for the future. We have climbed the mountain. We are no longer the hunters; we are the hunted. The bar will rise, expectations will rise and so must our standards.

“Tipperary GAA has invested in the future as the flagship team in this county it is our responsibility to uphold that culture, drive standards, and inspire every young boy and girl who dreams of wearing the blue & gold.”

Unlike the most recent All-Ireland victories from 2010 onwards, the euphoria hasn’t gotten out of hand. There are no stories of the players letting themselves down off the field. On the field, the vast majority took their form, confidence and belief into the club championship which is a culture that can breed even more success.

To achieve greatness in 2026, they need to be better than 2025. For that to happen, they need a couple of things to happen. The key players to maintain the hunger and desire; for the ones that don’t, they need the players who played fringe roles to be biting at their heels to keep them honest, and potentially take their place.

They also need luck with injury as Tipperary were largely fortunate they had so few major issues last year, Joe Caesar v Limerick and Alan Tynan v Clare the only injuries that led to them missing subsequent games.

In terms of the panel, it is arguably stronger with ten players either stepping away or let go, with thirteen coming in, all of whom have some level of club or inter-county success, so crucially have the winning mentality.

Between the posts, Rhys Shelly is the undoubted number one but we felt the same going into the 2024 season but he lost his spot. The fact he now has extra competition in former All-Star Brian Hogan, to go along with Barry Hogan, can be seen as an attempt to keep him focused.

Defensively, Tipp are well stocked but they could do with more challengers for the established players. The likes of Seamus Kennedy will look for a more prominent role after coming through the 2025 campaign unscathed after returning from a serious knee injury. Can Brian McGrath transfer his club form into the inter-county game, but the ankle injury which forced him off against Kerry was a blow for him to get a sustained run in the side. Joe Caesar started last years championship against Limerick and is one of the players with the potential to kick on, also as an option in the middle of the field.

Such was the impact first year players Robert Doyle, Sam O’Farrell, Darragh McCarthy, and Oisin O’Donoghue made in the last campaign, the Tipperary management will be hoping some of the fresh blood injected can play that role with the likes of Paddy Creedon and Adam Ryan having the physicality to cope at this level.

After his impact role off the bench, Oisin O’Donoghue won’t be keen to settle for that this year and he will be pushing to start more often which will keep the rest of the forwards honest, as they should want it, with Paddy McCormack having the potential to fill the O’Donoghue role this year.

Liam Cahill has said Tipperary will be going hard at the league, which is the way they should. Previous All-Ireland champions Clare came in cold and slow last year and their year only cranked into gear when it was too late.

Winning games is a good habit to maintain, particularly at home where Tipperary were unbeaten last year in both league and championship, and it should be a special evening this Saturday as the All-Ireland champions aim to get their 2026 campaign off to a positive start.