Continued progression the aim for 20 Footballers

GAA: Dalata Hotel Group Munster Under 20 Football Championship Preview

By Shane Brophy

CLARE v TIPPERARY

Pairc Naomh Mhuire, Quilty

Saturday, 14th March

Throw-in @ 2.00pm

Referee: Eoghan O Muircheartaigh (Kerry)

The under 20 footballers are the first Tipperary inter-county GAA team into championship action this Saturday when they travel to the Atlantic coast to take on Clare in the opening round of the Munster Championship.

As has been in the case in recent years, Tipperary join Clare, Limerick and Waterford in a round-robin first phase with the two best teams progressing to phase 2 to join with Kerry and Cork in another round robin with the top two teams meeting in the provincial final. The third and fourth placed teams in phase 1 will meet in a final with the winner progressing to an All-Ireland ‘B’ semi-final.

Tipperary’s aim is to be one of the two teams progressing to phase 2 as after a number of down years around the turn of the decade, the Premier county has reestablished themselves as the best of the rest in the province behind Kerry and Cork, increasingly competitive against both, now the target is to start getting to Munster finals according to manager Paddy O’Gorman.

“That is the target Niall (Fitzgerald) would have set over the last couple of years was to try and be third in Munster and then have a right crack off Cork and Kerry and we have been doing that,” O’Gorman said.

“It is still our number one objective to try and finish third. We are under no illusions that it will be tough this year because Clare were really tough a couple of years ago (minor) when we beat them by a couple of points in a really tough game.

“They have a fair few starters from last year whereas our team is in transition even though we have 15 players still on the panel from last year, it might be just three or four starters.

“That is an exciting thing too as we have some brilliant minors coming on stream. They are coming with the right habits from Shane Hennessy and Michael Donnellan so they are well tuned to inter-county football.”

O’Gorman has a hugely impressive coaching CV with the ability of improving all teams he has been with, not just his native Cahir, but also the likes of Ballyporeen, Newcastle and Clonmel Og.

As a secondary school teacher in the CBS High School Clonmel, he managed their seniors to this years Corn Ui Mhuiri final. In the previous five years was a selector on the Tipp under 21 team under three different managers before deciding to throw his hat into the ring when Niall Fitzgerald stepped down at the end of the last campaign.

“It’s a massive commitment going up and down to Thurles for the last few years but when the manager’s job became available, I said to myself these things only come around every now and again,” he said.

“I have learned so much from David (Power), Paddy (Christie) and Niall (Fitzgerald) over the last couple of years.”

His knowledge of the school’s scene around the county provided the contacts in terms of keeping track of the players through the busy winter period.

“Schools teams are very important and are playing to a high level so it is about minding the boys,” O’Gorman added.

“I’d have good relationships with the lads from playing challenge matches with Niall (Cahill) in Thurles, Conor Sweeney in the Abbey and Tom O’Donoghue in (Our Lady’s) Templemore, all these boys playing at a high level for their schools.

“The level they are playing at in school, the next level is inter-county, whether it is hurling or football they are playing in big matches so when they come into us, they are ready for big games.”

Gaelic Football is riding the crest of a wave nationally with the success of the new rules which has led to more attacking football which O’Gorman feels is not just more appealing with watch, but more enjoyable for players to play.

“The game is definitely more appealing to a forward but is also appealing to a defender who wants to man-mark. It’s great to be able to showcase the forwards you have.

“It’s no coincidence now that David Clifford is showing what a great footballer he is, which is down to the new rules.

“It is enjoyable to coach as well as there are so many different things now to think of,” he concluded

Tipperary panel: CAPTAIN - Liam Freaney (Kilsheelan/Kilcash); Aaron Brazil, Paddy Chapman, Seán Bourke (Aherlow); Ronan Myles, Shane Ryan (Ardfinnan); Ciaran Kelly, Darragh Bresnan, Evan Ryan (Arravale Rovers); Cillian Ryan (Ballina); Jack Kearney, Sam McGrath (Ballyporeen); Cillian Fahey, Danny Morris, Dara Maher, James Power, Jamie O’Keeffe, Killian Smith (Clonmel Commercials); Luke Hannigan, Jamal Yousif (Clonmel Óg); Ben Allen, Charlie Walsh, Gavin Neville, Liam Kiely, Mark Neville, Rory O’Mahony (Fethard); Emmet Bonner (Galtee Rovers); Dayle Hogan (JK Brackens); James O’Brien, John Cronin, Michael O’Reilly, Peter Boland (Moyle Rovers); Jack McGonigle (Rockwell Rovers); Oran Gahan (St. Patrick’s); Dylan Cotter (Thurles Gaels); Philip O’Dwyer, Sean Griffin (Upperchurch/Drombane).

Management: Manager – Paddy O’Gorman (Cahir); Coach/Selectors – Charlie McGeever (Clonmel Commercials), Johnny Bourke (Lattin Cullen), Colm O’Brien (Burgess), Mick O’Sullivan (Drom & Inch), Eoin Morrissey (Moyle Rovers), Pat O’Brien (Cahir); S&C – Kevin Fahey, Ross Peters (Clonmel Commercials); Physio – Padraic Mullen; Stats – Sean McMenamin (Clonmel Óg); Performance Coach – Denis Lordan.