Paul Collins

Disappointing minor campaign but there were positives

By James Hayden

 

Following a very disappointing 2019 minor hurling campaign Tipperary manager Paul Collins was quick to pay tribute to his team and accentuate the positives for the 2020 season.

The development that a lot of players have got this year is fantastic, whether they be overage for minor or underage for minor next year,” he said despite three defeats from four games.

It’s a learning curve for them. We got punished badly for our mistakes during the championship and I don't think our performances reflect the ability of our guys.

Even today, we created four goal chances in the first half, took none, they had two and took two. You learn from that and I told them in the dressing room that today is not going to define their careers. They will get up tomorrow morning and they will go again.

People need to realise that these players are 15, 16 and 17 years of age and we have only two guys that have passed their seventeenth birthday. It’s a very hard age coming from juvenile into this type of environment and it is a huge learning experience for them. These guys have fantastic futures and this year’s championship is not a representation of their true abilities.

There are lots of positives to be taken from this year’s campaign, we are back training since 4th February and we have a lot of work done with these guys. We stayed battling out there right until the end despite the score and we kept creating goal chances right up until the finish,” he said.

 

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