Tipperary taking nothing for granted

ALL-IRELAND UNDER-21 HURLING FINAL: Gavin Cummiskeytalks to Tipperary's under-21 manager Ken Hogan about the danger of underestimating a hungry Galway on Saturday

IF ANY men can momentarily calm the celebrations it is under-21 manager Ken Hogan and coach Tommy Dunne. Both All-Ireland winners in previous Tipperary teams, they will not see the value in letting the outpouring of emotion hinder their preparations this week.

The Goal Challenge was taking place in Templemore last night but the eight under-21 players involved in Tipperary’s epic All-Ireland victory last Sunday have put their shoulder back to the wheel, Hogan assured us yesterday, ahead of Saturday’s meeting with Galway at Semple Stadium.

“It can be difficult,” Hogan conceded. “We discussed what was going to happen after our All-Ireland semi-final. The players are mature enough to know that there was going to be receptions for the team both Sunday and Monday night. The lads were back in training last night (Tuesday). We had a chat and a bit of a match outside on the pitch and everyone took a full part in it. That was great to see.”

Tipperary have not been in this happy situation since 1989, when their under-21s were in action against Offaly in Portlaoise – a week after the seniors defeated Antrim in the All-Ireland final.

But they have not had such a talented group of young hurlers for a long time.

Kilkenny have proven that momentum can assist in the six-day turnaround from a senior to under-21 All-Ireland final as recently as 2008, although there were more senior players involved for the 2006 triumph over Tipp. And it took the extra labour of a replay to win that title.

Hogan’s charges must ride the wave of euphoria despite facing a Galway team littered with players still hurting from last year’s under-21 semi-final defeat following extra-time to Clare, not to mention the few, like captain David Burke, who suffered at the hands of Tipperary in this season’s All-Ireland quarter-final.

“That is a great motivation for Galway. But they have had huge success at minor and under-21 level so they won’t need any added spur but, yes, it will be in the back of their minds what happened at senior. They will be all out for revenge, especially the players who featured.”

The teams arrive in Thurles this Saturday from markedly different paths. Galway beat a chronically understrength Dublin outfit in the semi-final which doubled as their first championship outing. Tipperary were forced to balance senior commitments and some challenging outings against Cork – a match that required extra-time – and defending champions Clare in the Munster final

“We’ve reminded the players about that. We reminded each other about that all along. We were very lucky to get out of Cork. Cork had a good team and we hung in there by scoring a late goal to get through.

“In the Clare game we were six points down and Darragh Honan had a great opportunity of making it nine, ultimately, we saved a penalty as well. We got a break against two excellent teams and now we are coming up against a brilliant team in Galway. We just have to be up for it.”

In the semi-final Tipp swept past Antrim but the 2-32 to 1-7 annihilation appears to have robbed their defence of full back John Coghlan as the powers-that-be asked Offaly referee Tony Carroll to revisit his yellow card from that game. On reflection Carroll deemed the shoulder charge was reckless and the offence became a red card one which carries a minimum suspension of one match.

Coghlan goes before the Central Hearings Committee this evening to seek some leniency before the biggest day of his fledgling sporting career is snatched away from him.

The loss of their full back may provide the necessary focus. It should also see Michael Cahill – one of the returning senior eight – switching from corner to the square’s edge, although it’s possible Pádraic Maher could move from centre back.

Brendan Maher is a contender for senior hurler of the year from his perch in midfield but he is expected to return to wing back here, while another gem in the Tipperary ranks, Noel McGrath, will feature in the middle as opposed to the new senior position of centre forward, where he played such a pivotal role in their defeats of Waterford and Kilkenny.

“Under-21 level is a great leveller,” Hogan has warned his players. “It is like Fitzgibbon in that the unsung heroes usually come through. You talk of players with senior experience and our guys have been helped by what they went through this year and last but at under-21 level it doesn’t matter, you just knuckle down and get on with the game.”

All told, Tipperary look primed to confirm their status as a great underage team – as long as the expectation and celebrations have not boiled over. Men like Brian O’Meara and Michael Heffernan who sat on the bench in Croke Park last Sunday, will see this as their time to shine, although it seems like the Mahers and McGrath are incapable of playing poorly right now.