‘The Lost Boys’

WATCHING the All-Ireland minor football semi-final between Tipperary and Roscommon from the Croke Park press box last week, a number of thoughts were floating around in my head.

Firstly; am I far too young to be up here? Looking around it felt like I was sitting in a retirement home for ex-GAA players, and at 29 I have to be careful I’m not found to be guilty by association, condemning myself before my sell by date! Secondly, and more importantly, was that so much credit has to be given to those responsible for the success stories that are the Tipperary and Roscommon underage structures.

Over the past number of years, in provinces where both counties have been traditionally overshadowed by a duopoly, Tipperary and Roscommon have bucked the trend by outshining their traditional counterparts.