Tipperary powerhouses meet in Dean Ryan Cup

THE Munster Colleges Dean Ryan Cup (Under-16 1/2 hurling) begins today, but when normally, youngsters would usually struggle on heavy, waterlogged pitches with long grass on a soft sod, recent weather conditions are conducive to top-class, top-of-the-ground hurling.

Top of the bill today is the derby clash of two Tipperary powerhouses; Cashel CS and Our Lady’s Templemore at Holycross. Cashel are the reigning Dean Ryan champions, with most of that team still available for selection. However, Templemore have impressed in school competitions and cannot be underestimated.

Dark horses for this year’s Dean Ryan however, could be the winners of the St Flannan’s/De la Salle Waterford clash, in Tipperary town. While Cashel may be defending champions, a better guide to the form of the current crop of sixteen-and-a-half-year-olds is in the fact that last year, St Flannan’s won the Under-15 competition.