Underage success no guarantee of bright future for Tipperary

WHILE this year’s underage successes have been hugely encouraging, Tipperary have a long way to go if they are to retake their seat at hurling’s top table, according to U21 manager Fr Tom Fogarty.

National titles have been few and far between for the Premier county this past few years, but the All-Ireland title secured by their minors last Sunday could be joined by the equivalent U21 crown this weekend if Fr Fogarty’s charges can defeat Kilkenny in Croke Park.

Kilkenny are chasing their 10th U21 title this year and Tipp their ninth, but the Cats’ last success came in 2004. Tipp’s was 11 years ago. The statistics for the minor and senior grades show equally stark differences.

Fr Fogarty praised the work being done by volunteers in Tipperary yesterday but warned that, whatever the outcome this weekend, Tipperary hurling is still playing catch-up on the likes of Kilkenny and Galway who have a well-oiled conveyor belt of talent coming though.

“It might be premature to call it a revival yet because we have to achieve a bit more before we can say that. There are hopeful signs down the line. Certainly I wasn’t surprised that the minor team won on Sunday, it was a very good team,” he said.

“I think they were somewhat unlucky to lose the Munster final. Further down the line there may be signs that we are moving in the right direction at last.

“The senior team performed reasonably well throughout the year, possibly could have won the Munster final against Cork, so there are signs but let’s be realistic at all times. The bottom line is that Tipperary and other counties are behind the Galways and Corks at underage level and have been at all times.”

As Fr Fogarty pointed out, Tipp’s underage record inside the province hasn’t been so glum lately but their inability to convert those achievements onto the national stage is just one of the reasons why Kilkenny will start as favourites on Sunday.

Another is that Adrian Finan can call on the services of senior trio Cha Fitzpatrick, John Tennyson and Richie Power, who all won senior medals with Brian Cody’s side last weekend.

All three were also on the team that beat Tipp by 21 points in this U21 decider two years ago. Fitzpatrick even had the honour of accepting the cup on the day and Finan is confident the senior celebrations won’t dilute their performance seven days later.

As for the favourites tag, Finan isn’t buying that one at all.

“We got a timely reminder last weekend about what favouritism means in these matches. To be honest, it’s more a thing for supporters and media in the build-up to the game. They have to talk about something and I don’t think players look at it in that regard at all.

“It’s an All-Ireland final — maybe the last one they ever play in — so we don’t care if we’re favourites or underdogs or whatever. The All-Ireland final usually gets the best two teams in the country and I’d say that’s exactly what we’ll see here.”

Both managers expressed their delight at the decision to play the game in Croke Park on the same bill as the camogie decider, though the players will be hoping the pitch is in better shape than it was for the senior final.

“They’ve cut it, I believe, but it’s all about whatever it’s like on Sunday,” said Finan.