Premier focused on Rebel challenge

TIPPERARY’S Allianz National Hurling League triumph, won’t count for much against Cork in the Munster championship in Páirc Uí Chaoimh in seven weeks time.

That’s the clear message from selector Michael Ryan, as Tipp continue their preparations in Portugal this week. And he’s conscious not only of the history of League champions failing in the championship, but of Tipp’s poor record in away games against the Rebels.

“I have been part of Tipp teams which won leagues only to fall at the first fence,’’ he commented. “But, thankfully there is a back door and you get to contest into the All-Ireland series. We’ll be contesting the Munster championship on June 8 and our ambition will be to go as far as we can in that competition. The League title is a stepping stone along the way.”

Ryan stresses that the real benefit from beating Galway is the boost it gives the younger players. “We’re coming from a reasonably low base. We haven’t taken any silverware in a lot of years. This is just nice for the lads, but we’re still developing. We’re still trying to find our best blend.”

Unbeaten in all competition since they took over (starting with victory in the Waterford Crystal tournament), Ryan says that the management have been very careful to keep things in perspective.

“You wouldn’t get carried away with things like that,’’ he added.

“We set out our stall to be competitive and to get ourselves into shape to be competitive with the best of teams. We have had a great last run, meeting Waterford, Kilkenny and now Galway. You couldn’t write a better script for our preparation, but the big competition is to come.

“Have no doubt about that. Cork are waiting in the long grass and they will have had a perfect opportunity to see how we progressed. There’s a lot to play for yet.’’

The championship, he points out, will be a “completely different ball game”.

“It’s all bets off now,’’ he adds. “Our record down in Cork against Cork is atrocious.”

Tipp’s hurlers had no time to celebrate their victory after jetting to Portugal for an intensive week of training at 6.30am yesterday. County board officials are splashing out €40,000 on the pre-championship visit to Browns Leisure centre in Vilamoura as part of Championship preparations.

The trip is covered by over half of the grant money received from the Munster Council last September as the Tipperary and Limerick county board each received a one-off €75,000 allocation following last year’s epic championship trilogy.