Tipp wary of Honan ahead of Banner test
The Premier county are going a third All-Ireland title in a row and, with several of last year’s team available, have every reason to feel confident
However, this is a talented Clare side that came to Páirc Uí Chaoimh early in May and stole a march on Cork.
The towering figure of Darach Honan proved too good for the Cork defence and Tipperary will have to come up with some scheme to stop the Clonlara youngster who, apart from his height, has excellent pace, skill and more importantly knows where the goal is.
Their selectors have strengthened their team by including Liam Markham at midfield. He was outstanding for St Caimin’s in the Harty Cup campaign and it was surprising he was left out for the Cork game.
His inclusion strengthens the Clare challenge further and with Kevin Heagney, Cathal Chaplin, Barry O’Connor, Kevin Moynihan and Conor McGrath also playing, Clare won’t be easily beaten.
Tipp coach Tommy Dunne said any talk of three in a row is futile at this juncture. “It’s certainly not being spoken about among our group. Tonight is only a semi-final for Heaven’s sake and, as this is the knock out stage, neither ourselves or Clare can look beyond this game,” said the former senior stalwart.
“We never got anything easy off Clare and tonight’s match will be no exception. It’s a big challenge but one we are capable of overcoming, if we play to form”.
Noel McGrath will spearhead the Tipperary challenge. He is highly rated and should Tipp go on and retain the All-Ireland, he will become one of a very select few to achieve a three titles. His fellow Tipp man Jimmy Doyle (he played in four All-Ireland finals and won three) and Cork’s John Buckley have that honour.
The champions include several members of the Thurles CBS team involved in three classic games with DLS Waterford in this year’s colleges championship. Bill McCormack is in goal, Kevin O’Gorman mans the full-back position, John O’Neill is at right corner forward, while Kieran Morris is in the other corner.
The team shows two changes from that which defeated Limerick in the first round with Denis Maher and James Barry in for Sean O’Brien and Eoin O’Connell. A significant positional switch sees Noel McGrath, who captains the team, move from centre-back to midfield.
Chasing three titles in a row brings its own pressures particularly for an underage team but, with home advantage, expectation will be great. However, a lot of experience has been gained along the way and it’s hard to see Tipp being caught in Thurles.
Cork coach Ger Manley is under no illusions about the magnitude of the task confronting his side tonight in Walsh Park.
“The colleges successes of De La Salle over the last two years have given Waterford an excellent crop of young hurlers and this present minor team is highly rated in the county,” he said.
“Our defeat by Clare in the first round was a right boot up the rear end of us, but we improved greatly on that performance to easily beat Limerick in the qualifiers.
“We are far more settled now but this is the real acid test. Having to play Waterford in their own back yard is never easy, but we have put in a huge effort in preparation despite the demands of the clubs and the leaving cert. I’m reasonably confident we can give a good account of ourselves tonight.”
Waterford won’t ever get a better chance to beat Cork, which would be a rarity for them at this level. Their team is backed with some very talented youngsters in Noel Connors, Philip Mahony, Adam Brophy and Brian O’Sullivan, but they will have to played to their maximum to get the result.
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