Premier boss Sheedy enjoying selection headache

THESE are difficult days for Tipperary manager Liam Sheedy, as the day of destiny, Sunday’s first-round Munster SHC match against Cork, draws ever closer.

Who to start, who to keep in reserve? Are the youngsters ready for a match as big as this? Despite being without a single competitive inter-county game under his belt yet this year, hampered with a back injury, is Eoin Kelly fit to go? Questions, questions, questions, all will be on Liam’s mind when he sits down this evening with fellow selectors Michael Ryan and Eamon O’Shea to finally choose the starting 15.

“Hugh (Maloney) unfortunately losses out because his suspension started four days after the league final; Shane Maher hasn’t a chance of making it at this stage, his hamstring is just going to need more time; Conor (O’Mahony) and Eoin (Kelly), I’d be hopeful that they’d be available to us – the level of work they are doing is coming up and up, but you’d worry about match practise, they haven’t really seen the pitch over the last number of weeks and months.”

Mention of Eoin Kelly, his return to action would be a huge boost to Tipperary. “It’s great for Eoin himself that he’s back, and I think it’s great for hurling. If you talk to Cork people, they have huge respect for Eoin Kelly and everyone likes to see guys that have skill and quality being available, no one wants to see a guy like that injured. Even Brian Cody at the press conference for the league final was asking ‘How’s Eoin’, that tells you the respect people have for him.”

A welcome return, then, for all concerned, yet even if Eoin weren’t to make it back, Sheedy still has plenty of options, which leads us to the recent impressive surge in Tipperary hurling, a whole new generation of players pushing through.

“I said it prior to the league final (extra-time loss to Kilkenny) that I would be confident in the space that Tipperary are in, in relation to youth. I would be confident that in time Tipperary will win All Irelands – exactly when, I can’t put my finger on. I don’t think anyone can but be happy with the talent that’s out there; the lads that have come in, 10 young guys – Noel McGrath is only 18 but the way he applies himself, the way he works. They don’t take anything for granted, just because they have an All-Ireland medal or two at minor doesn’t really impact on them. It makes our job very enjoyable and very easy because they push themselves every night – I think some of the older guys were probably a bit surprised with the work and intensity that the younger guys bring.”

In the league final, and even without Eoin Kelly, Tipperary scored 3-14 in regular time, finished with 4-17, and pushed Kilkenny right to the wire. “I think that tells you about how well the panel has developed over the last few years, and that is the most pleasing aspect. When I started in the job, I would have been fearful if Eoin Kelly wasn’t available. He would have played nearly all of our matches in 2008, but you can’t be putting all of the expectation of a team on top of one guy’s shoulders – I would feel that the panel in general has shared a lot of the responsibility this year and we have benefited from that. We need options everywhere, really we do. It is a 20-man game, plus. If you haven’t got 30 guys, like if the 15 guys (starting) don’t know that there is someone over their shoulder.

“I’ll give you an example: Brendan Cummins didn’t play in Galway and Darren Gleeson went in and had a really, really good game. He made two great saves and had a big impact on getting us to the league final. Once you have that type of healthy competition within the squad you are going in the right direction – I’d be happy that we are.”

What of the likes of Noel McGrath, however – only a couple of weeks from being minor again this year, turned 18 last December, is he too young?

“I had Noel as a minor, he’s a guy I’d have huge respect for, very talented. You never know when is the right time or when is the wrong time, you just have to be conscious these guys are young. In terms of the way they are training, obviously myself and Declan (Carr, U-21 manager) work very closely, because to have 10 of the U-21 panel with the seniors is probably quite unique, I haven’t heard of that many being involved at our level from underage. You have to be careful and hopefully these guys will have long careers.”

So, are they good enough to start now, rather than waiting another year? “Only time will tell. In fairness they haven’t had one championship season – let’s give these young lads a chance. The Tipp public need to be patient; just give them their feet – next year, the year after and the year after, these are young guys that want to improve all the time. They need to be given time and patience.”

As for Sunday? “Munster is a minefield. In terms of last year, Clare beat Waterford, Tipp beat Clare, Tipp beat Cork, then Cork beat Clare, and Waterford came and beat Tipperary – if it had been a league system we would all have been back together on level points. In terms of where we are at, it is going to be a serious Munster Championship and likewise in Leinster, it’s going to be serious.”