Gleesons in Semple showdown

SOMEWHERE in their clan history, Michael and Conor Gleeson have a common ancestor, are still brothers in blood; this Sunday, however, in the Tipperary senior hurling final, they will be on opposite sides, generals in opposing camps.

Michael is manager of hot favourites and reigning champions, Thurles Sarsfields; Conor, Boherlahan native and former Tipperary captain, is coach and selector with underdogs Clonoulty-Rossmore. Contrasting challenges facing both men, but interestingly, both will end up doing the same thing; for Michael, in his third season as manager, there’s the job of ensuring that there is no complacency among his charges, so the dangers posed by Clonoulty will have to be pointed out, talked up; for Conor, well, you can’t have your men being intimidated before the battle, can you, so what do you do? You point to your own strengths, of course.

First, Michael: “Two years ago we played Clonoulty in a county semi-final and we could have lost, but salvaged a draw; in the replay it went to a draw again, then extra-time – that’s how close it was. Many of our lads would know their lads very well from playing against them a lot at underage, but they played WITH some of them as well, with Thurles CBS. They know the talent on this Clonoulty team, so keeping them grounded isn’t going to be any problem at all.”