Tyrrell fears managers will play safe in league

Kilkenny’s Jackie Tyrrell isn’t a fan of the new hurling league structures, which offer fewer games and give managers fewer chances to look at players.

“I think it’s a minus because there is a lot of pressure,” he said.

“If you lose your first game you are looking over your shoulder. A lot of managers use the league to experiment. If they are looking at relegation then they are less likely to experiment as much and try out young lads. If you look at it from a county board’s perspective it is less revenue. “You’d rather be playing in Nowlan Park than getting flogged somewhere else in Kilkenny at training. From my point of view it is hard to see the pluses from the structure.”

Kilkenny welcome Tipperary on Sunday. Another instalment in a superb rivalry.

“It rumbles on, I suppose,” said Tyrrell. “When the league fixtures were made [last year] and we had Tipperary in the first round we couldn’t wait to get at them. They are proud hurling men down there and they are hurt after last year and will be thinking exactly the same way. They probably have a few scores to settle.

“This time last year we were sitting here, they were All-Ireland champions, and we were going up to them. We couldn’t wait to get a crack at them and I’m sure they are [the same].”

Was Tyrrell surprised by Lar Corbett’s abrupt withdrawal from the Tipp panel?

“I didn’t see that coming at all, it was a shock to everyone.

“It’s worrying when you see so many young lads in their 20s walking away. From my own personal point of view I love it and I wouldn’t give it up if I was 26 or 27, but there are different circumstances for different lads, different jobs, different commitments with families and that so I can see their point about why they would.

“So it probably is something the GAA will have to start looking at because it is likely to only get more and more demanding.”

Kilkenny have had their own retirements recently, of course, but they drive on regardless.

“With us it’s almost automatic, it just happens,” said Tyrrell. “I suppose last year we brought in new lads, they won an All-Ireland now, so they have seen the experience and how it works and they can kick on.

“But I suppose this year is the first time a lot of experience has gone out of our dressing room. Like Eddie Brennan, Michael Kavanagh, PJ Ryan, Cha Fitz[patrick], John Dalton — you are probably talking about 30 All-Ireland medals between them.

“Normally we might have one or two experienced lads going but to have four or five in the one year it is going to take from the panel a bit and there will be a bit if adjusting to it.”