'There’s a healthy respect' - border boys all set for a true underage classic

There is a unique quirk of geography, borders and identity present that gives this most eagerly anticipated of underage finals another dimension.

BORDER BOY: Conor Doyle of Offaly celebrates the county's success. Pic: James Lawlor, Inpho

CARRIG and Riverstown is in Tipperary, geographically speaking.

Liam Hoare, Cathal King, Caelum Larkin, and Peter King are all from Carrig and Riverstown, but hurl with Offaly. They will be hurling for Offaly on Saturday evening in the All-Ireland U20 final against… Tipperary.

It is nothing new that they hurl with Offaly, seeing as Carrig and Riverstown is and always has been an Offaly GAA club. But it is a unique quirk of geography, borders and identity that gives this most eagerly anticipated of underage finals another dimension.

Once upon a time the rivalry was testy in Carrig and Riverstown, where a small humpback bridge joins north Tipperary with south Offaly. 

Some in the area were and still are staunchly Tipp, with others staunchly Offaly.

But former Faithful hurler Brian Carroll is glad to say that it has cooled in recent times, with a healthy respect emerging between the two.

“The past is the past,” says Carroll, who’s from Coolderry, which borders the Tipperary town of Roscrea.

“There is a minority that can be the loudest but I’d never get caught up too much in that,” he says.

“You need to look forward. Offaly and Tipperary will by Saturday have met in All-Ireland finals at minor and U20.

“Unfortunately for Offaly, Tipperary have probably dominated any time we’ve played both at senior and underage level. But it is a healthy rivalry.

“A lot of people from north Tipperary, whether it’s Roscrea, Lorrha or Ballingarry — they come into the hurling in Birr when it’s on there, to the county finals or county semi-finals.

“Would we like to beat each other? Obviously. But there’s a really healthy respect there, there’s no doubt about it.”

The game has attracted such unprecedented attention that the Ticketmaster website blew into overdrive as soon as the tickets became available. There were 26,000 snapped up just like that, with some still searching.

“I was getting calls from Offaly people I don’t even know looking for tickets to the game,” says Lorrha GAA secretary Maureen Guinan, mother of Tipperary panellist Darragh Guinan.

The only underage game Carroll can compare it to is one that took place in 1989.

“It’s going to be one of the most keenly anticipated underage games, and you’d probably have to go all the way back to the U21 All-Ireland between Offaly and Tipperary in 1989 to see such a demand for an U20 All-Ireland.

“There were huge crowds at the game that day too.”

It is Tipperary again but as far as Carroll can see, that is in no way the motivation for Offaly, even though it was the Premier who denied many of these Offaly players a minor All-Ireland in 2022.

Of the Offaly players that played that day, 10 featured against Dublin in the Leinster decider last month.

“The Offaly people feel a real connection with this team, and they’ve really bought into them. I suppose we have been starved of success for so long that this team has really captured the hearts and imaginations of not just our younger generation, but our adults too.

“We really admire the way they’re going about their business. They’re playing with humility, honesty, they’ve a huge work ethic. They are playing a lovely style, moving the ball fast, and it’s almost a throw-back to the great Offaly teams of the 1980s and 1990s.

“They epitomise a lot of what’s been great about Offaly hurling in the past.

“I think that hurt has driven this team on,” Carroll says, referencing the 2022 minor final.

“But I don’t think this is a revenge mission in any way. From an Offaly perspective. It’s more about putting their best foot forward and putting themselves in a position to win this game.”

Paddy McCormack broke their hearts that day with a last-gasp swing of the hurl.

The Tipperary forward is ruled out for this game with a broken thumb but as his teacher in Our Lady’s secondary school in Templemore, and as teacher of some of the other players on the Tipp panel, Carroll knows they have the strength in depth to cope. Thirteen of their players that saw game-time against Cork are survivors from the 2022 minor final.

“Tipperary have a very good outfit, they are very well drilled. They really know what they’re doing,” he says.

“They’re an athletic team as well and they have a strong bench to come in. Both teams have displayed great mental strength so far.

“Dublin were very dominant over Offaly in the first 15 minutes of the Leinster final. They controlled the game and looked dangerous. But then Shane Rigney’s goal changed the whole outlook and Offaly got into their groove.

“Cork were superior to Tipp in some periods of their Munster final, but Tipp kept going, and they found a way.”

Only time will tell who finds the way in Nowlan Park this evening. But win, lose or draw, Carroll says very little will change for Offaly. The supporters will stay supporting, and the team will stay together.

“It would be fabulous if we won but regardless of the result Saturday evening, this team has already achieved success.

“People are proud to wear the Offaly jersey again, the flags are flying, the bunting is up and the whole county is talking about Offaly hurling again.

“The future is bright. We’re realistic.

“We know it’s going to take a lot more work and we know it’s going to take more than just this team if we’re to sustain getting Offaly contending for Leinsters and All-Ireland honours.

“We are realistic, but this has given hope.”

And the rivalry will live on too. Healthily and with respect.

“It’s a healthy rivalry there now. And long may that continue.”