Morris on song in memorable year but 'well-balanced' Nenagh no one-man band

Nenagh Éire Óg face Loughmore-Castleiney in Sunday's Tipperary decider. 

MORRIS DANCING: Nenagh Eire Og's Jake Morris celebrates another score. 

A vote of a different kind will be revealed in just under a fortnight. Jake Morris and John McGrath are the two Premier candidates vying with Brian Hayes for Hurler of the Year. This weekend’s Tipperary final won’t influence the ballot – their canvassing was conducted in blue and gold over the summer – but it marks an intriguing face-off.

Records over recent decades show the rarity of Hurler of the Year contenders crossing on the All-Ireland champions’ county final day. No doubt, for Morris and McGrath, the Dan Breen Cup would be worth more than any individual glory.

The two Tipp stars have been fielding at full-forward as their clubs marched into Sunday’s county final at Semple Stadium. At the end of an extended season, both have been managing knocks and niggles to do so.

Morris didn’t start Nenagh Éire Óg’s North Championship opener. McGrath sat out Loughmore-Castleiney’s football quarter-final and didn’t finish their semi-final defeat to Kilsheelan-Kilcash last weekend.

Still, both have been there for all the big moments en route to the hurling decider. McGrath is the championship top scorer, having bagged 4-48 in five games.

Morris stitched penalties against Cashel King Cormacs and Kilruane MacDonaghs. Without hotshot centre-forward Mikey Heffernan for the semi-final, Morris came out to the 40 after half-time to steer them home with a brace of points and a goal assist.

He isn’t required to finish as the highest scorer to leave his fingerprints all over the outcome. In crowning him as The Sunday Game’s Hurler of the Year, Henry Shefflin lauded Morris for sacrificing his goal-scoring to become the “fulcrum” of the Tipp team, highlighting his link-up play, dummy runs, and selfless attitude.

Club stalwart Kevin Tucker identifies the strong unit Nenagh have built around Morris as key to their county final run.

“Jake is after having an unbelievable year with Tipp and has probably had no time to recover in any shape or form,” says Tucker.

“But it then shows that the team is well balanced for Nenagh. We haven't relied on Jake as much, whereas in other years we have.

“He's getting his scores, which is great, and any opposition going out against him, you couldn't take your eye off him.

“But the boys have shown great leadership and stepped up. The Drom match was a great team performance and their best performance all year.”

Nenagh had four players on this year’s Tipp U20 All-Ireland-winning panel, including captain Sam O’Farrell. It brings to mind 1995, when Tucker captured national U21 silverware alongside Declan O’Meara and Robbie Tomlinson. A month later, they helped Nenagh to their only Tipp SHC title.

“It's very similar to ‘95. I started in ‘93. You had a few other newcomers a year or two before that,” says Tucker.

“I can see that happening now from a few years back. The last two or three years, you're after getting in another few young lads to mix with the likes of Barry Heffernan, Paddy Murphy, and Mikey Heffernan. There's a right mix of the experience and the youth.

“If you take Mason Cawley, Sam, and Jake Houlihan, I'd say the younger lads have freshened up the boys.

“To see the way Barry is hurling this year compared to a few years back – I know he was carrying a knee injury – Barry is a different animal this year.

“Mikey has refreshed himself as well. I'd say he's enjoying his hurling.” Winning the semi-final without the evergreen Mikey Heffernan was an endorsement of the growing depth in their ranks. His replacement, Ben West, scored 1-3 and struck the crossbar.

Tucker reckons the build-up has been quieter than previous county finals, which may reflect Nenagh’s tag as “rank outsiders” against holders Loughmore.

“I would genuinely hope to win it because it would put to bed the 1995 win,” he says.

“Look, that’ll never be forgotten. The first is always a special one and great to be part of it, but I would love for the boys to do it on Sunday.

“I'd be delighted for the boys that have soldiered for so long. It would be a fitting reward. Some of them are there 15 years-plus.

“It would be great. ‘95 is well and gone and dusted. It's 2025 now, and fingers crossed for Sunday.”