Liam Cahill grateful for county board support as Tipp open league campaign with Galway win
TIPP TOP SUPPORT: Tipperary Manager Liam Cahill watches on against Galway. Pic: ©INPHO/James Lawlor
Liam Cahill justified the expense of running an inter-county team after Tipperary began their National League campaign with a five-point victory over Galway in a rain-soaked battle at FBD Semple Stadium.
The County Board’s spending on its senior hurlers amounted to €1.3 million last year. That drops to €799,560 when exceptional costs such as the All-Ireland homecoming and team holiday to South Africa are excluded.
As they navigate their title defence, Cahill named an expanded 43-man panel last week, combining an influx of under-20 All-Ireland champions and strong player retention.
Given a league schedule which opens with three matches in the space of 15 days, the Premier boss pointed to soft-tissue injuries sustained by Robert Doyle and Joe Caesar as the rationale behind their squad selection.
“It takes a little bit of managing to make sure that we're not doing major harm to these fellas, especially with the championship coming around the corner,” said Cahill.
“During the week, we named a 43-man panel. We have a number of under-20s integrated in and out as well, that are not officially named on our panel, because we have to.
“At the end of the year, you always see these dramatic headlines about expense in preparing inter-county teams. When you have a congested schedule like we have in January at the moment, you have to have players and you have to have numbers and you have to look after them when they come in and that's all expensive.
“It just doesn't happen overnight and they have to have the proper expertise around them when they come in if you're going to ask them to play at the level we're playing at. It's difficult, but we're fortunate in Tipperary that we have that support in the background from the County Board. We have the numbers in and we're going to be using quite a number of players throughout the course of the league.”
On the field, Darragh Stakelum’s 64th-minute goal carried Tipp to their 50th National League victory over the Tribesmen in front of 7,762 fans.
Captain Jake Morris kept the hosts in the contest for long spells, finishing with 0-8 (five from play), before laying on the winning goal.
The sides were level 11 times before that Stakelum strike. Galway could’ve stretched ahead at stages, but will regret their 14 wides in their fourth consecutive loss to the Premier.
Their manager, Micheál Donoghue, also expressed “huge frustration” over Tipp being awarded 11 scoreable frees against their four.
The young Tribe side edged their opponents for shots and scores from play, but 0-9 to 0-2 from frees swung the verdict.
Donoghue gave league debuts to Darragh Neary, Aaron Niland, and Jason Rabbitte, each of whom clipped two points, while Paddy Mac Cárthaigh was introduced off the bench. Full-back Cillian Trayers and centre-forward Rory Burke, who finished with 1-3, also impressed down the spine.
Cahill blooded Cathal O’Reilly, Jack Leamy, Paddy McCormack, and Stefan Tobin. Teenage corner-back O’Reilly, who captained the Tipp minors to national glory in 2024, showed his immaculate defensive timing with a highlight-reel flick to prevent a Niland shot on goal.
Tipp still contained 10 of last year’s All-Ireland-winning team, while Galway featured five starters from their quarter-final exit. One of those, new captain Darren Morrissey, pulled up with an ankle injury in his first involvement.
After granting them a guard of honour, Galway brought the fight to Tipp. The sides weren’t separated by more than one point until the 25th minute, when the impressive Pádraic Mannion nudged them two in front. A pair of Darragh McCarthy frees levelled by the break, 0-9 apiece.
Rabbitte came to prominence either side of half-time, scoring two fine points and laying on goal chances for Niland and Burke. The latter effort was squeezed inside the far post for a 1-10 to 0-12 lead.
The second half was punctuated by a scrap between both sides, which saw John Fleming, Willie Connors, and Mannion booked.
“It probably did ignite the game. It needed it,” said Cahill. “Galway, on reflection, would be disappointed they didn't go in three or four up, maybe even five up at half-time. They had a few fairly poor wides.” Galway scored the next two points, but Tipp eclipsed them by 1-8 to 0-4 thereafter.
Switched into corner-forward, Morris scored six points, split between play and frees. He was fouled twice and linked the play from Andrew Ormond to Stakelum for the lead goal, 1-17 to 1-14.
They saw it out from there with three points from Morris and a juggling SĂ©amus Kennedy effort.
Tipp head up the road to Offaly next Sunday, while Galway’s tough start to the league continues by welcoming titleholders Cork to Pearse Stadium on Saturday.
J Morris (0-8, 3 fs); D McCarthy (0-7, 6 fs); D Stakelum (1-0); A Ormond, S O’Farrell (0-2 each); S Kennedy, C Stakelum (0-1 each).
R Burke (1-3); J Fleming (0-3); P Mannion, D Neary, A Niland (2fs), J Rabbitte (0-2 each); G Lee, C Molloy (0-1 each).
R Shelly; M Breen, R Doyle, C O’Reilly; J Caesar, B O’Mara, S Kennedy; W Connors, C Stakelum; S O’Farrell, A Ormond, J Morris; D McCarthy, O O’Donoghue, J Leamy.
J Ryan for Doyle (26, inj), D Stakelum for Leamy (h-t), J Keller for Caesar (40), P McCormack for McCarthy (53), S Tobin for O’Donoghue (69).
D Fahy; J Ryan, C Trayers, D Morrissey; P Mannion, D Burke, D Loftus; G Lee, T Monaghan; D Neary, R Burke, J Fleming; A Niland, J Rabbitte, D McLaughlin.
R Glennon for Morrissey (4, inj), C Mannion for Monaghan (42), C Molloy for McLaughlin (53), P Mac Cárthaigh for Neary (66), S Linnane for Lee (66).
S Stack (Dublin).
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