PREVIEW: Leeside bound Tipperary Under 20 hurlers must start sharply against slick rebels
Tipperary Under 20s take on Cork in Páirc Uí Chaoimh knowing it is a key game in the championship. All teams play against each other in the round robin and then the top side goes directly into the final while the second and third finishers battle it out to see who emerges to reach the final.
Taken on its merit it will all be decided on the last day but in reality a win would put Tipp in the driving seat to take the top spot as Limerick and Clare drew last week. Two away games to start with is a difficult proposition at this age grade but Brendan Cummins, Fintan O'Connor and Shane Stapleton will have drilled into the players the importance of facing up to the test in front of them.
It took Tipp fifteen minutes to settle in Ennis and Clare had build up a substantial lead before Tipp got motoring.
Once they did, there was no stopping them. They found a sureness and confidence approaching half time and rattled off points in quick succession.
As the game wore on Tipp kept finding gaps in the Clare defence. Brendan Cummins bunch survived that tough test in Ennis against a Clare side boasting eight senior panelists and despite the absence of senior stars, Tipp were the better team for forty minutes of the game. As Brendan Cummins said afterwards, "The spirit is really strong within the group" and that matters on the big championship evenings.
Tipperary look a well prepared side. Once they found their rhythm and bearings Tipp always had support players running off the shoulder and always had alert teammates even though some of the passes weren't pinpoint. Surroundings on Leeside won't be familiar but settling into the game early is key. If Cork build up a lead in the fashion Clare did last time it will be harder to stem the tide as Cork have the firepower to keep adding long range points.
As the clock wore on in their opening match of the campaign Tipp seized the initiative with Eddie Ryan from Borris Ileigh showing his quality and if Tipp can produce a consistent performance they will go close to beating a star-studded Cork side that showed a clinical streak in beating Waterford. Cork senior panelish Colin Walsh fired home an important goal in their opening game to secure the win. He finished with 1-3 against the Deise and will need close watching.
Freetaker Ben Cunningham hit seven points for the rebels side that turned around a six point deficit at one stage in that game against Waterford. Cork are getting it right at underage level in recent years and have senior panelists, but it is taking time for the players to make the senior first fifteen. Tipp don't have any senior panelist this year but do have a united team.
Clonoulty forward Stephen Ferncombe proved his mettle with accurate striking and he will need to be on song in Cork to ensure Tipp are in a position to win the game. Peter McGarry is a player of huge potential and his sharpness from the off will prove crucial. Able to play inside or out towards midfield, variety will be key to disrupting the home side's rhythm in the Pairc.
Thurles Sarsfields player Darragh Stakelum is captain and leads by example while vice captain Jack Leamy is developing into a player of note. Both will need big games again.
The key battle could well be Tipp forward Sean Kennelly against man marking Cork defender Eoin Downey.
Kenneally ws a handful for Clare in Ennis and when other forwards were slowly coming into the game, he was a tour de force around the half forward line. Hurling with a drive like Bonnar Maher in his heyday, the Moneygall forward is pivotal to the rest of the forwards winning breaking ball.
Eoin Downey was sent to man mark Patrick Fitzgerald for Cork against Waterford and the defender could well be picking up the influential Kenneally on Leeside in what will be a duel worth watching closely. Downey was playing for the Cork seniors against Kilkenny in the league Semi-final and saw red against the Cats. His absense was keenly felt in the closing stages of that game and the influential Glen Rovers player will be a stand out player at his own age grade this spring time.
Cork manager Ben O'Connor knows all about facing Tipp from his playing days and he will deploy Downey to where the ball will be so expect to see Downey and Kenneally matching up for some fireworks. Home advantage will count to begin with as Cork are more likely to settle in early but Tipperary, once they start well and hurl to their potential, are well capable of getting the all important victory before they play Limerick in Thurles on April 21st.
Tonights game is being streamed live on Youtube via the Sport TG4 online page at 7.30pm.
Tipperary's Under 20 hurlers play Cork this evening, Wednesday in the Munster Under 20 Championship
The following is the Tipperary team -
1 - Eoin Horgan (Knockavilla Donaskeigh Kickhams)
2 - Danny Slattery (Clonoulty/Rossmore)
3 - Robert Doyle (Clonoulty/Rossmore)
4 - Luke Shanahan (Upperchurch/Drombane)
5 - James Morris (St Mary's Clonmel)
6 - Cathal Quinn (Cashel King Cormacs)
7 - Michael Corcoran (Silvermines)
8 - Joe Caesar (Holycross/Ballycahill)
9 - Darragh Stakelum (Thurles Sarsfields, captain)
10 - Sean Kenneally (Moneygall)
11 - Peter McGarry (St Mary's Clonmel)
12 - Eddie Ryan (Borris-Ileigh)
13 - Jack Leamy (Golden/Kilfeacle)
14 - Tony Cahill (Drom/Inch)
15 - Stephen Ferncombe (Clonoulty/Rossmore)
Substitutes - Jason O'Dwyer (Clonoulty/Rossmore), Ben Currivan (Golden/Kilfeacle), Stephen Dee (Solohead), Maidhc Fitzpatrick (Drom/Inch), Jock Fogarty (Thurles Sarsfields), Darragh McCarthy (Toomevara), Ciaran McCormack (Loughmore/Castleiney), Conor O'Brien (Mullinahone), Pat Ryan (Upperchurch/Drombane).