Shuffling the pack is typical of Tipperary hurling manager Liam Cahill's approach

The Under 21 grade has long been admired for the quality of competition it consistently delivered over the decades. The county championships began in the grade in the early sixties. Roscrea won the initial hurling title in 1963 while Adfinnan, with Babs Keating as captain, won the inaugural football championship.

Since then, it enjoyed a popular presence in the annual calendar of events, though often pushed out to the extremities of the year because of its overlap with other grades. Under 21 was seen as the villain in the fixtures debate.

More recently it has lost out in the realignment of grades, both nationally and locally. Tipperary clubs had a chance to retain the Under 21 at club level but voted instead for Under 19. Then the divisions went solo and organised their own Under 21 series. It’s all part of the general confusion that exists around grades’ structures at the moment, a confusion that stemmed from the initial decision to lower minor from Under 18 to Under 17.

Anyway, there isn’t a county championship this year so instead the divisional winners are playing off a tournament, with all proceeds going to the Dillon Quirke Foundation. It’s a worthy initiative, with the dual benefit of supporting a great cause and providing quality entertainment for the public at this bleak period of the year.

The two semi-finals of the A tournament went ahead last weekend and lived up to all our expectations of this grade. There were thrills galore, as Thurles Sarsfields just about nudged out Cashel KC on Saturday and Mullinahone availed of extra-time to dismiss Borris-Ileigh on Sunday.

The Saturday game was played at Dundrum in very testing conditions. Sarsfields were fancied but they certainly had to earn their passage against a stubborn Cashel effort. It was well-balanced throughout, with Jack Lanigan the key contributor in Sarsfields’ narrow win.

The match quality was surprisingly good for the conditions. Sarsfields showed the earlier form and were four-nil ahead before Cashel opened the ledger with a Devon Ryan free. It might have been worse for the west side but for a brave interception by goalie Aaron Browne, who threw himself in front of a goal-bound shot and paid the price with a serious hand injury.

After their sluggish opening the King Cormacs warmed to the task and had the better of the second quarter. A brace of points from Jack McGrath helped in the recovery, as did two great scores from Cathal Quinn. Cashel led by one at the break.

It remained in the balance for the entire second half. Cashel might have worried in advance about the threat of Paddy Creedon but the Tipperary panellist was well subdued and instead it was full forward Jack Lanigan who provided the winning inspiration. He scored eight points, three from play, and in the tight exchanges of this match those were very significant figures.

Cashel were doing well outfield but just lacked that little bit of finishing power in attack. Cathal Quinn was their standout figure, powerful at midfield from where he hit three points from open play.

Apart from Jack Lanigan, another top performer for Sarsfields was centre back James Armstrong. Liam McCormack deserves mention too for his input, including another three points from play. This was on a day when conditions favoured defenders.

Conditions were entirely different at Fethard Town Park for the second semi-final on Sunday evening. It was my first-ever visit to the site and the wow factor just hits you as soon as you enter the car park. What an amazing development - still a work in progress but destined to be a facility that will be the envy of all.

That full length Astro turf pitch is a glimpse at the future. With little room for a closed season in the fixtures’ calendar, this is the future of winter games and Fethard’s Town Park has led the way.

And so while Cashel and Sarsfields plodded away at Dundrum, the hurlers of Mullinahone and Borris-Ileigh had the luxury of perfect underfoot conditions. As a result, we were treated to a cracking contest, one that had all you could look for in a hurling game: fast, skilful, end-to-end play, marvellous individual displays, top-quality scores, all in a swaying contest that demanded attention right to the end of extra-time.

It was a thriller. On paper the north champions looked strong, especially with a forward line featuring seniors Eddie Ryan and James Devaney, as well as county minor star Paddy McCormack. That impression of northern supremacy survived the first half, at the end of which Borris led 0-10 to 0-7.

The southerners, however, soon corrected impressions on resuming. A blistering re-start saw them turn a three-point deficit into a one-point lead within five minutes. Mikey O’Shea was key to the turnaround.

Borris responded and soon they were back in the lead, Eddie Ryan now the key figure, leading the charge from play and frees. When the same Eddie set up Dan Ryan for the game’s first goal with eight minutes to play it seemed the defining score of the contest. This looked like the deal-maker.

Banish the thought. Within a minute Mikey O’Shea barrelled his way through at the other end for a great cancelling goal and all bets were off once more.

Still Borris seemed to have just that little bit more and the game careered down to the final minutes, with the north champions marginally ahead. The gap was three points approaching the 30th minute when Eoin O’Dwyer cut in from the right corner to finish a smashing goal to level matters.

Injury time brought more drama. An Eddie Ryan free nudged his team ahead and the game was three minutes over time when Conor Whelan held his nerve to point a huge free from out the country.

Into extra time now, where stamina and staying power would tell. Which side had the deeper reserves? The answer came in a blistering eight minutes, as Mullinahone conclusively stamped their entitlement on this contest. A Pa Hayes goal and points from Eoin O’Dwyer (two), Mikey O’Shea (free) and Conor Whelan (free) took them seven-up, sweet and refreshing and surely a winner now.

Well, not just yet. There was another kick from Borris in a contest that just refused to die. In injury time Eddie Ryan pointed yet another free and in the final play of the half Jack Fitzgerald had Borris-Ileigh’s second goal. Suddenly the lead was back to just three points once more, with the second period of additional time to come.

Ultimately, however, that blitz by Mullinahone in the first spell of extra time did the business. The Borris resistance had been broken and they had nothing left. Mullinahone held out for a three-point win and a place in the final.

Phew! It was breathtaking. Two smashing sides left it all on the pitch to offer great entertainment for the 1,200 or so onlookers. Mullinahone outstayed their opponents, ultimately breaking them in the final phase. I’d give huge credit to the Mullinahone defence, where Conor Whelan stood apart, but the entire unit was unbending. Even goalie, Stephen Hickey, made one crucial save in extra time.

Mikey O’Shea was the star up front, constantly taking on the Borris defence and hitting five points from play, as well as that crucial goal. Shane Morris was a hero too, hitting three points on the trot in the second half at a time when his team was in danger of drifting deeper into debt.

Eoin O’Dwyer deserves honourable mention also. Ultimately, though, it was Mullinahone’s more combative attitude and staying power that broke Borris-Ileigh resistance in the end.

The final is definitely one to anticipate. It is scheduled for this Sunday evening in Clonoulty, with a 7.30 start.

Liam Cahill’s panel earned a nice bonus at the weekend without pucking a ball. Clare’s narrow win over Waterford at Ennis saw the three teams tied on points, with Tipperary getting the nod on score difference.

I suspect it’s a development the manager will welcome – another fixture and another day to trial players ahead of the league start on the first weekend in February. Some silverware so early in the season would be pleasing too, even if it’s not a rated competition.

I missed the early rounds of this Munster League so I’ve been playing catch-up this week. It seems to have been quite a positive start for the new manager, the players looking hungry and combative, a healthy vibe coming from the panel.

I wasn’t surprised at some of the unusual placing of players, such as Breen at full back, McCormack at wing back and Kennedy at half forward. It’s trademark Cahill to shuffle the pack and freshen things up with novel moves. Remember the 2018 Under 21 side and the wholesale re-invention of the team following the Munster defeat to Cork. It will be interesting to see the team that goes into combat at the weekend.

Finally, it’s great to see two Tipperary schools still standing in the Harty Cup semi-finals. I missed the “quarters” but hope to see some of the action the next day. An all-Tipp final would be a dream pairing.

P.S. Thanks to Tommy Sheehan for the tip-top arrangements at Fethard Town Park. The project is in sound hands.