The View: Tipperary's hurlers and footballers need to get the support of the county behind them

The Allianz National Leagues are all set to kick off next weekend with Tipperary heading to Dungarvan for the football clash with Waterford in the first round - the hurlers are out a week later against Laois in their first round clash in Portlaoise.

The importance of the leagues to both Premier County camps cannot be understated and the respective management teams will be very conscious of this as they set out their stall for the season.

Already, both sets of players have been drilled on the importance of the leagues and while they are engaging in pretty heavy workloads in the training field at the present time, they will have to work this in to the games schedule so that they arrive at the many venues around the country in top fettle to try and pick up the points on offer.

Michael Quinlivan, pictured above,  is a big name absentee from the panel but against that David and his management have scoured Tipperary in a bid to unearth talent for the squad. He has also lost Conor Bowe from last year's squad - the Moyne Templetuohy star has been called into the hurling set-up and has made the jump. This has always been a reality for the football management and David Power has been more than gracious in wishing those who switch code from football to hurling, the very best. After all, everybody wants what is best for Tipperary whether hurling or football, and he is pragmatic enough to know that the majority of players would opt for hurling given half a chance.

Still though, take a glance at the football panel and you will find plenty of players capable of getting Tipperary out of division 4 of the Allianz Football League. And, that has to be the goal as they make the trip to Deise land on Sunday.

It is only by playing in the higher leagues that Tipperary will be able to develop players and they will need to get out of the lowest division if they want to get players to a position of being comfortable mixing it with the bigger boys.

Some of the players in the squad have been very close to division 2 football and they need to drag the rest along by the boots in order to get them up to the speed, pace and skill of the inter county game. They'll have every resource put at their disposal so let's hope they can start with a win on Sunday.

The hurlers have an extra week to prepare themselves for the challenges which will come over the next few weeks. Laois away will be no simple task and then they will welcome Kilkenny to Semple Stadium for an eagerly awaited contest on February 12.

One would assume that Tipperary will have to field reasonably strong sides in these games, but the challenge will be to mix in some of the fringe players with some of the more established names so that that integration can be seamless rather than a struggle. Fringe players being fired into a low key team makes it very difficult for anyone to shine so the mix has to be right.

It's also fair to say that the Tipperary players and management will need to get the support of the county behind them. And, the only way of doing that is by winning games. Supporters will accept that new names have to be tried out but their acceptance levels will be tested if the results are not good.

We wish both panels the best.

Hurling Panel:

Barry Hogan, Kiladangan

Brian Hogan, Lorrha Dorrha

Craig Morgan, Kilruane MacDonaghs

Brian McGrath, Loughmore-Castleiney

Cathal Barrett, Holycross-Ballycahill

Eoghan Connolly, Cashel King Cormacs

Ronan Maher, Thurles Sarsfields

Robert Byrne, Portroe

Paddy Cadell, JK Brackens

Barry Heffernan, Nenagh Eire Óg

Dillon Quirke, Clonoulty Rossmore

James Quigley Kiladangan

Enda Heffernan, Clonoulty Rossmore

John Meagher Loughmore-Castleiney

Seamus Kennedy, St Marys

Dan McCormack, Borris-Ileigh

Alan Flynn Kiladangan

Cian Darcy, Kilruane MacDonaghs

Conor Bowe, Moyne-Templetuohy

John McGrath, Loughmore-Castleiney

Patrick Maher, Lorrha Dorrha

Ger Browne, Cashel King Cormacs

Mark Kehoe Kilsheelan Kilcash

Michael Breen, Ballina

Noel McGrath, Loughmore-Castleiney

Padraic Maher, Thurles Sarsfields

Conor Stakelum, Thurles Sarsfields

Jake Morris, Nenagh Eire Óg

Gearoid O’Connor, Moyne-Templetuohy

Dillon Walsh, Ballingarry

Denis Maher, Thurles Sarsfields

Jason Forde, Silvermines

Paul Flynn, Kiladangan

Seamus Callanan, Drom & Inch

Football Panel:

Bill Maher, Kilsheelan Kilcash

Ciaran Cannon, Clonmel Commercials

Colm O’Shaughnessy, Ardfinnan

Colman Kennedy, Clonmel Commercials

Conal Kennedy, Clonmel Commercials

Conor Ryan, Loughmore Castleiney

Conor Sweeney, Ballyporeen

Eanna McBride, JK Brackens

Evan Comerford, Kilsheelan Kilcash

Jack Harney, Moyle Rovers

Jack Kennedy, Clonmel Commercials

Jason Lonergan, Clonmel Commercials

Jimmy Feehan, Killenaule

Kevin Fahey, Clonmel Commercials

Kuba Beban, JK Brackens

Liam Ryan, Clonmel Commercials

Luke Boland, Moyle Rovers

Mark O’Meara, Grangemockler / Ballyneale

Mark Russell, Aherlow

Martin Kehoe, Mullinahone

Michael O’Reilly, Clonmel Commercials

Mikey O’Shea, Mullinahone

Niall Heffernan Golden Kilfeacle

Paudie Feehan, Killenaule

Robbie Kiely, Barryroe Cork

Sean O’Connor, Clonmel Commercials

Shane Foley, Moyle Rovers

Shane O’Connell, Golden Kilfeacle

Stephen Quirke, Moyle Rovers

Steven O’Brien, Ballina

Tommy Maher, Loughmore Castleiney

Willie Eviston, Loughmore Castleiney