Tipperary head for the Gold Coast while Colin O'Riordan heads back to Melbourne

Following a competitive lay-off of over seven months since their Tailteann Cup exit against Carlow last May, Tipperary senior footballers return to competitive action at 1.30 on this Sunday with the first of two scheduled McGrath Cup games.

For the third time in 12 months, David Power’s side will make the short journey around the Comeraghs to the re-arranged venue at The Gold Coast in Dungarvan (originally fixed for Fraher Field) to tackle Waterford, hoping to begin the calendar year with a win. A victory over the Déise, who perennially seem to provide their local rivals with their most fired-up displays, would set Tipperary up handsomely for their second encounter.

The following Saturday, January 14, Tipp will entertain Limerick in Templetuohy and should they win both games a place in the McGrath Cup final would be a welcome prize against the top placed team from the other group comprising Kerry, Cork and Clare. But it will be no easy task for Tipperary considering “The Treaty” handed them a comprehensive defeat in Thurles in the championship in mid May.

Preparations, according to the Tipperary boss, have been going as well as can be expected since training resumed at the beginning of November, with many players working on various training and fitness programmes prior to that.

“I am happier that we are further down the line this year compared to 12 months ago and quite a few of the younger guys have the experience of a campaign behind them now that they didn’t have at the outset last year,” said David Power, now beginning his fourth year at the helm of Tipperary senior football.

“We have added a few new fellows also and currently we have about 46 involved in the panel but we will have to reduce that by 10 or so over the next week or two. We will probably settle for a panel of 36 or close to it before the league commences against Down. But for the most part, with the normal comings and goings, the core group is the same,” he said.

“I know I keep saying that Dungarvan is a hard place to win, and that’s because it is a hard place to win, especially for us. We were lucky to get a draw there in the league last year, but that said the point from the draw proved vital in getting us promoted at the end of the league. The championship game (April 30, 2-13 to 1-8) was more comfortable but Waterford still caused us problems that day too,” added the Kilsheelan/Kilcash clubman.

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“Waterford will always feel that they can beat Tipp and they raise their game for us, especially over there, and we must be ready for that challenge. If we get the win, it gives us a home game against Limerick the following week, with a McGrath Cup final place on the line should we manage it. We will use that as the target to get our year off to a positive start,” he added.
When asked about changes to the panel and backroom, the Tipperary manager went on to add:

“Bill Maher will be a big loss as he is in the States now. Also, I can confirm that Colin O’Riordan, who was with us for a few training sessions, will not be joining us this year, despite media speculation to the contrary. Colin and his girlfriend have decided to return to Australia on January 8, the same day that we will be taking on Waterford,” added David.

“On the plus side we will have Emmet Moloney (Drom/Inch) back from his travels and there is the bonus of a fully-fit Steven O’Brien (Ballina) who hasn’t been 100% fully fit over the past two seasons, so that is good news at the start of the year,” he said.

Disappointingly, it seems Tipperary will also have to do without Mark Russell (Aherlow) and Eanna McBride (JK Brackens), certainly for the early part of the year, with ankle and wrist injuries, respectively. On the flip side Paudie Feehan (Killenaule) who was going well before a bad injury last year, should also be back on board.

The backroom squad is more or less as is, with the exception of the departure of former Dublin player Paddy Christie who has taken up the role of Longford senior football manager (Tipp will play Longford in the league on February 22 in Pearse Park). Sean Barry (a former Meath underage coach) replaces Paddy Christie, while the remainder of the backroom staff comprise Charlie McGeever, Elaine Harte, Declan Browne and Tommy Toomey.

Tipperary will commence their seven-game (three at home, four away) Division 3 League campaign on Saturday, January 28 with a home fixture against Down.

Thereafter, Tipperary will also have home games against Antrim and Offaly, with four away trips mixed in, two in Ulster against Cavan and Fermanagh, and also visits to Longford and Westmeath for their final game on March 26.