John McNamara is focused on the challenge ahead for the Tipperary minor footballers

This Thursday evening the Tipperary minor footballers will take the field for their first knockout game of the season against Cork in the Munster minor football semi-final.

The championship round robin started brightly for Tipperary with three wins on the trot against Limerick, Clare and Waterford however in the phase 1 decider, the Darryl Darcy cup final, Tipperary lost out to Limerick at Mallow last week. 

Behind the scenes Tipperary manager John McNamara has been juggling injuries to key players but he is hoping that Thurles native Ronan O'Brien, who missed last week's clash with Limerick, will be fit to start against Cork:

 "To be fair to Ronan he battled through the Clare and Waterford games while carrying knocks and he might have been able to play against Limerick but I didn't want to risk playing him with the Munster semi-final on the way. That is the big card for me.

 "That is the game where we want to see how much we have improved as a county when we take on the big boys. Emmet Bonnar has a constant back injury but that is the way it is with a squad, you have to trust the squad that is there."

McNamara was manager last year when Tipperary put up a strong showing against Cork in the championship but ultimately were second best to the Leesiders 

The Clonmel Commercials stalwart is planning on things going better this time round against a Cork team that beat Kerry in their quarter-final last week:

"I've chatted to a few managers around the country who have played them and they have said that Cork are very strong. They are very talented footballers, they are multitalented. I know there are a few of them with Munster rugby teams so they are going to be physical and capable and like every Cork side they can play football. 

"We are going to make a game of it and show we can play as well," he said. 

The action gets underway at FBD Semple Stadium on Thursday the 18th at 7pm.