Tipperary minor hurlers finely tuned to just keep on winning

“The business end of the season is where I always want my teams playing,” Tipperary manager James Woodlock says about knockout hurling.

This Saturday the Tipperary minors arrive at the business end where the stakes are highest, with no room for error. That focus presents its own set of challenges but Tipperary will this Saturday look to continue doing what they have been doing all year which is to play a freeflowing, fast moving blend of hurling.

The success in the Munster championships was well celebrated and was a special win because of the fact that the new cup was aptly named after Holycross Ballycahill and Tipperary great John Doyle.

The family of Doyle had just presented the new cup to Munster GAA when the Tipperary team, managed by Woodlock, claimed the title.

‘Slievenamon’ rang out deep into the air at the John Doyle Centre in Holycross that night and the feel good factor was high following the achievement.

Now Tipperary have had a chance to get back to the training ground, regroup and “get back to basics” ahead of Saturday’s game which is likely to be end-to-end stuff.

Tipperary management feel that “coming into the game with the right attitude” is crucial to ensuring the team dictates what happens on the field.

Galway minors traditionally played with a blend of long range points and soloing in on goal and this team follows that template also although they haven’t exactly been powerful to date this season.

Brian Callanan has been scorer-in-chief for the Tribesmen as the Ardrahan playmaker hit 1-9 against Wexford in the Leinster championship and was to the fore against Kilkenny too when they bowed out of the Leinster semi final.

The Cats play Clare in the other semi final this weekend and no doubt Galway would love another go against Kilkenny should they get the opportunity.

When Galway played Kilkenny, a ‘switch off’ period in the first half and second cost Galway dearly as they conceded goals in quick succession.

They regrouped since to reach the last four of the championship and will hope to have remedied issues in defence which will make them a more difficult prospect for Tipperary on Saturday.

Following Leinster, they easily accounted for Waterford (2-16 to 1-6) and then beaten Leinster finalists Dublin (3-18 to 2-18) in Thurles the weekend before last.

Brian Callanan and Cillian Roche are forwards that will take watching but Tipperary will look to continue in the same vein of form that edged them to Munster glory.

Galway backs will need to be sharp to stop Stefan Tobin who struck 1-3 against reigning All-Ireland champions Clare in the Munster final. Cillian Minogue too, who struck 1-1 when Tipperary collected their 42nd provincial title, will take watching.

Up until then Clare hadn't conceded a goal in their campaign. Euan Murray and an Eoghan Doughan struck 0-9 between them in that game so Tipperary have a number of aces this season.

Cathal O’Reilly is a steady pair of hands in defence and the Holycross-Ballycahill player will be looking to drive on his team and win another cup to bring back to the John Doyle Centre over the coming weeks.

Tipperary will play their “usual game” and while Galway will have momentum after two wins on the trot, Tipperary have been working away in the training field and go into this game primed and ready to perform.

A number of the Galway panelists were part of last years set up which reached the All-Ireland final where they were beaten by Clare.

Last year Tipperary didn’t make it out of Munster but two years ago Tipperary and Galway met in the All-Ireland semi final in what was a high scoring encounter at TUS Gaelic Grounds, Limerick.

Following that encounter Tipperary went on to beat Offaly in the All-Ireland final. Winning is a habit and this years Tipperary minor hurlers have found a rhythm.

If they bring in their Munster winning form into this game they will stand a serious chance of progressing to the All-Ireland final.

Saturday’s game is likely to be a high scoring, open and free flowing game so if it does emerge into a shootout the Tipperary forwards are capable of hitting the key scores which will ensure further glory beckons.