Tipperary go into All-Ireland Minor Hurling final with a fighting chance

Something has to give when those old rivals Tipperary and Kilkenny meet in this evening's Electric Ireland All-Ireland Minor Hurling Championship final at UPMC Nowlan Park (5.30).

The Munster and Leinster champions both needed extra-time in their semi-finals, Tipperary finally seeing off the determined challenge of 14-man Galway, while Kilkenny got the better of Clare.

The counties are level at 21 All-Ireland wins apiece in minor hurling’s roll of honour, so by Saturday night the bragging rights for the county with the most victories will be resting either Suirside or Noreside.

Tipperary’s last success was two years ago, while Kilkenny have to go back ten years for the last time their minors lifted the cup.

Tipp will be hoping to replicate the result from the 2022 final, when they beat Offaly in the most dramatic of circumstances.
Offaly seemed poised to win their fourth All-Ireland minor title and a first since way back in 1989, only for a last-gasp Tipperary goal to deny them their hour of glory.

Their cause seemed a lost one when 14-man Tipperary trailed Offaly by six points with as many minutes remaining. However, they slowly edged their way back into contention and a late late goal from Borris-Ileigh’s Paddy McCormack completed a remarkable comeback, and supplied a sensational finish to an exciting game that was worthy of the occasion.

The manager two years ago was James Woodlock, and he will be hoping to guide his team to another famous victory this weekend. In the 38-year-old Drom/Inch man, the county has a manager who knows what it takes to win on the big occasion, both as a manager and during his own club and inter-county career.

Tipp will return to Nowlan Park, the scene of their 2022 triumph, for Saturday’s final. Woodlock makes the point that his team has already won on away soil in Limerick and Waterford this season and says the venue will hold no fears for them.

Tipp have lost just one of their six championship ties during the campaign, which was against Clare in the group stages of the championship, when they went down by 4-11 to 0-19.

The lessons from that game were taken on board and duly learned and Tipp turned the tables on The Banner when the teams had a rematch in the Munster final, as they emerged triumphant by 2-17 to 0-16.

Facing a Kilkenny side that will be roared on by its partisan support, they will be up against it on Saturday. However, Tipperary have grown in stature throughout the championship and with talented players of the calibre of Cillian Monogue, Stefan Tobin, Euan Murray, Eoghan Doughan, Owen O’Dwyer and captain Cathal O’Reilly, they’ll go into the final with a fighting chance.

We wish them well.