PREVIEW: Injuries to key players won't dampen the positivity around Cummins' U20 group

Tipperary U20 hurling manager Brendan Cummins says preparations have gone smoothly ahead of Wednesday night’s Munster Championship opener against Cork in FBD Semple Stadium, as the Premier look to defend the provincial and All-Ireland titles secured in 2025.

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After weeks where attention has been dominated by the National Leagues and school competitions, Cummins is satisfied with how his panel has come together in the lead-in to the championship.

“Yeah, it's been great. Things have gone well for us in preparation. Obviously, the partnership we have with the schools, with Nenagh going so well, and the lads have been involved with the senior again. It's been all good, and we're all looking forward to the challenge that Cork are going to bring on Wednesday night.”

The balancing act between U20 and senior commitments remains a key factor, with several players featuring in Liam Cahill’s panel during the league campaign. Cummins insists that senior inter-county demands always take precedence.

However, it hasn’t all been smooth sailing despite the strong preparation. Cummins has been forced to contend with a number of injury setbacks ahead of the championship opener. The panel will only be finalised when the team is named on Monday night.

“Unfortunately, Tom Delaney, with his ankle injury picked up before Christmas, has had to have an operation on that. So, he's out. Billy O'Brien picked up a knock just after the Harty semi-final against Thurles, so he's out for the rest of the year, although I'd expect him probably to be back with his club, please God, later on in the summer.

“Robbie Ryan just picked up a knock a couple of weeks ago, so he won't be available for the first two rounds of the championship, and we're hoping that he'll be okay to recover for further down the road. 

“But you're going to get this kind of stuff, and we're gutted for the players involved, obviously. But there are others there now that will have to stand up and fill the breach. And that's the way, I suppose, sport is. And we're just hoping the lads will have a speedy recovery.”

Tipperary’s squad has had a massive turnover compared to last season’s success, with several new faces stepping up after the departure of key players.

“I think three or four of the lads that were on the team last year are with us again, I think about 12 or 13 or so of the panel. And a lot of the players last year who had that success. 

But that's what I enjoy most about the job, to be honest with you, is that reset button every year. We were lucky, I suppose, to have a two-year cycle, and now we're in a reset. And this team, at U17 level, they would have felt that they had underachieved.”

Standing in their way are a Cork side that Cummins expects to provide a stern examination, with both a talented playing group and a high-profile management team in place.

“Yeah, look, there's no doubt it's going to be a tough test for us. Like Barry Walsh, Barry O'Flynn, and Ben Walsh, and these fellas are all going to be playing with Cork. They were only barely beaten by Clare then in the Munster semi-final (in 2025). So they have a lot of those players there. 

“As we all know, the Munster Championship is vicious, no matter if it's U17 for James (Woodlock) and his team, or whether it's me or whether it's Liam, or any inter-county manager in Munster.

“I think that's what we're living for, is that adrenaline and that on-the-edge feeling, not really knowing what's going to happen. And I suppose that's why we're hoping there'll be a big crowd in Thurles next Wednesday night to support us because we will need that 16th person in the stand,” he finished.

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