FINAL PREVIEW: Winning habit a must for Tipperary ahead of Munster Hurling League final

Coop Superstores Munster Hurling League Final:

Sunday January 22nd, Cork vs Tipperary in Pairc Ui Rinn @3pm

It might not be the Munster hurling final for the Tipperary hurlers this Sunday, but it is an extra competitive game for Liam Cahill to look over his personnel after Clare’s win over Waterford in Ennis last Sunday afternoon.

The Banner win meant that Tipperary topped the three team group by virtue of scoring difference and while it wouldn’t have bothered Cahill and co if they missed out on the final, it does present an opportunity to give a final look at a few players ahead of the opening round of the Allianz hurling league on February 4th.

The results won’t be the be all and end all obviously, but the continuance of that winning feeling after beating Clare a few weeks ago would be welcomed as the Premier travel to Pairc Ui Rinn to face Cork in the Munster Hurling League final this Sunday; a Cork team who - much like Tipp - are hoping a new management setup can inject confidence and competitiveness into a group that also had a poor campaign in 2022.

The Rebels are under the stewardship of Pat Ryan this year, and they clinched a spot in the final thanks to a late showing against All-Ireland champions Limerick, who were severely depleted after a large cohort of the panel only recently returned from a team holiday.

Despite that, you can be sure that both Cahill and Ryan would like to win this final despite its limited prestige, as from a Tipperary point of view, there are still a fair number of players who were named in Cahill’s originally 40-man panel who have yet to feature in the Munster League.

Nothing can replace the winning habit that only comes from playing competitive games, and despite the pre-season competitions coming under scrutiny in recent weeks, the interest from the Tipperary public is clearly very strong judging by the crowd that descended on Nenagh for the Clare game two weekends ago and that gives these kind of games extra edge and an added incentive for players to perform.

We have yet to see ten players that are named on the panel, with the likes of Loughmore Castleiney duo John McGrath and Ciaran Connolly unlikely to feature anytime soon, as both are recovering from injuries sustained last year.

The only younger cohort of players included by Cahill yet to be tested are Andrew Ormond and Kian O’Kelly, and Eoghan Connolly with the former picking up an injury at the tail end of last year’s club championship which may be hampering his inclusion thus far.

Niall O’Meara has been given an extended break from competitive action after playing deep into the end of 2022 with Kilruane MacDonaghs on their run to county honours, while Ronan Maher, Seamus Callanan, Patrick Maher, and team captain Noel McGrath will all be gradually reintroduced over the course of the league, judging by selections so far.

A number of these players could possibly be included in the matchday panel for the trip to Cork on Sunday, as the Fitzgibbon Cup comes down the track over the next week with a fair chunk of players involved over the course of the next month or so, and Cahill will be conscious of that fact when it comes to selecting a team.

While it is still very early days, the signs have been encouraging in the first two outings of the year, and come Sunday evening, the hope will be that the Tipperary ship is sailing on the right direction after a good performance in Cork.

Throw-in is at 3pm this Sunday, January 22nd in Pairc Ui Rinn.