TOWN END COLUMN: Minor hurling win is a major positive for Tipperary GAA

The Gaelic Grounds on Saturday evening last in Limerick was a hive of activity at full time with supporters running onto the field to celebrate a famous victory over Galway in the All-Ireland minor hurling semi-final.

It was a win the county hurling followers badly needed following the disappointment of the senior campaign. After the win last Saturday Tipperary senior hurling manager Liam Cahill and Under 20 manager Brendan Cummins were on the field congratulating the players who had just qualified for the All-Ireland minor final.

Both had children playing so they were spectators with skin in the game and both Paul Cummins and Jack Cahill came on as substitutes, playing their part in the win.

Supporters needed something to cheer about after a lot of soul searching and questioning of where Tipperary hurling is going.
The feel-good factor is huge in any sport and in hurling the momentum it brings means players keep going that bit longer, often winning a breaking ball that can eventually make a difference in the end.

It was a cracking game. Galway came into it with two quality wins over Waterford and Dublin and they showed an intensity from the start that left no one in any doubt that the Munster champions would have to be at their best to win.

Centre back Johah Donnellan, whose father Michael was a former footballer of the year, had a storming game for Galway while Brian Callanan (who scored 0-15) was a Joe Canning type of full forward at the edge of the square for them.

The backs kept the ball going directly into him but Tipperary were equal to it in fairness, and some great clearances from Cathal O’Reilly, Owen O’Dwyer and company ensured Galway couldn’t get away from Tipperary on the scoreboard.

The team that James Woodlock built is full of spirit and positive attitude. They hurled their way into the game with Cillian Minogue, Stefan Tobin and Euan Murray all constantly looking for the ball and moving in the forwards.

The masses were well entertained and there was little between the teams throughout. The game changed before the break when the referee sent off Galway’s Rhys O’Connor for a flick, however a number of calls left both management teams and supporters scratching their heads at times.

A Galway player had grasped a Tipperary players helmet just before the sending off yet no action was taken by the referee relating to that incident despite the referee and linesman consulting. The game, like a lot of close games, had an edge.

The game changed with the sending off yet Galway made little of being down to 14 players, showing great cleverness to play with a two man full forward line and directing pinpoint long range passes, thus negating the advantage Tipperary had.

As the game rolled into extra time the helter skelter trend continued in the game and it took a moment of magic from Cillian Minogue to secure the winner deep into stoppage game.

It was his seventh point from play and capped off a thrilling afternoon for supporters. Onwards now to Nowlan Park. The news that a coin toss decided the venue for the decider came as a surprise to many as on paper at least, it is a clear advantage to the home side.

The tidiness and compactness of the ground offers them a familiarity that is welcomed in a tight game yet had the game been in Thurles, Kilkenny wouldn’t have been at as much of a disadvantage as they won their semi final there, and it had never had the ‘fortress’ quality for Tipperary that say Cusack Park has for Clare teams.

James Woodlock makes light of the venue decision in the aftermath and rightly calculates that Tipperary people will travel in great numbers to the game bringing loud support.

It is an atmospheric ground and the cauldron like feel added to the spectacle at the Minor Camogie final which Tipperary won there earlier this year. The Under 20 hurling final was also played there a few weeks back.

The Offaly support at that Under 20 final was a once-off in terms of volume of footfall and sheer excitement as eventually Offaly finally got back to winning a national title in hurling.

The colour and chants at a hurling match were a rare sight. Tipp supporters were outnumbered that day but the likelihood is that the attendance at the minor final will be ‘50-50’ Tipperary and Kilkenny.

The likelihood is a close game with many traditional elements at play, as seems to always happen when the counties meet in championship games. For most Tipperary supporters there is nothing like a Tipperary and Kilkenny final.

The epic pairing dredges up memories of yore and classic games down the years. The venue is a happy hunting ground for James Woodlock too.

The epic final in 2022 against Offaly resulted in a Paddy Phelan free being deflected to the net by Paddy McCormack from Borris Ileigh ensuring James Woodlock was, as Napoleon always asked for in battle, a lucky general.

Once stationed in Kilkenny as a Garda back in his own playing days, ‘Woodie’ hung a Tipperary flag out the window of his car on All-Ireland final week when he was playing against the Cats.

That time Charlie Carter tracked him down, ensuring no blue and gold flag flew anywhere at all in the Marble City!
Woodlock’s progression as a manager has been startling.

He was always a keen follower of the game and any time I ever did commentary with him on a match his calls were spot-on and his brain was fast in finding the words needed to solve dilemmas. He has the same quality on the sideline.

As a manager he brings high energy and a focus to the moment. At the end of normal time in the semi-final it was noticeable. Tipp lads were slightly deflated that they hadn’t put 14 man Galway away, yet when James Woodlock addressed them on the sideline, they went back out on the field 10 foot tall.

They will need that power and heart against Kilkenny in their own backyard. Jake Mullen, whose brother Adrian is a Kilkenny senior hurler, struck 0-13 against Clare in Thurles last Sunday. They are a formidable team, as are Tipperary.

The hint of extra pressure is on Kilkenny considering where the game is. Which county needs the win more?

Saturday week, Nowlan Park in Kilkenny, is one not to be missed.