Tipperary hurler Sean Ryan eager to prove doubters wrong ahead of club championship

Templederry Kenyons started their reintroduction to senior hurling last year with a positive end to the championship which saw them not only avoid the relegation scrap but come within a hair’s breadth of qualifying from a group containing strong Mid Tipperary teams last year.

And they seem to have started this year’s competitive action with real verve and intent after a demolition job on Kilruane MacDonaghs before losing out to county champions Kiladangan in the North Championship recently and they will be hoping they can start this year’s county championship similarly.

“We were disappointed that we had to take it to the last game to really show what we’re made of,” Ryan recalled of their 2023 campaign.

“I think, even coming into this year we have started a bit stronger and didn’t allow ourselves the two or three-game buffer, so hopefully, we can drive on now after a good North Championship.

“It’s definitely given us confidence. They were county champions two years ago and they were never going to be easy. Going on then and facing the county champions of last year then in Kiladangan; I don’t think we did too badly against them.

“We had a few mistakes early on and we let it run away from us and that let us down a bit, but there’s definitely a lot to take from the two matches and we learn from both of them.

“I think the way the groups have gone in the last few years it always seems to come down to the last day between one or two teams. I don’t think the Brackens game is the be-all and end-all because we’ve seen in recent years that the last game could see you go from last to second in a split second.

JK Brackens are first up for the Kenyons men in the opening round and with the group containing heavy hitters in Kiladangan and Clonoulty Rossmore, it represents a big chance for both teams to get two points which could be crucial come the last game of the group stages.

“It’s not the be-all and end-all but it is definitely a game we’re targeting.

“It’s a step up, especially coming from Seamus O Riain (Premier Intermediate) to playing with that calibre of player.

“Look, we’ve got some great players in Templederry that are the reason we are in this position because they are giving it to you every single night in training, making you better,” he ended.