Patience pays off as Tipperary hurling's class of 2019 begin to shine on the senior stage

If ever there was a case study for having patience with underage talent, you need look no further than Tipperary hurling’s class of 2019!

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Craig Morgan was the team captain of the Munster and All-Ireland winning U20 team of 2019, in a team that swept their way past all who lay before them that year.

So much was expected of that group as a result, and coupled with the senior success in that same year, there was a hope and expectation that that cohort of players would make an immediate impression in the senior ranks in the following few years.

However, circumstances curtailed that progress but it is fair to say, that the talent in the likes of Morgan, Bryan O’Mara, Eoghan Connolly, Andrew Ormond and Jake Morris is finally coming to bare, and Morgan always felt that it would happen sooner or later.

“These are hugely talented players,” Morgan said to the assembled media in the Horse & Jockey Hotel last Monday evening.

“We all have belief in each other, and we’re very close friends as well. That’s just the way it goes. You can’t be pondering on things like that.

“You just have to keep on going. It mightn’t click at one stage, but it doesn’t mean it’s never going to click. There’s a big jump from that age up. You just have to improve.

“Every year, you’re going out and trying to improve as boys, individually and collectively. Players are going to flourish at different moments. You’ve seen Andy there over the last couple of games.

“He’s been outstanding for us, which is brilliant. We’ve always seen that with Andy. He’s a brilliant player, same with Bryan, and different players like that.

“There’s a whole panel of players there who are more than capable of playing at any stage. You’ve seen Peter McGarry there playing the last day, making his debut.

“It’s a hugely competitive panel with a huge array of talent.”

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