5.
Craig Morgan (Kilruane MacDonaghs) Morgan had a terrific breakout year in 2022 under Colm Bonner but a nasty knee injury in the club championship in August of that year has prevented his progress from continuing. The 2023 championship came too late for Morgan as he only made a brief appearance against Offaly - in what was his comeback game - but he picked up a muscle injury that ruled him out of the Galway game. Morgan will now be desperate to make up for lost time. With options at cornerback light on the ground, now especially with the injury to Danny Slattery who had been impressing - Morgan will be a big player for Tipp, and he looks like he will be a big player from restart and short puckouts with his ability to carry the ball. What is needed for Morgan is a consistent run of games in which he stays injury-free and if he could do that and nail down a cornerback spot in the process over the course of the league, it would solve a big issue for Tipperary. Fingers crossed.
6.
Barry Heffernan (Nenagh Éire Óg) Another of the big list of players injured last year makes his way back into the panel and Heffernan has looked good in his limited game time to date. He didn’t look fully fit in his games with Nenagh Éire Óg during the club championship, but he looks to have put in huge work over the winter and seems to be in good shape leading into the league. Heffernan has huge experience, but his game time at midfield has been noteworthy so far and he has been very effective there, contributing handsomely in the scoring stakes with his ability to carry the ball being noteworthy. In terms of the standard bearers like Limerick, he looks to have the physical stature to mix it with the likes of Will O’Donoghue, Gearoid Hegarty, and Tom Morrissey around the middle and this might be Liam Cahill’s thinking. Should he get some good game time in the league, he could be just the man to do a job around the middle.
7.
Billy Seymour (Kiladangan) Seymour’s stock couldn’t be higher in Tipperary after a terrific campaign with his club Kiladangan in which he was a key player in their run to lifting Dan Breen. He has been a player who has been touted for a run with the Tipperary seniors, but like so many others now getting their chance, his progress has been delayed for various reasons. One of the forwards who helped Cahill to underage success with Tipperary, Seymour has the physical stature and scoring prowess to make it at this level but it may take time for him to get to the physical level required for senior intercounty level. He has not featured much so far, but leading into this weekend he will be a player who could be a wildcard come championship time if he takes his opportunities and performs to the level he is capable of.