Munster Senior Football Championship begins - Tipperary play Waterford on Sunday

Disappointingly, not even the weather is showing much sign of improvement this year as the 2024 football championship season arrives, and so too, the recent form of the Tipperary senior team doesn’t give the county’s faithful followers much hope in terms of a good summer ahead, it seems.

But, like the perennial flowers of spring, the championship is with us once again and Tipperary will open their provincial campaign in Fraher Field, Dungarvan on this Sunday against their similarly suffering neighbours Waterford. It will be the third consecutive year the sides have met in the opening round in Munster; the prize this time, a place in a semi-final (away to Clare in Ennis if Tipp, on Saturday, April 20). And in a big Kipling ‘If’, should Tipperary win twice, not alone would they be through to a Munster final but there would also be a place in the Sam Maguire Cup for them.

To say that 2024 thus far has been a disappointment would be an understatement. Having been relegated from Division 3 of the Allianz League last year - following a seven-game winless campaign - expectations of promotion were fairly tempered. What transpired was below even modest expectations - one win, two draws, four losses, scoring on average 12 points per game, conceding 15 points. Tipp failed to win any of their four home games against Carlow, Laois, Waterford (draw) or Wexford. On the road they won in Longford, drew in London and lost their final game on Sunday week last in Carrick-on-Shannon against Leitrim. It was, most definitely, a campaign to forget and Tipperary will remain in the bottom division for at least another 12 months.

As sports followers often quote, league tables do not lie. In Division 4, Tipperary were cut adrift from the others by four league points in the end, finishing third from bottom with just London and Waterford below them, occupying 30th, 31st and 32nd places respectively. The Deise ended their campaign with just a single point, earned against Tipperary in Bansha in Round 5. That result may well give Waterford the belief that this might be their year against a side whom they always seem to find something extra.

Waterford haven’t beaten Tipperary in the Munster Senior Football Championship since 1988. They have met 11 times in that period, with the Premier winning each time. Only twice have Tipperary failed to win by more than six points.

It has been the proverbial baptism of fire for Tipperary manager Paul Kelly since taking on the role last November, his first game in charge being a difficult 3-20 to 0-10 defeat to Kerry in the McGrath Cup in early January. Tipp’s first win of his tenure came the following week in the same competition against Division 3 outfit Limerick when the home side emerged victorious in Templetuohy. Limerick, in time, would lose all seven league games and will now join Tipp in the basement division in 2025.
Sport is about the next day, though, and past results and statistics are there to be learned from, as you move on to the next battle.

In a definite period of transition now for a county that won the Munster title in 2020, Tipperary have been struggling with the withdrawal of many key players for various reasons but also with injuries, a problem that becomes more accentuated the smaller the panel of quality players that you have to choose from.

For Sunday’s game there are real concerns for team captain Steven O’Brien, Shane O’Connell and Emmet Moloney, all with hamstrings injuries, with Clonmel Commercials’ forward Sean O’Connor also sitting this one out.

Tipperary senior football captain, Steven O’Brien, pictured at Cahir Castle for the recent launch of the Munster Senior Football Championship. Tipperary will play Waterford in Fraher Field, Dungarvan, on this Sunday. Picture: Harry Murphy/Sportsfile

Tipperary captain Steven O’Brien, at the recent Munster Championship launch in Cahir Castle, alluded to the frustration of injuries, personally, and for the team.

“It has been frustrating, and been frustrating for the group. Everyone knows we can’t afford to be missing too many, especially with the number we are missing, so you’d like to think if one or two of us were back fit we’d help the lads out a bit more as we have a very young panel. We had seven or eight lads on the current team playing in their first National League campaign”.
On the positive side Aherlow’s Mark Russell is back and that can only be good news as the towering midfielder brings presence but more importantly an ability to kick points from distance.

Former captain and All-Star, Ballyporeen’s Conor Sweeney, is very nearly ready to resume after last year’s cruciate injury, so it will be interesting to see if Paul Kelly adds him to the panel or waits for another day.

STAYING POSITIVE
Steven O’Brien, in his first year as captain, remains positive despite all the setbacks of results and injuries.
“It is never easy when you are not winning games but lads are staying positive. You have to realise how young the group is and how much they have to learn so we definitely won’t be throwing the toys out of the pram just yet.

“It is about sticking to the process and believing what we are doing. I couldn’t ask for more effort from the players and management, everyone is putting their shoulder to the wheel so you just have to trust the process and the results will come when lads get more experience, more confidence, and a few more experienced lads come back into the group and that will drive the group on more,” added the Ballina man, just one of two survivors on this panel from the Tipperary All-Ireland minor winning team of 2011, goalkeeper Evan Comerford the other.

Having already worn the Tipperary senior jersey for previous managers Peter Creedon, Liam Kearns and David Power, Steven O’Brien is fully supportive of the new boss, Paul Kelly, in a difficult period for the football in Tipperary.

“He is very detail-oriented. He leaves no stone unturned, no matter what he is doing which is good and is something we might have needed,” added Steven, a former Sigerson Cup medal winner with DCU.

“He has a great view of football with great ideas. He wants Tipp to do as well as we can and I believe in it. He is doing fine and the results will come if we stay trusting the system. He and his management team are top class and everyone around them is a great support so hopefully we can drive it on,” added Steven.

Jason Curry (Rathgormack and Waterford) and Steven O'Brien (Ballina and Tipperary) at the recent Munster Senior Football Championship launch held at Cahir Castle. Pic: Harry Murphy/Sportsfile

Always respectful of Waterford, a county with a great pride in the big ball especially among the clubs in the west of the county such as Rathgormack, Ballinacourty and The Nire, the Tipperary captain knows his team will be on full alert heading to Fraher Field on Sunday. And indeed, Waterford will consider themselves unlucky not to have recorded a rare league win against Tipperary in Bansha on March 3.

“Waterford are no gimme. They are a strong side in their own right. They are in their transition period as well, no more than ourselves, so it is two teams in transition trying to build momentum so we will both see it as an equal opportunity.
“Waterford boys are honest, they are going to give as good as they get. We have found out in recent years you want to be going down there with your eyes wide open,” concluded Steven.

Expect Waterford to throw the kitchen sink at Tipp from the off. Tipp will need to be ready.