The View: Tipperary's hurlers and footballers need to get the support of the county behind them

The Allianz National Leagues are all set to kick off next weekend with Tipperary heading to Dungarvan for the football clash with Waterford in the first round - the hurlers are out a week later against Laois in their first round clash in Portlaoise.

The importance of the leagues to both Premier County camps cannot be understated and the respective management teams will be very conscious of this as they set out their stall for the season.

Already, both sets of players have been drilled on the importance of the leagues and while they are engaging in pretty heavy workloads in the training field at the present time, they will have to work this in to the games schedule so that they arrive at the many venues around the country in top fettle to try and pick up the points on offer.

For David Power and his men, the football league is of utmost importance - perhaps even more so than the championship. That might sound like a strange statement to make, but the reality is that if Tipp do not produce a decent showing in the league, they will be hard pressed to produce it in the championship - and remember, they are on the right side of the championship draw this season and there are great possibilities.

Michael Quinlivan, pictured above,  is a big name absentee from the panel but against that David and his management have scoured Tipperary in a bid to unearth talent for the squad. He has also lost Conor Bowe from last year's squad - the Moyne Templetuohy star has been called into the hurling set-up and has made the jump. This has always been a reality for the football management and David Power has been more than gracious in wishing those who switch code from football to hurling, the very best. After all, everybody wants what is best for Tipperary whether hurling or football, and he is pragmatic enough to know that the majority of players would opt for hurling given half a chance.

Still though, take a glance at the football panel and you will find plenty of players capable of getting Tipperary out of division 4 of the Allianz Football League. And, that has to be the goal as they make the trip to Deise land on Sunday.

It is only by playing in the higher leagues that Tipperary will be able to develop players and they will need to get out of the lowest division if they want to get players to a position of being comfortable mixing it with the bigger boys.

Some of the players in the squad have been very close to division 2 football and they need to drag the rest along by the boots in order to get them up to the speed, pace and skill of the inter county game. They'll have every resource put at their disposal so let's hope they can start with a win on Sunday.

The hurlers have an extra week to prepare themselves for the challenges which will come over the next few weeks. Laois away will be no simple task and then they will welcome Kilkenny to Semple Stadium for an eagerly awaited contest on February 12.

One would assume that Tipperary will have to field reasonably strong sides in these games, but the challenge will be to mix in some of the fringe players with some of the more established names so that that integration can be seamless rather than a struggle. Fringe players being fired into a low key team makes it very difficult for anyone to shine so the mix has to be right.

It's also fair to say that the Tipperary players and management will need to get the support of the county behind them. And, the only way of doing that is by winning games. Supporters will accept that new names have to be tried out but their acceptance levels will be tested if the results are not good.

We wish both panels the best.

Hurling Panel:

Barry Hogan, Kiladangan
Brian Hogan, Lorrha Dorrha
Craig Morgan, Kilruane MacDonaghs
Brian McGrath, Loughmore-Castleiney
Cathal Barrett, Holycross-Ballycahill
Eoghan Connolly, Cashel King Cormacs
Ronan Maher, Thurles Sarsfields
Robert Byrne, Portroe
Paddy Cadell, JK Brackens
Barry Heffernan, Nenagh Eire Óg
Dillon Quirke, Clonoulty Rossmore
James Quigley Kiladangan
Enda Heffernan, Clonoulty Rossmore
John Meagher Loughmore-Castleiney
Seamus Kennedy, St Marys
Dan McCormack, Borris-Ileigh
Alan Flynn Kiladangan
Cian Darcy, Kilruane MacDonaghs
Conor Bowe, Moyne-Templetuohy
John McGrath, Loughmore-Castleiney
Patrick Maher, Lorrha Dorrha
Ger Browne, Cashel King Cormacs
Mark Kehoe Kilsheelan Kilcash
Michael Breen, Ballina
Noel McGrath, Loughmore-Castleiney
Padraic Maher, Thurles Sarsfields
Conor Stakelum, Thurles Sarsfields
Jake Morris, Nenagh Eire Óg
Gearoid O’Connor, Moyne-Templetuohy
Dillon Walsh, Ballingarry
Denis Maher, Thurles Sarsfields
Jason Forde, Silvermines
Paul Flynn, Kiladangan
Seamus Callanan, Drom & Inch

Football Panel:

Bill Maher, Kilsheelan Kilcash
Ciaran Cannon, Clonmel Commercials
Colm O’Shaughnessy, Ardfinnan
Colman Kennedy, Clonmel Commercials
Conal Kennedy, Clonmel Commercials
Conor Ryan, Loughmore Castleiney
Conor Sweeney, Ballyporeen
Eanna McBride, JK Brackens
Evan Comerford, Kilsheelan Kilcash
Jack Harney, Moyle Rovers
Jack Kennedy, Clonmel Commercials
Jason Lonergan, Clonmel Commercials
Jimmy Feehan, Killenaule
Kevin Fahey, Clonmel Commercials
Kuba Beban, JK Brackens
Liam Ryan, Clonmel Commercials
Luke Boland, Moyle Rovers
Mark O’Meara, Grangemockler / Ballyneale
Mark Russell, Aherlow
Martin Kehoe, Mullinahone
Michael O’Reilly, Clonmel Commercials
Mikey O’Shea, Mullinahone
Niall Heffernan Golden Kilfeacle
Paudie Feehan, Killenaule
Robbie Kiely, Barryroe Cork
Sean O’Connor, Clonmel Commercials
Shane Foley, Moyle Rovers
Shane O’Connell, Golden Kilfeacle
Stephen Quirke, Moyle Rovers
Steven O’Brien, Ballina
Tommy Maher, Loughmore Castleiney
Willie Eviston, Loughmore Castleiney