PREVIEW: Peculiar minor hurling record looks likely to continue under James Woodlock
Tipperary's minor hurlers will face Limerick in the Munster Minor Hurling final
Electric Ireland Munster Minor Hurling Championship Final
Tipperary vs Limerick in FBD Semple Stadium, Friday, May 16 @ 7pm
James Woodlock's pattern of second-year success looks well and truly on the cards this Friday as he takes the Tipperary minor hurlers into yet another provincial final against a resurgent Limerick team.
Remarkably, since Woodlock has been in charge in 2021, he has tended to deliver on the even years with the odd years less than memorable, particularly last year as the team struggled to pick up wins in a disappointing Munster campaign.
However, there is most certainly method to that sequence and the Drom & Inch man is perfectly placed to guide the latest crop of Premier talent into this year's Munster final on Friday evening.
It has been a nigh on perfect Munster campaign thus far, and, as is often the case with players of this age grade, they have grown with each passing game, and that confidence is melding perfectly with the undoubted ability littered across the panel.
Opening wins against Clare and Cork were notable wins, and after a tough match in terrible conditions against Limerick in the third round win, Woodlock rang the changes for the final round against Waterford, where a six-point win was achieved against the reigning All-Ireland champions.
That was an impressive feat considering Tipperary started the game minus several starters from the previous three games - something they could afford having already qualified for the final - and the hope will be that, after some injury woes hitting a few key players, a full hand will be available to Woodlock to choose from for this final.
In the opening two games, the impressive form of the full forward line in the form of Chris Dunne, Zach O'Keeffe, and young KJ Dunne was a highlight but that trio inside hasn't been seen since the first half of the Cork game when O'Keeffe suffered a nasty concussion and management has been very careful with his re-introduction.
Also, Chris Dunne has missed the last two games with a calf injury but there is an expectation that the Gortnahoe Glengoole player will be available for selection for this game.
Indeed, the forward division in general has operated well and they have been led by the quality of Conall Morrison at centre forward who has been the standout performer for the Tipperary minor hurlers thus far in a campaign that has had no shortage of candidates.
The Moyle Rovers man has scored 0-13 from play in the three games he has played, and more than that, he has been the primary ball winner and playmaker up top and he will be key to Tipperary's prospects in the final.
That forward arsenal is a big weapon for Tipperary, particularly through the pace of KJ Dunne who has been a big threat for goals thus far with his contributions helping the team to notch 11 goals in their four games to date.
And there's plenty of depth to go with it considering the Waterford result. Rian McGrath stepped into the full forward fold and hit two goals against the Déise while Josh Moroney showed quality in the game from the start with his freetaking, and his lovely finish for Tipperary's third goal in the win.
Quality permeates through the ranks, and with the Tipperary Blue team in a Celtic Challenge semi-final, the U17 talent in the county at the moment is of a high standard.
Friday's opponents, Limerick, posed the toughest to Tipperary in the round robin and after their dismissal of Cork in round 4 to qualify for the final, they will have confidence that they can challenge strongly.
Tipperary won the toss for venue and that will be an advantage, and a third Munster title in six years would be most welcome for the Premier heading into the senior game on Saturday.