By Shane Brophy
TIPPERARY v KERRY
LIT Gaelic Grounds, Limerick
Wednesday 14th July
Throw-in @ 7.30pm (E.T.)
Referee: Ciaran O’Regan (Cork)
It’s a sense of déjà vu for the Tipperary minor hurlers as they begin their quest for Munster and All Ireland glory against Kerry in Limerick on Wednesday
Like last year, Tipperary have been handed exactly the same route to a potential Munster Final, starting out against the Kingdom, with Waterford awaiting the winners in the semi-final.
It is a game Tipperary will be expected to win comfortably against Kerry who are improving year on year at underage level, however the bridge remains a considerable one.
Tipp won the corresponding clash last October in Limerick, 0-32 to 0-9. However, Tipperary have just one survivor who played any part in that campaign in Philip Hayes who didn’t play in the game but started in the subsequent Munster semi-final and final. However, there are panel survivors in goalkeeper Adam Brannigan and Darragh Minogue.
There is a fresh element to the Tipperary set-up in the form of new manager James Woodlock who takes over from clubmate Paul Collins who stepped down at the end of the 2020 campaign. His management team is made up of coach Cormac McGrath (Ballinahinch), as well as selectors Damien Ryan (Portroe), Brendan Ferris (Marlfield) and former Tipperary senior defender Conor O’Brien (Eire Og Annacarty).
