Home venue has its own pressures for Tipperary under-21s

GAA FIXTURES:IT'S EASY to understand Galway's anger and frustration at being forced to concede home advantage to Tipperary for Saturday's All-Ireland under-21 hurling final, and the GAA's decision to fix the game for Thurles.

But it’s easy to forget too that by playing the game in Semple Stadium, a decision made back in March, the GAA have added a little extra pressure on Tipperary. As if they weren’t under enough already.

Eight of their under-21 team were involved with the Tipperary seniors that beat Kilkenny for the All-Ireland last Sunday, including Pádraic Maher, the under-21 captain, plus Noel McGrath, Patrick Maher, Michael Cahill, Michael Heffernan, Séamus Hennessy, Brendan Maher and Brian O’Meara. While it’s always a lot easier to raise a spurt again after a victory, the six-day turnaround is not ideal.

Semple Stadium will also be thronged with Tipperary supporters, all of whom will be expecting a repeat performance of last Sunday. However, the reality is Galway have the far better record at under-21 level, at least in recent years, and are chasing a third title in six years on Saturday, and 10th in all. Tipperary haven’t won the All-Ireland under-21 hurling title since 1995.

Pádraic Maher delivered a storming performance at wing back against Kilkenny on Sunday, but hasn’t much time to embrace the full euphoria of his first senior All-Ireland win.

Maher was back training with the under-21s last night, under their manager Ken Hogan and coach Tommy Dunne, and whether he liked it or not, it was back to the grindstone.

“It is a big match,” says Maher, “especially at home in Thurles. But knowing Tommy Dunne, he’ll put us through our paces, and bring us down to earth very quickly.

“But you couldn’t be going into that match in a nicer way after winning a senior All-Ireland. It’s a quick turnaround but in a way, when you are on a high you want the games to keep coming as quick as possible.

“And the buzz we’ll get off winning Sunday’s match will be unreal going into next Saturday. There’ll certainly be a big crowd in Thurles so please God it’ll work out for us.”

Maher had some sympathy for Galway having to make the journey into Tipperary’s home territory, but at the same time pointed out that few hurlers ever have any complaints about having to play in Semple Stadium.

“Galway are a good outfit, and they’ll bring a lot of support as well. They have every bit of motivation coming into our back garden, against the crowd. It’ll be a cracking match. But it’s just the way it worked out that the game is in Thurles, I think they (the GAA) want to play it there every year.”

Having won All-Ireland minor hurling titles in 2006 and 2007, Maher is thus chasing the sweep of titles on Saturday. So looking back on Sunday’s win over Kilkenny, he had good reason for thinking it was an extra special day.

“I still remember 2001, Tipp’s last title. I was so young I sat with my father in the stands, but I remember Tommy Dunne lifting the cup in the middle of the field. It’s unbelievable how things work out. But the we did always believe we could win, ever since we were beaten by Cork, actually.

“We believed we were good enough to win the All-Ireland. It was just a matter of getting our heads right. Thankfully we got that right on the day and we showed what we are capable of against one of the greatest teams of all time in any sport.

“As Eoin Kelly said, Kilkenny are probably one of the greatest team in any sport and for a team facing them you just have to go out and give it your best shot, because you have nothing to lose against a team like that. We think we are as good as them. We fought for everything and thankfully we came out with the end result.”

It emerged yesterday Tipperary will now be without full back John Coghlan for Saturday’s game, after his yellow card against Antrim in the semi-final on August 21st was upgraded to a red by the GAA’s Central Competitions Control Committee.

Coghlan was yellow-carded for a challenge on Antrim’s Thomas McCann in the first half of a one-sided semi-final, but that was later deemed worthy of a red card by Offaly referee Tony Carroll. However, Coghlan is entitled to a personal hearing this week, and may have that surprising decision overturned.

FIXTURES

TODAY

GOAL Challenge/Senior Hurling: Tipperary v Thurles Sarsfields, Templemore, 6pm

SATURDAY

Bord Gáis Energy All-Ireland Under-21 HC final: Galway v Tipperary, Thurles, 7pm, J McGrath (Westmeath); Bord Gáis Energy All-Ireland Under-21 HC B final: Kerry v Meath, Thurles, 5pm, D Connolly (Kilkenny).

SUNDAY

Gala All-Ireland Senior Camogie Championship final: Galway v Wexford, Croke Park, 4pm, K O’Brien (Dublin); Gala All-Ireland Intermediate Camogie Championship final: Offaly v Wexford, Croke Park, 2pm, O Elliott (Antrim); Gala All-Ireland Junior Camogie Championship final: Antrim v Wexford, Croke Park, noon, D Leahy (Tipperary)