Jason Forde (right) celebrates a goal for Tipperary’s U21s last weekend. Credit: INPHO/James Crombie
KIERAN BERGIN AND Jason Forde will make their senior championship debuts for Tipperary on Sunday.
The Premier County face Limerick in a Munster senior hurling championship semi-final at the Gaelic Grounds (4pm) and 27-year-old Bergin has been drafted in at right full-back while Forde, who scored 1-8 for the U21s last week, starts at right half-forward.
Tipperary: Brendan Cummins (Ballybacon Grange); Paddy Stapleton (Borris-Ileigh), Paul Curran (Mullinahone), Michael Cahill (Thurles Sarsfields); Kieran Bergin (Killenaule), Conor O’Mahony (Newport), Padraic Maher (Thurles Sarsfields); Brendan Maher (Borris-Ileigh), Shane McGrath (Ballinahinch) (Captain); Jason Forde (Silvermines), Patrick Maher (Lorrha and Dorrha). John O’Brien (Toomevara); Shane Bourke (JK Brackens), Seamus Callanan (Drom and Inch), Noel McGrath (Loughmore Castleiney).
Was at the tipp training session last Saturday, was the most intense session I was ever at, murder in it 2. No whistle used, exactly what’s needed
I used to hear that about the Tipp training last year too. Big difference between a training match and a championship match.
That Tipp team doesnt look very strong although missing Corbett and Kelly is good for Tipp as they are passed it.
Tipp will still win easily on Sunday and go on to win Munster with little trouble. The real hurling will start then.
I was there! They had the very same type of session before beating Kk in 2010! Intense full blooded no whistle used! Heard it happens alot with Cody in Kk sessions 2! Kelly is passed it, I wouldn’t say Corbett is plus I wouldn’t agree the team is weak
p Stapleton and m Cahill are 2 of the best corner backs around! O Mahoney had a blinder in a challange recently! P maher is better on the wing not a natural centre back yet! Bonner maher is the best workhorse u will see( if u think there not needed u haven’t a clue about hurling) I won’t go through all the players but most u listed have won an all Ireland and are easily good enough to win more!yes there is a couple of older guys but time will tell!! I didn’t see the bench yet but I believe it’s very strong! I expect a huge battle Sunday, limerick never die at home and time will tell but I firmly believe we are the only team capable of beating Kilkenny in the country this year!
2 of the best but not the best. Noel Connors, Shane O’Neill, Paul Murphy, Jackie Tyrrell and Fergal Moore are probably all better.
Yes a workhorse is needed but when most of the other forwards are not natural scoring forwards it doesnt work too well. Lads can work all they want but if you cant score you wont win.
Tipp are the only challengers to Kilkenny and could win the All Ireland this year but I think their weaknesses will be masked over in Munster and might only become evident in the All Ireland series when it will be too late.
I’d rate our 2 corner backs as easily 2 of the best around!
I’ll put it this way, I wouldn’t prefer any othe county’s corner backs there! what you mean no natural scoring forwards? Tipp have excellent scoring forwards! Tipps problem is goals, our point taken is v good! Our point return per game is good! Goals won’t be an issue against limerick IMO! one of three teams is all can win the all Ireland! Kk are raging hot favourites! Can’t wait to get going
Stapelton has been poor since 2010 but is showing signs of coming good again. Cahill is a good player and a sound lad too. Brendan Maher is looking good again too and Noel McGrath is one of the best around.
A few others can have good games but also a lot of bad games and the rest are average at best.
I dont think O’Shea knows his best team yet so I guarantee you will see about 4 changes to the starting team from the one named today to the one named for the Munster final.
Also, there will probably be 5 changes in the forwards on Sunday which doesnt necessarily show strength in depth but can show either you have around 10 players all playing around the same average level or you just dont know who your best players are.
Stapleton was injured! all these new guys coming in for tipp were exceptional under agers! There time was gonna come sooner or later! I think tipp have a very good team, third behind Kk and Galway in the country at the moment
Stapelton wasnt injured since 2010 was he!
Yes young lads deserve their chance and when lads are passed it they and supporters have to just accept it but it also means they have to prove themselves before you can say the team looks strong because some lads are burning it up at club level or underage.
The problem for Tipp thought is that they are so far ahead of all the teams in Munster that all the young lads could look great but then when you get to the all ireland semi against probably galway or kilkenny they could be shown up but I suppose they have to start somewhere.
Stapleton has had niggly injuries and one serious injury since 2010! Of course u can’t, same with Kk! Alot of the players r in their 30′s and will go soon and I don’t agree at all that tipp are miles ahead I’n ! Munster as a whole is highly competitive and most of the matches are tite! Limerick cork tipp and Clare playing each other will be close
In fairness that is a strong Tipperary team, John o Brien would be a noticeable exclusion and at recent club level he would be pushing for a place with corbett and Kelly, Forde thoroughly deserves his place and hopefully he can bring the same drive and enthusiasm he has shown at under 21 and club level
Steve you gaunt got a clue, define a natural scoring forward, Jason Forde has scored 5-31 for his club at in 4 championship matchs so far, He scored 1-8, in the under 21s last Friday, what is not natural scoring about that. John o Brien is a natural scoring forward, Callinan has proved himself to be a class forward with scoring capabilities, Noel Mcgrath is the most natural striker of the ball in the country and has scored plenty, what are you basing these assumptions on.
Jason Forde has done it all at club level and underage but as I said he is unproven at this level yet.
I wouldnt class O’Brien as a natural scoring forward as he has no consistency.
Callinan normally plays well in the games Tipp win handy but goes missing in the tough games, this has happened more than a few times over the years.
Bonner Maher is a workhorse not a scorer.
Bourke is like O’Brien no consistency.
As ive already said Noel McGrath is one of the best around. If anything happens him Tipp wouldnt have a hope of winning the All-Ireland.
I would class players like Eoin Kelly and Corbett (in their day) as natural scoring forwards.
In defence Paul Curran and O’Mahony are not as good as they used to be. Bergin is unproven at this level and Maher is having a poor year, was destroyed by Michael Fennelly in the League Final and he is not even a natural forward.
Shane McGrath hasnt played well in a few years
In the forwards, O’Brien is around too long, Forde is unproven at this level, Bourke blows hot and cold, Maher is only a workhorse and Callinan could be good but will be useless when it matters most.
As Munster is very poor at the moment I think Tipp will walk out of it but could get shown up in the All-Ireland Semi Final like last year.
Steve are you not the same person who said Tipperary would who the all Ireland this year in am earlier thread, First game of the championship and you are saying its a weak team, have you seen any of the club games in tipperary this year? Have you been to any of the training sessions? This team most resembles what we had in 2010, speed, strength and most importantly goals in the forward line.
Sorry Steve comment/reply went up above
Why would I go to Tipp club games or training sessions? Do you go to other counties club games and training sessions or do you think people have to do that in order to be able to have an opinion? I know plenty of Tipp people who never attend training or club matches but know everything there is to know about Tipp.
My opinions are based on watching these guys playing with Tipp and Tipp only but that includes seeing them play at U14, U16, Minor, Colleges, U21, Intermediate and Senior level. Im not just basing my opinions on looking at that team named tonight and not having a clue who they are.
That’s a very strong tipp team. I can see limerick struggling!
I have a question! Would you like to see the structure of the all Ireland championship changing and if so what 2?