Jason Forde encouraged about emerging Tipp talent
Safefood, in partnership with the Irish Life GAA Healthy Clubs programme, today launched 'Fuel Your Game', a new suite of resources designed to support young players, parents, and coaches in making informed food choices to enhance their Gaelic games activity and overall health and wellbeing. Pictured at the launch is Tipperary Hurler Jason Forde demonstrating the importance of healthy eating and hydration for peak performance. For more information and to access the resources, visit: https://learning.gaa.ie/fueltheirgame
By Cian O'Connell
Tipperary's senior inter-county year ended with the Liam MacCarthy Cup being hoisted by Ronan Maher at Croke Park.
It started, though, on a wet afternoon in Salthill when Liam Cahill's outfit made a positive statement in the Allianz Hurling League. The fact that a string of emerging players contributed to the early success was significant.
Throughout the campaign, it was hugely important for Tipperary. New, exciting players were delivering so Jason Forde acknowledges that January, February, and March was time well spent. "I'd say very relevant," Forde replies instantly when asked about the manner in which those young hurlers coped.
"You had lads who were 19, 20 years of age playing U20 coming into a senior set-up and it's a big jump. It's a big jump from U20 to senior so I suppose these lads had to kind of see what that's like.
"You don't want to be throwing in six or seven of them together, you want to have it that you still have kind of a settled team and that they're getting a chance to bed in. For us this year, I think it was very important that we had a good league and got a run of games and a bit of consistency."
Following a harrowing 2024, momentum was generated by Tipp. "Definitely," Forde replies. "As you say, we were probably coming at it from a different point of view that last year was so disappointing, you're raring to get back and get going and get the show on the road again.
Tipperary's Jason Forde celebrates at Croke Park. Photo by Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile
"We did take the league seriously. We trained hard before it and during it but we took each one of those games as a chance to prepare ourselves for Championship.
"Getting to a league final, a massive crowd down in Cork, it was giving these young lads a good kind of learning curve and allowing them to experience that and building a bit of momentum."
Cahill and Michael Bevans have forged a deep connection, but they were ready, willing, and able to embrace other ideas too. "I suppose Mikey and Liam have been involved with a lot of successful underage teams in Tipp," Silvermines clubman Forde remarks.
"They're just really good Tipp men at the back of it all. There are no egos with them. They just want the team to do well and players to just express themselves.
"Both of them have been a huge benefit to me and they probably put a bit of confidence back into me this year as well. Just two great men. Like any good manager, you have to get good people around you. Liam did that in terms of David Herity having more of a coaching role this year as well and that was really good.
"Then, obviously you have Declan Laffan and TJ (Ryan) as well on the coaching side too. I think he's just got a really nice blend and a good mix. He was shrewd enough to do that."
