Woodlock has his Tipperary minors primed for battle
Conor Ryan of Limerick in action against Chris Dunne of Tipperary during the Electric Ireland Munster MHC final match between Tipperary and Limerick at FBD Semple Stadium in Thurles, Tipperary. Photo by Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile
Saturday, June 27
Electric Ireland All-Ireland MHC final
Limerick v Tipperary, TUS Gaelic Grounds, Limerick, 3pm
Referee: Caymon Flynn
By Paul Keane
James Woodlock has told his Tipperary players to be ready for literally anything when the Electric Ireland All-Ireland MHC final throws in.
It will be Tipp's third national decider at the grade in five seasons and boss Woodlock has seen it all at this stage.
He was in charge in 2022 when Tipp came from six points down with three minute left to beat Offaly in front of a huge crowd in Kilkenny.
Tipp had a player sent off in that final, and two more saw red in the 2024 extra-time final against Kilkenny - but the Premier still prevailed.
They'll take on Limerick this time and while Tipp have already beaten the Shannonsiders twice, including in the Munster final, the boys in green will have home advantage this time.
Ex-Tipp senior star Woodlock speaks from experience when he says that it could go either way - and he will tell his players to be ready for all eventualities.
"Finals just take a life of their own, and I've seen it myself," said Woodlock. "For the 2022 final, there were well over 20,000 people that turned up. And that one went right down to the last puck of the game.
"Then in 2024, we had two players sent off and you're trying to go and win that game off the back of that, in Kilkenny's back yard. Every time we've played in a final it has seemed to take on a life of its own and we have to expect it'll be no different on Saturday."
This is the third group that Woodlock has assembled in his time as Tipp minor manager and he's found a few more gems.
Chris Dunne has contributed five of the 19 goals that Tipp have scored in just six championship games this season.
Tipperary manager James Woodlock before the Electric Ireland All-Ireland MHC semi-final between Tipperary and Cork at TUS Gaelic Grounds in Limerick. Photo by Tom Beary/Sportsfile
Conall Morrison has scored 2-21 from play while KJ Dunne, Rian McGrath and Josh Moroney have shared eight goals between them.
"We always back the lads to make the right decision, sometimes it works out and the goals come and other times they don't," said Woodlock. "We train for it obviously but they're the ones on the field of play and we trust them to make those decisions."
At the back, since coughing up 3-19 in their provincial opener, Tipp have been much tighter.
That's pleased Woodlock, as has the fact that he has got to use 28 different players across the campaign.
He's confident that whatever way the final goes, several will follow in the footsteps of past minor finalists like Darragh McCarthy, Sam O'Farrell and Stefan Tobin by featuring for the seniors.
"There's no question about it," said Woodlock. "I was actually asked that same question before, in 2022 and 2024. I said some of those guys would go on as seniors and the answer is there because you see the players who did progress.
"Back in '22, I'd have seen some of these players that are involved now, when they were 12 and 13, and you could see it at that age. It was great to watch the progress of them coming through and to see then what sort of level we could get them up to.
"So this group will be no different to past groups. Will they all get to senior? Absolutely not. Will some of them? Yes."
Limerick have been expertly led by leading scorer and captain Shane Waters, who has struck 2-57, and midfielder Xavier Neligan, 2-5, who drilled a stunning solo goal in the semi-final win over Galway.
Diarmuid Mullins' side are chasing a first win at the grade for Limerick since 1984.
"Limerick have shown a massive improvement all year, from game to game," said Woodlock. "I'd like to think we have done the same."
