DJ Carey | Eugene Cloonan | Martin Comerford | Brendan Cummins
Ronan Curran | Gar Farragher | James 'cha' Fitzpatrick | Paul Flynn
John Gardiner | Niall Gilligan | Damian Hayes | Conal Keaney | Eoin Kelly
Eoin Larkin | Fergus McMahon | Andrew Mitchell | Pat Mulcahy
Sean Óg Ó Hailpin | Ben O'Connor | Joe Rabbite | Dan Shanahan
Henry Shefflin | Tommy Walsh

Mullinahone's Eoin Kelly is the linchpin of Tipperary's attack. The 22-year-old has won three All-Star Awards and proved what a super attacker he is as he helped Tipp power past Limerick in a replay and then beat Clare to book a Munster final clash against Cork this year. The Rebels won the final, but the men from the Premier County went through to a quarter-final date with Galway. Even though Tipperary were in charge for most of the game, Galway left it late to come back and won by two points, sending Tipperary out of the 2005 championship.

What was Tipp’s toughest match in the 2005 Championship?
The first match is always tough and the game against Limerick was difficult. We had a lot of new players in our squad and after a poor league campaign, we didn't know how they would perform in the Championship. The first day we were lucky, especially when Limerick went five points up. The second game, we had our noses in front but we were still delighted to win. We wanted to get to the Munster final so we could go straight through to the All-Ireland quarter-finals and avoid the qualifiers.

Who was your toughest opponent?
At inter-county level, any person you mark is going to be a difficult opponent, but I would have to say that Galway's Ollie Canning and Limerick's Damien Reale were very difficult to play against.

Who were your childhood heroes?
John Leahy, who is from my club Mullinahone, was always a hero of mine when I was young, as was Nicky English for Tipperary. As I got older, it was Kilkenny's DJ Carey, and when I started playing senior, it was Tommy Dunne, who is a great leader on the field and in the dressing room. When Tommy spoke, everybody would listen.

What was your best hurling moment?
Winning the All-Ireland final in 2001 was my best memory, but also winning the Tipperary County Championship with my club in 2002. It was the first time Mullinahone had won the county title, and it's very hard to win the championship in my county.

What advice would you give to young players?
Skills are the most vital thing and you have to keep practising them. It's not what you do in training, although that is important too, it's what you do on your own on the days between training sessions to improve your skills that will stand to you.

What are your ambitions for next year?
It would be great to have a good run in the National League and maybe go on and win it. Also, to win a Munster Championship again. If you get through Munster you would fancy your chances because it is the toughest province to get out of.

Are there any young players in the Premier County that we should
keep an eye out for?
I would watch out for Danny O'Hanlon of Carrick Swans, who is on the Tipperary Minor and U-21 teams, and Ballynahinch midfielder, Shane McGrath.

© December 2005

Back to Top