Evans continues to push Tipperary

MUNSTER UNDER-21 FC FINAL:THE CADBURY under-21 football championship reaches its provincial climax this week, and Tipperary must be wondering will they ever get a break.

For the fourth successive year they’ve progressed to the Munster final, taking on Kerry in Tralee this evening (7.30 throw-in) – but manager John Evans knows only a major upset will save Tipperary from a fourth successive defeat.

It’s little consolation the three teams who beat them in the previous three finals – Cork, Kerry, and then Cork again – went on to win the All-Ireland. It’s little consolation either Cork only beat them last year with the dreaded last-minute goal, after Tipperary had played their hearts out. “We did everything right last year, played the better football, and it didn’t happen,” says Evans, as he prepares to face his native county. “I didn’t think there was as much expectancy there this year, but we’ve made the final again. We’d a strong team last year, I felt, and got beaten with a last-minute goal.

“Unfortunately we’re up against a serious Kerry outfit. I know a lot of them are the new hopes for the county, and they are an amazing team. Their manager, John Kennedy, has put them together with that in mind. If we can compete with them we’ll be doing well, because that’s what it’s all about, competing at the top level. If we can keep doing that then down the road, in a couple of years’ time, we can look to the biggest stage.

“It is a huge task, I recognise that. But at the same time we’re not daunted. If we can compete with these guys someday, somewhere along the line our luck is bound to turn. We’re still competing at the highest standard and that’s really the important thing.”

Given Tipperary will almost inevitably face either Cork or Kerry every year, one motion to GAA Congress later this month might be in their interest: Motion 72, submitted by Trim, is calling for an open draw in the under-21 football championship.

Instead of provincial championships, an open draw would be made on a regional basis, with all games to be played midweek, on a trial period of two years. Evans is not so sure.

“They’ve done a lot of things with under-21s over the years, but you’re identity is your identity,” he says. “We’ve two of the big guns here in Cork and Kerry, and we don’t mind having the joust with them, to be honest. I don’t think going off playing different teams is going to help you. We’ve a high standard here in Munster, and that’s how you raise the standard.”

There’s no doubt Evans is making considerable progress with Tipperary football. They are poised for relegation to Division Three, having made the jump from Division Four to Three to Two in successive years, but Sunday’s defeat to Armagh – where they fought back from an 11-point deficit, closed it to one, and eventually lost by four – again illustrated the ground that has been made.

Much of is down to Evans, who continues is his dual role of county senior and under-21 manager, and director of football – despite Croke Park questioning the legality of that role due to their amateur guidelines: “That’s between Croke Park and the Tipperary County Board,” he says. “They are still trying to resolve the issue. I don’t know where it stands, but I’m concentrating on my football duties.”

Wing forward Gavin Ryan is Tipperary’s only injury concern this evening, while Kerry – who have won 25 Munster titles – make two changes from their semi-final win over Waterford: Paul O’Donoghue comes into the attack for the injured James O’Donoghue, and Edmond Walsh takes over at midfield from Colm Moriarty.

KERRY (Under-21 football v Tipperary): T Mac an tSaoir; P Crowley, K O’Connor, B McGuire; P O’Connor, B Shanahan, J Lyne; J Buckley, E Walsh; P O’Donoghue, BJ Keane, M Geaney; D Casey, BJ Walsh, P Geaney.

Last three Munster U-21 finals 2009: Cork 1-09 Tipperary 2-05 2008: Kerry 0-15 Tipperary 2-07 2007: Cork 3-19 Tipperary 3-12