Tipperary won't rest on laurels in Portugal

IF PROOF were needed of Tipperary's determination to put Sunday's Allianz National Hurling League victory to bed as early as possible, then it came with yesterday's early-morning rise. Instead of walking up with the thought of a few days of deserved celebrations, they caught a flight from Cork for a week of warm-weather training at Villamoura in Portugal.

The trip was planned over four months ago as a crucial step in the build-up to their Munster championship opener against Cork on June 8th. As it turned out, it will provide that and more, and offer a swift reality check following Sunday's memorable win over Galway at the Gaelic Grounds in Limerick.

The championship showdown with Cork in Páirc Uí Chaoimh has long been earmarked by manager Liam Sheedy as one of Tipperary's defining games of the year, not least because Tipperary haven't beaten Cork in the hurling championship - in Cork - since 1923.

County secretary Tim Floyd yesterday explained the added purpose of the trip was in keeping the focus on that game, rather than letting the celebrations of Sunday's win take undue precedence.

"The trip was actually booked since last December," he said. "It was a bit of a rush on Sunday night to get everyone to Cork, where they stayed overnight for the early-morning flight.

"But it really does suit things, to get away at this stage, and help make sure they keep their feet on the ground. If they'd been here for the next few days it would easy enough to let things get a little blown out of proportion. Certainly all the focus remains on June 8th, and by going away now they'll all be sure of that."

A panel of 32 players made the trip, with the exception of Conor Ryan (who will join up tomorrow) and Willie Ryan and John Devane (who were unable to travel). A back-room team of seven also travelled, including Sheedy and his two selectors, Eamon O'Shea and Michael Ryan.

Floyd explained that the week-long trip, which is set to cost around €40,000, was funded mainly through the one-off Munster Council grant of €75,000, which was awarded to both the Tipperary and Limerick County Boards following last summer's trilogy of championship matches, which included two replays and two periods of extra-time.

Not that Tipperary are about to forget all about Sunday's win. Floyd described the feeling in the county as being one of "relief" as much as joy, especially given the effort put in since last November.

"I think this now justifies all the work that the team has put in over the last few months. Getting them all back training so early was costly enough. But this win definitely justifies that.

"Tipperary has also enjoyed a fair bit of success at underage level recently, and two minor All-Irelands there in the last few years. But to make the progress at senior level can be difficult. I think people can sometimes get frustrated when it doesn't happen at senior level. And they're not really satisfied until they win something at senior level. So, again, we're a little relieved to have done that now."

It certainly wasn't without some experimentation either, as Tipperary used 31 players in their eight league matches since the start of the year. Some things, however, didn't change, and their top-scorer was Eoin Kelly with his total 2-55, followed by Lar Corbett with his 5-10.

By coincidence, Cork also left for a warm-weather training spell this week in the Spanish resort of La Manga.

Meanwhile, Tipperary senior football manager John Evans has dedicated promotion from Division Four to the memory of the late Darrel Darcy. The 20-year-old was tragically killed in a car accident on April 8th, but Evans believes his spirit helped to fuel Tipperary's dramatic late surge that culminated in the leap to Division Three.

Tipperary were reduced to 14 men after just eight minutes when Barry Grogan was red-carded against Wicklow last Sunday, but Evans' team produced a gritty performance to seal a two-point victory. Waterford's shock win over Antrim then secured Tipperary's promotion.

Limerick dual players Stephen Lavin and Pádraig Browne are free to concentrate on football after they were let go from the county's senior hurling panel.

Lavin and Browne are two of six players released from Richie Bennis' squad as five newcomers have received call-ups ahead of the Munster semi-final against Clare or Waterford on June 22nd.

Adare's Michael Noonan, Na Piarsaigh pair David Breen and Kevin Ryan, Garryspillane's James Ryan and Kilmallock clubman Eoin Ryan have been drafted in by Bennis, who is looking to freshen up his squad.

However, the manager has not called in Lavin (Adare), Browne (Tournafulla), Croom pair Hugh Flavin and Mickey Cahill, David Clancy (Granagh/Ballingarry) or Alan O'Connor of Ballybrown.