Your 2023 Minor A TOTY
Here are the 15 Young Men voted by You, the Premierview Podcast Listenership, to be on the 2023 Minor A Hurling Team of the Year.
15 Positions on the field filled by 15 exceptional young Men, both on and off the field in their respective Clubs dotted around the Premier County.
Mullinahone won the Minor A Title by just the solitary Point in a Cashel thriller, thus depriving Holycross of a Double Double of 2022 and 2023 U19A and U17A County Titles. Players from both clubs are sprinkled around in the 15, but You also recognized in your voting the contributions made by other outstanding Players too.
1.Harry Loughnane Roscrea
Harry had a great year between the posts for both Club and County. He played a pivotal role in Roscrea’s run to the North U17 county semi-final where unfortunately Roscrea just came up short. Harry has continued in this excellent vein of form for Roscrea U21’s and the Thurles CBS Harty Cup team.
Harry’s determination, shot stopping ability, calmness under a high ball and puckouts have made him a goalkeeper for the future for Roscrea and hopefully for Tipperary also.
2. Pierce Vaughan CJ Kickhams Mullinahone
A player who gives everything in the corner back position, and improved greatly as the year went on. A sticky corner back in every sense. Pierce will also be eligible again for the U17 grade in 2024.
3. Liam Doyle CJ Kickhams Mullinahone
An extremely versatile player, Liam played in the forward line for CJK last year, and has had a new lease of life when moved back to the pivotal full back position in 2023. He put in some great performances in the green and red and blotted out some dangerous forwards in the south division and then afterwards in the County Semi-Final and Final .
4.Cathal O’Reilly Holycross Ballycahill
3 of last Years Minor TOTY make the 2023 edition, but Cathal has the singular honor of being voted into the Corner Back Position in both Years, something that in our 3 years of running Teams of the Year across all grades and codes has never been done before. Cathal was outstanding all season for both Holycross Ballycahill minors and under 19’s along with Tipperary under 16s and the Colaiste Mhuire Co-Ed’s school team. Cathal was a stand out player in all his games winning man of the Match in the Mid Minor Hurling final. His top class performances were not just limited to the minor grade, he was also a stand out performer for the Mid club’s under 19 team where he went up from corner back to score a vital point in County Under 19 A Hurling Final as Holycross Ballycahill retained their title. Currently in training with Tipp minor squad as he is u17 again in 2024, his exceptional attitude, skill and composure will see him be a leader of both club and county teams for years to come.
5. Eoin Treacy CJ Kickhams Mullinahone
A most reliable wing back, Eoin is also a very versatile player who can play in the full back line. One of six Scoil Ruain Killenaule players on the TOTY, five whom are CJ Kickhams Men , Eoin has a very bright future ahead in the red and green.
6.Tom Delaney Borris-ileigh
Tom had a fantastic season for Borris in 2023 playing a vital role in the clubs U17 run to the North A title. Tom started the year in midfield before reverting to the Centre Back role where he showed great touch, drive and composure, no more evident than when he scored a vital solo score late in the North final with his team’s back to the wall. Tom continues to show great versatility in positions lining out at Centre Back, Midfield and Wing Forward for his club in 2023.
7.Owen O’Dwyer Killenaule
Following on from the their 2022 u15B success this very young Killenaule outfit with only 3 up to the age found the going tough at times in the Minor A Class of 2023,but the Presence of Owen O’Dwyer stood out in all their games, We have him placed at Wing Back but he was outstanding at Centre Back for the Robins in a lot of their games, his versatility shone through when he also found himself at Centre Forward during the League, A Championship Total of 1-14 bodes well for Owen and Killenaule in 2024.
8.Jamie Ormond JK Brackens
The 2023 Tipperary Minor Hurling Captain has delivered outstanding performances for both his Club and the County throughout the year. Jamie stands out not only as one of the most skillful young hurlers in Tipperary but also for his exceptional work ethic and leadership qualities.
9 Cillian o Halloran CJ Kickhams Mullinahone
Cillian had a fine year in the green and red of CJK , a hard working midfielder he covers all blades of grass in a game, and usually chips in with a score or two. Had the honour of captaining Mullinahone to the Minor County A title this year.
10.Stefan Tobin Carrick Swan
Your choice for 2023 Minor A Hurler of the Year, Stefan was also chosen by You to be Corner Forward on the 2022 Minor A Team of the Year. In the 2023 version, he comes out the field to fill a Wing Forward berth. Will he become just the second Player to make it a 3 in a row of appearances on our Minor A Hurling Team of the Year in 2024 ?, No Pressure, Stefan !!!.
11. Sam Rowan CJ Kickhams Mullinahone
Sam, a County minor with Tipperary in ’22 and ’23 has turned into a real leader on the field of play. His scoring tallies and hurling were a joy to watch this year and in one of his many outstanding performances in 2023 he hit a tally of 0-20 from frees and play as CJK defeated Holycross AET in the County Minor A League decider earlier this year, He then followed it up with 0-10 and the winning 60th minute long range free against the same opposition in the County Final. A young man that will be in the thoughts of the County U20 hurling management for 2024.
12. Matthew Direen CJ Kickhams Mullinahone
A excellent year for Matthew with CJK , he has already represented his club at U19 and U21 level, and was also part of the Tipperary Celtic Challenge team that won the All Ireland earlier this year. His team work with Sam Rowan resulted in some excellent scores this season, and his 3 points from play in the second half v Holycross ,had a big say in the Minor A Co Hurling Title heading to Mullinahone. Another of the Scoil Ruain contingent. A Special mention to his brother Cillian also, who was pipped by the tightest margin of 135 votes by Matthew for this position on this Team of the Year. There must be some competition in the Direen House for the last Spud.
13.Cillian Minogue Durlas Og
Even in the last few days Cillian Minogue has been in the headlines scoring 0-07 from play in the Corner Forward position as Thurles CBS march into the Harty Cup Semi-Finals, A leftie like so many in the pantheon of great Sars Forwards ,Doyle, Enright and Corbett, A big future is on the cards for this unassuming hard working young man, a double u15A medal with Durlas Og already in the Minogue Trophy Cabinet ,a rock at minor and also playing u19 when only u16 this Year.
14.Robbie Ryan Holycross Ballycahill
Voted by you to be in the Corner Forward Position in the 2022 edition of the Minor A Team of the Year, Robbie makes the number 14 shirt his own in the 2023 Minor A Poll.This is unbelievably Robbie’s third year in a row on the Minor Hurling Team of the Year. Robbie has racked up some huge scoring tally’s in both minor and under 19 games throughout the year, scored 1-10 in Mid Minor A Hurling Final, 0-14 in Mid Under 19A Hurling Final, 0-11 in County Under 19A Hurling Final (where he was awarded the Clubber Man of The Match) and 0-09 in County Minor A Hurling Final. Robbie also helped Thurles CBS reach the Harty Cup Final. Perhaps the performance most will remember Robbie for this year was his tour de force in Round 3 of the Munster Minor Hurling Championship versus Limerick where he scored 0-16, 0-6 coming from play.
15.Jack Marnell JK Brackens
Jack stands out not just for his scoring statistics but also for his remarkable talent in securing possession, whether the ball is played low or high. Jack was to be a crucial player for the JK Brackens minor team in 2023, showcasing his skills as a formidable Corner Forward.
