Odds or evens – stick or twist? The big juvenile question; Deja Vu with Munster malaise; Coach bus moving again.
With the shortest day of the year now little more than a month away, the on-field tempo has slowed to a gentle crawl, and minds inevitably drift toward the boardroom, where conversations will soon carve out the shape and colour of the year ahead.
County Board has ring-fenced the final week of November for a pivotal gathering—one laden with consequence—which will, among its many weighty decisions, settle whether the Premier County will retreat to even-age groups for underage competitions or retain the recently installed uneven bands of U13, U15 and U17. Depending on the voice you listen to, the arguments for returning to even ages shift like light on water, but one thing stands unshakably firm: the CCC of the County Board is hungry for change, and its drive is getting strong support from the Boherlahan Dualla club, which has tabled a motion of its own.
Their only divergence lies in timing—County Board seeks transformation for the 2026 championships, while Boherlahan Dualla urges a one-year pause, advocating implementation for the 2027 campaign. The County Board’s blueprint is clear: Under 12, Under 14, Under 16 and Under 18, with the Under 19 grade abolished entirely and the Under 21 grade retained. The Under 12 competitions would function as a competitive league while still honouring Go Games guidelines outlined by Croke Park.
The consequences at minor level loom largest and cast the longest shadows. Should minors return to U18, the competitions would migrate to the authority of the senior Boards and be lifted out of the hands of Bord na n-Óg. Moreover, U18 players on the upper edge of the age bracket would be eligible for adult competitions, a shift that could send tremors through fixture scheduling—a minor could stall a junior championship, or the reverse could also hold true. There is a whisper that U17 leagues might remain in place, providing vital game time for players under that threshold who would not yet be allowed to step into adult competitions.
A move back to even ages would result in the welcome bonus of bringing Tipp back into alignment with all neighbouring counties. Clubs have struggled to stage tournaments or arrange challenge matches beyond county borders due to clashing age structures. Harmonised age groups would smooth that path considerably, and should Tipp embrace even ages, the inter-county scene could follow at minor level as well. Kerry County Board is reportedly weighing a motion for Congress on this very matter and would likely be bolstered by the full backing of Munster.
Could the All-Ireland minor finals once again feature as curtain-raisers to the senior showdown? There would be no obstacle to underage players stepping onto the grand stage of Croke Park on the sport’s biggest day, though the recent trend of giving minor finals their own spotlight—hosted in more compact, electric venues—has flourished in popularity. Tipperary has certainly savoured its outings in UPMC Nowlan Park in recent years, capturing two titles there—one, memorably, wrested from the hosts despite being outnumbered and dragged through extra time. How will this motion land? With the CCC firmly at its back, it is difficult to imagine it falling short.
Motions to 2025 County Convention, Click HERE
Provincial pain for our senior winners.
Loughmore Castleiney and Clonmel Commercials both crashing out of the provincial campaign at the first hurdle brings a decidedly deflating bookend to the season. The Commercials men seemed to be seizing command after carving out a solid lead, only to be ambushed and beaten on their own patch— a blow that cut all the deeper. Still, staging the game in Clonmel was the right call, and although the ending will sting, they will draw strength from capturing the county championship, especially after the immense emotional turbulence the club has endured with the sad and sudden passing of their great clubman Philly Ryan.
Ennis became Sixmilebridge for the Loughmore Castleiney warriors as they journeyed west for the hurling semi-final— Cusack Park abandoned at the eleventh hour due to a water-supply crisis. The Tipp champions emptied every ounce of themselves in a riveting contest, but Éire Óg Ennis seemed to possess just a sliver more fuel when extra-time began draining away— the scoreboard hardly reflected the drama, and the Loughmore Castleiney surge fell short as they rained ball after ball into the square in desperate pursuit of a goal. That goal would not come and so ended their campaign under the west Clare floodlights. At least Upperchurch Drombane kept the Tipp flag flying.
It is disheartening that our champions keep falling shy in the provincial arena. Yes, there were years when the seven-day turnaround after a county final made advancement a tall order, but this time the hurlers at least enjoyed a few weeks to steel themselves for Munster— Commercials had a shorter eight-day window, yet the fate was the same. We came up short again.
While both Commercials and Loughmore Castleiney would have relished a longer journey, it won’t gnaw at them too fiercely— they achieved what they set out to win, the county crown, and they will rest content. It takes a monumental effort to clinch a county championship, and in the Premier County that truth carries even more weight— would you stake your home on Loughmore Castleiney or Clonmel Commercials retaining their titles in 2026? That would require three-in-a-row from the hurling champs? The magic of the Tipperary system lies in its sheer unpredictability— a tribute to every challenger as much as to every champion.
Coach journey – choose your route carefully.
Right now many clubs are hunting their next coaches for the looming season and the managerial carousel is spinning at a furious pace. Should you gamble on a marquee name? Or, should you back someone rising fast? Should you pursue a coach who embraces your way of playing? Or, do you reshape your identity and surrender to another vision? All of these riddles confront club executives as they forge decisions about what lies ahead. Here’s the truth to cling to; hiring a coach who forces their blueprint onto your squad is riddled with peril. Be loyal to your club & your players by selecting a coach who grasps your philosophy, your ethos and, vitally, your limitations.