Our Best Young Hurlers,Our Pick
Big John did it for the Football with his Top 8 Up and Coming Young Footballers in the County.
So its only right and proper that ahead of this weekends festival of Round 3 games, the Hurling side of the PV Pod House, put forward the 8 young Men,who based on current form are destined for greatness with Club and County.
1.Paddy Creedon
Thurles Sarsfields
19 Year old Creedon is in his first year with Sars Seniors and he has stepped in without any fear,already with 4-6 scored from play after 2 rounds and lots more to come with Sars assured already of a Dan Breen Quarter Final slot. Paddy is currently the top Dan Breen scorer from play.
A dual player who can play excels in both codes.A Powerful force for such a young man in the full forward line of any team he lines out with multiple county medals at underage and minor which he will surely add to with a 37th title for Sars in Time.
2.Eoghan Connolly
Cashel King Cormacs
Eoghan is in his 4th year of playing adult hurling with Cashel and since his introduction one of their most important & consistent members.
While No. 6 seems to where he is most comfortable he has played on every line for Cashel in that period. Having won many underage medals and played on all underage teams for Tipp, Eoghan shot to prominence when Liam Cahill introduced him to the U21 side as a corner-back and subsequently went on to win All-Ireland Honors.
He followed that up the following year with an All-Ireland U20 medal starting at Full-Back, He rounded out his underage years with Tipp in the centre-back role. A member of the Tipp Senior panel now for two years it’s only a matter of time before Eoghan makes his spot on the Tipp Senior team permanent.
3.Robert Doyle
Clonoulty/Rossmore
Robert starred for the Tipp U17 team in 2020 figuring prominently at Full-back throughout the campaign. He has won various underage titles with his club and has represented the Blue & Gold at all levels so far. Such was his performance at U17 that John Devane saw fit to call him up to the U20 panel for 2021.
He then graduated straight on the Clonoulty/Rossmore senior team in his 1st eligible year, no mean feat in a club with the caliber of hurler in the Parish. He has stood up to every test thrown at him so far and has the makings of a serious operator at Dan Breen level and for the county in years to come.
4.Ray McCormack
Borris-Ileigh
McCormack is one to keep an eye on in the short term. He has added serious bulk to go with his abrasive and powerful running, and while his hurling might not be at the level of others his age, he has the engine and work rate to make the step up in the next few years.
He is cut from the same stone as his brother Dan, and has been impressive in the half-back line for Borris-Ileigh in recent years, having played in the forwards at underage for Tipperary.
Mobility and running ability is a characteristic Tipp is short in supply of, so we could see McCormack making an impact at senior level sooner, rather than later.
5.Kevin McCarthy
Toomevara
McCarthy was one of the top performers for the Tipp U20’s in 2020 and had an excellent relationship with Kevin Maher at the grade. The Toomevara man had a fantastic 2020 Dan Breen campaign with Robbie Quirke in midfield, and is a very clever and skillful hurler and despite his size, is well able to win dirty ball.
His freetaking ability is top notch and is a facet of the game that is vital in the modern era, but what could work against him is his size which could hamper his graduation into the Tipp senior ranks. There’s no doubt though that in terms of ability, McCarthy has the attributes capable of making a big impact at a high level.
He has been hampered this year after suffering a broken thumb in the run up to the start of the Tipp club championship, but he is close to a comeback for the Greyhounds and is one to watch going forward.
6.Sean Ryan
Templederry
One of the breakout players of the Tipp club championships this year, Ryan is almost single-handedly annihilating teams at full forward for the Kenyons.
It can often be a slow burn with some players reaching their full potential, but Ryan seems to have found his best position at the edge of the square and is racking up ridiculous scores so far, currently on 4-6 from play after two games which came after a tour de force performance against Roscrea in the North championship where he notched a big total of 2-8 from play.
A former U20 player, Ryan has played much of his early years with Our Lady’s Templemore and Templederry in the back line, but he has all the attributes to become a top forward, with searing pace off the mark, along with an excellent first touch and with his shooting improved out of sight, he has become a big weapon close to goal.
7.Michael Corcoran
Silvermines
Just fresh out of the minor grade and the baby of the 8, Corcoran has been a regular feature of Tipperary underage teams up along the grades in the back division. He is making his first appearances at senior level for his club Silvermines, but has come into a difficult period for the club as they are struggling for results lately.
But the youngster has been impressive for them and his pace and running game is really tailored to the modern game and he looks to have all the raw materials to keep improving and make the next step up. He has time on his side, and the 18-year old will surely be a key member of Brendan Cummins’ U20 team in the coming years.
8.Conor Whelan
Carrick Davins
Whelan’s ability has been marked out from an early age,a Munster minor medal winner in 2018,He also made the Electric Ireland All Star Minor Team of the year for that year also,nailing down the No.2 Slot.
With the Davins,he can cover any number of roles across the backline similar to his time with Tipp at underage, but his best current club position seems to be at wing back with a roving commission
Possibly in time, His future lies in a more central position with his club but theres no doubt he is going to be the bedrock of Davin’s Drive to get into the O’Riain.