If one thing can be gained from Tipperary’s 2010 All Ireland win is that investment and trust in young and unproven players can reap rewards. Liam Sheedy tried out raw talent like Patrick Maher, Gearoid Ryan, Brendan Maher and Seamus Hennessy and stuck with them throughout the season. The hunger and fearless attitude of these players proved pivotal in the course of wrestling away Kilkenny’s five in a row.So what new players can Davy Fitzgerald call upon in 2011 to freshen up his panel? Some of the eleven players listed below have league experience but only one of them has made their senior championship debut.
Stephen O’Keeffe
The Gunners netminder will push hard for the number one spot this season. His form in the 2010 county championship affirmed his standing as a rising star. O’Keeffe’s distribution and shot stopping skills are hard to fault and his composure provides confidence to the defence in front of him. Fitzgibbon hurling with UL also enhances his credentials.
Brian O’Halloran
How O’Halloran recovers from being parachuted unsuccessfully into the starting team against Tipperary last summer may define how he fares this season. He has graduated quickly from the minor team of 2009 with his blistering pace catching Davy’s eye. He played an important cameo role in the Munster final replay but the Clashmore man will want to further his development in the coming months.
Ian Flynn
Flynn improved with every outing for De La Salle this season. He is a natural number three who adopts a no nonsense approach to defending and goes about his business in a quietly effective manner. Flynn also provides a dominant physical presence at the edge of the square. De La Salle’s All Ireland run however, may mean Flynn is out of Davy’s sight and out of Davy’s mind for the tail end of the league.
Pauric Mahony
After being awarded Waterford’s young hurler of the year the Ballygunner forward has a lot to live up to in 2011. Mahony was top scorer for the county minors in 2010, won a minor title with his club and also reached a county final with the senior team. Hurling with the UCC Freshers will also improve his game as he looks set to make the county under 21 side this season.
Philip Mahony
Like his younger brother, Philip Mahony’s form graph continues on an upward curve. After captaining the minor Munster success in 2009, Mahony operated at centre back on last year’s under 21 team and also played a significant part in Ballygunner’s charge to a county final. His experience gained from being part of last year’s senior panel should stand him in good stead for 2011 but will need to make an impact in league outings.
Shane Fives
In 2010 Fives proved he is one of the best hurlers in the Fitzgibbon Cup as WIT made their way to the final of the competition. He has already plied his trade on the Waterford senior panel for two seasons with limited opportunities to show his wares. With the half back line one of the most competitive on the team he needs to seize any opportunities during pre-season and the league.
Stephen Daniels
Captain of the under 21 team that made the Munster final in 2009 and part of last year’s National League panel Daniels had already made an impact before De La Salle’s run to Munster glory last autumn. In the county final he won the man of the match award and again impressed in the Munster final against Thurles. When he returns from club duty, he looks a solid bet to be given game time during the latter rounds of league.
Dean Twomey
Twomey’s man of the match display for De La Salle against Sarsfields in the Munster club semi final put him on the radar as one to watch. As that match progressed his work rate increased and his influence became more prominent. His energy around the field and also his ability to pop up with a score makes him ideal midfield material.
Jerome Maher
The Geraldines’ man should continue to place pressure on Eoin Murphy and Noel Connors for the corner back positions in the coming year. Last year he received league starts against Dublin and Kilkenny and has been a member of the panel since 2009. His strong performances on the training ground also mean he will remain in the management’s thoughts.
Tomás Ryan
Despite impressive league showings against Cork and Tipperary, injury in the under 21 championship against Cork curtailed Ryan’s progress in 2010. Ryan’s searing pace and lethal finishing are his trademark qualities but they need to be complemented by a greater physicality to win possession. This is the only question mark between him and starting senior position for the coming year.
Stephen Power
Power’s displays over the two games against Lismore last October (scoring eighteen points) again showed that the Ballygunner sharpshooter is one of the most accurate forwards in the county. What is holding him back is the ability to consistently make an impact from open play. If he can shrug off the tag of just being a specialist free taker in 2011 it will see him move in the right direction.
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