Niall Bergin manager of Kilkenny during the Electric Ireland GAA Hurling All-Ireland Minor Hurling Championship Semi-Final match between Kilkenny and Clare at FBD Semple Stadium in Thurles, Tipperary. Photo by Matt Browne/Sportsfile.
By Paul Keane
You might have figured on a couple of occasions throughout this season's Electric Ireland All-Ireland MHC that Kilkenny's title bid was doomed.
They lost two of their first three games for starters and finished bottom of their group in Leinster.
They bounced back strongly from that, collecting the provincial title, but then found themselves eight points down in an All-Ireland semi-final against holders Clare. Another set of players might have tossed in the towel.
Somehow, Kilkenny fought back that day, brought the game to extra-time and won it in the additional minutes.
The thing is, and this is what makes Saturday's Electric Ireland All-Ireland minor final such a tough game to call, opponents Tipperary have dug similarly deep themselves to get here.
They bounced back from their own provincial difficulties, conceding 4-11 and losing to Clare, and needed extra-time as well to get past Galway at the All-Ireland semi-final stage.
"They've shown a huge amount of character this year," said Kilkenny manager Niall Bergin of his group. "It belies their years in many ways, what they've produced in games.
"Even the last day against Clare, we were 2-3 to 0-1 down after 17 or 18 minutes but they showed the determination to come back. We were creating chances but we weren't scoring them and when we rectified that issue, thankfully it came good. But it comes down to the resolve and the spirit that's within the group."
Jake Mullen, brother of county senior star Adrian, hit Clare for 0-13 last time out, bringing his tally for the championship so far to a staggering 4-52. Eoin Brennan has consistently picked up points from midfield while Ollie O'Donovan is in red-hot form with five goals in his last four games.
Kilkenny players Jake Mullen, left, and Louis Raggett celebrate after the Electric Ireland GAA Hurling All-Ireland Minor Hurling Championship Semi-Final match between Kilkenny and Clare at FBD Semple Stadium in Thurles, Tipperary. Photo by Matt Browne/Sportsfile.
Tipperary have their own stellar cast of performers. Cillian Minogue has brought both a strong goal threat - netting against Cork, Waterford and Clare - as well as a penchant for point-poaching.
He was terrific against Galway last time out, as was Euan Murray who hit 1-4 and has scored in all six of Tipp's games so far. Eoghan Doughan has been precise on the placed balls.
The strong bond within Tipp's camp was summed up by the players drenching manager James Woodlock with their water bottles as they giddily celebrated the Munster final win.
The really interesting thing is that both groups know eachother well having already met in a challenge.
"That game took place at the end of March," explained Bergin. "It was a close game, a very close game, in miserable conditions. A lot of water has passed under the bridge since that. Between the Munster round robin matches and our games in Leinster, a lot of hurling has been played in the meantime."
Kilkenny will be pushing for a first Electric Ireland All-Ireland minor hurling title since 2014. Tipperary won it more recently, memorably coming from behind to beat Offaly in the 2022 final.
That decider was played in Nowlan Park, the venue for this weekend's game. On the face of things, it's home advantage for Kilkenny but it's clearly been a positive venue for Tipp teams in the past. In the event of a future final between the same counties, the game will be played in Thurles.
"It's probably not going to make a huge difference because I'm sure Tipperary supporters will come out in their droves as well," said Bergin of the venue.
Electric Ireland All-Ireland Minor Hurling Championship final
Kilkenny v Tipperary, UPMC Nowlan Park, Kilkenny, 5.30pm (Saturday)
Referee: Thomas Gleeson (Dublin)
