Waterford might live to regret giving away an advantage like this. It seems absurd that they would hand Tipperary an advantage like this. They played Tipp in munster finals in Limerick in the 60's. They won one and lost one. For the posters who think Thurles should host every munster final, quiet frankly its outrageous. It ll nevet happen. Some of the best finals have been in limerick or Cork. While Thurles is unique and quaint its not exactly somewhere you could spend a weekend like Cork or Limerick are. Waterford could very well have lost 2 munster finals to tipp in tipp..handing an initiative away is silly. It would suit Clare to play every game in Limerick but we dont do it because playing limerick or tipp or cork in limerick all the time sets unwanted precedents....especially if we were to go on a losing sequence
Definate advantage to Tipp.The team will want to win this trophy for Eamonn O Shea and the great Jimmy Doyle.On their own patch in front of a majority of their own fans.I fancy Tipp bigtime.
It's Waterford final to loose at this stage. Thurles is like home to Waterford all the pressure is on Tipp now so all advantages are with Waterford. Waterford have and know their best 15, Tipp still don't.
Therealtmo Congratulations on a great and comprehensive win on Sunday. Kilkenny are probably past it, though much is made of their 24 points win on Sunday. Listen up people Limerick beat Wexford by the same amount last July and we saw how absolutely helpless our boys were to stop this stunning Tipp team on Sunday. Make no mistake about it the All Ireland and Munster titles are Premier County bound. No team would come near giving the exhibition of class, style, athleticism and scoring power they produced on Sunday. However as far as the fixing of the Munster Final is concerned I always admire the manner in which the Tipp County Board play the game at getting opposing teams to play in their backyard especially in Munster Finals. LK, a very inconsequential hurling county in relation to the mighty Premier County, played Munster Finals in Thurles in 35, 36 ,and 45 plus a first round game in 39 without playing a final in Limerick. When LK again appeared in a Munster final in 71 after a long absence they asked Tipp to do the decent thing and play the game in Limerick in view of all those trips we made to Thurles. Quite rightly the Tipp Co Board told them to go and get stuffed and the game was played in Killarney at what must have been great inconvenience to Tipp supporters from the Laois and KK borders especially. In 73 a toss was made and proving there must be no God there, or else he is from Moycarkey, Tipp won it and escaped having to return the compliment until 96. When this latter game ended in a draw, LK proved for once showed they might have a bit of sense and refused to toss for home or away and brought the game to Cork. LK for many years tossed for home and away with Clare and even against poor Clare teams always fared badly in Ennis. Tipp went there once in 86 and were narrowly beaten. They have never since played a senior championship against Clare at home and I for one admire their consistency. It is Waterfords' business to play the Final wherever they wish but I feel they have have been beguiled by the Tipp magic and have scant regard for their own team
Good post Oldtourman.The reverence munster folk have for Thurles is hard to understand.Its a definite advantage to Tipp to play there.Mind you I think Tipp would be beat Waterford wherever the game was played.
I doubt there was any pressure applied to Waterford to play this fixture in Thurles. Perhaps it was given as an option but seems Waterford were very open in their desire to play it there. Remember Waterford have offered Cork in the past 2010 I believe to play a Munster final in PUC.50 grand was the asking price so they are not new to this game and to blame Tipp is outrageous. Anyway.... To think in June that Tipp are red hot favorites for Munster & All-Ireland is premature. This Waterford team have a point to prove and will relish playing Tipp in Thurles and will have no fear. Tipp are not unbeatable in Thurles. I for one don't agree that Waterford would give up an advantage if they thought no chance of winning.Anything can happen on the day and this game is not a foregone conclusion. I expect Waterford to be there or there about's. Remember.Remember they are unbeaten and certainly don't want to lose this Munster crown who I think on form so far this year they richly deserve. I would expect at this stage Tipp , Kilkenny , Waterford , Galway , Limerick or Cork to be in the mix for All Ireland honours. It's still a very open championship despite some beatings but it will tighten up as the summer goes on. Looking forward to the round 2 hurling qualifiers as there could be 2 great games in store!!!