Latest news with #JakeMorris
Irish Independent
11 hours ago
- Sport
- Irish Independent
Jake Morris and Eoghan Connolly return for Tipp while Peter McGarry is handed championship debut for Galway clash
Jake Morris and Eoghan Connolly both come back into the Tipperary starting XV with Liam Cahill making three changes for their All-Ireland SHC quarter-final against Galway in the Gaelic Grounds tomorrow (6.15).
The Irish Sun
3 days ago
- Sport
- The Irish Sun
Jake Morris says Tipperary minor heroes inspired senior revival after ‘embarrassing' 2024 collapse
AFTER Tipperary felt 'embarrassed' by their efforts in 2024, the success of the Premier's minor team had a major influence on the seniors' desire to restore pride. Hurling in Advertisement 2 Jake Morris of Tipperary hailed the minor All-Ireland winner for giving their senior side inspiration 2 Tipperary captain Cathal O'Reilly lifts the All-Ireland Minor Championship title after the win over Kilkenny in 2024 However, underage achievements brightened the outlook as the winning of an Under-20 provincial title was followed by a stunning triumph in the Jake Morris was one of the members of the senior set-up in attendance as the Tipp teenagers were forced to play the majority of their showpiece with 13 players due to a pair of first-half red cards. Yet James Woodlock's side displayed remarkable character to pull off an extra-time win over Kilkenny on their own patch. Asked if it was the type of occasion that struck a chord, Morris said: 'It was, in terms of looking at a team that fought on their backs together, a united team, a good battling Tipperary team, that never-say-die attitude and that's what you're referring to. Advertisement read more on gaa "That's what was taken away that day. 'You never mind losing a game as long as you've shown up and you've performed and you've fought on your back and you can come away together on the bus afterwards and you can look at each other. 'The manner of some of the defeats last year wasn't acceptable. I suppose that's where there was a bit of lessons taken from looking at 16- and 17-year-olds performing last year in Nowlan Park.' Morris admits he was 'embarrassed walking around' that day in Kilkenny after Tipperary had been dumped out of the Championship with an 18-point hammering against Cork six weeks earlier. Advertisement Most read in GAA Hurling Nevertheless, the response from Liam Cahill's men can only be admired. Wins over Clare and Waterford, as well as a draw with Limerick, sent them through to this year's knockouts stages. 'Just in time for Father's Day' - Dublin GAA legends welcome the birth of precious baby daughter Having blitzed Laois, another victory over Galway on Saturday would seal Tipp's place in a first All-Ireland semi-final since 2019. Morris explained: 'You can't hide away. "We were in the trenches after last year. We had to deal with it face on, take our constructive criticism and move on and look in the mirror. Advertisement 'There was a lot of soul-searching done over the winter, a lot of hard looks in the mirror and seeing what can be done more. 'To be fair, lads have done it and so have the management team. They've come with us every way in this journey. It hasn't been pointed just at the players. 'They've taken on the flak as well and together as a unit, we've worked hard and we've got ourselves into this situation now where we're still alive in the Championship and that's ultimately what we aim for.' After the year began with boss Cahill calling on fans to get behind his team, the Tipperary public have gradually been coaxed back to the stands and terraces too. Advertisement Morris said: 'Drawing against Limerick probably did plant the seed with a lot of Tipp supporters that, 'OK, these lads mean business, they're competitive again' but I don't think there was exactly one moment. "I think it's just been a lot of hard work since the start of the year.' In-form Morris was one of the stars of a campaign that saw Tipp only miss out on a place in the Munster final on scoring difference. The vice-captain, who debuted in 2018, added: 'I know I only turned 26 there a couple of weeks ago but I've seen a lot. Advertisement 'I suppose leadership is off the field and on the field and we've a lot of good leaders in that dressing room. 'I think for myself, it was just a look in the mirror and to say I need to do more, I need to do more on the field. 'It's not about giving big, massive speeches in the dressing room. It's about leading on the field and that's consciously what I was trying to go after.'
Irish Times
3 days ago
- Sport
- Irish Times
Tipperary are back in the groove and Jake Morris admits county minors helped light the spark
Inspiration can stem from any multitude of places or exploits. For the Tipperary senior hurlers, it just happened to be from the Tipperary minor hurlers. Jake Morris, the current Premier County senior vice-captain, was in attendance at the All-Ireland minor final last June when 13-man Tipp overcame Kilkenny after extra-time at Nowlan Park. That victory came just five weeks after the seniors had seen their 2024 campaign unravel, crashing to an ignominious early-season conclusion after failing to win a single game in the Munster SHC . 'I was down in Nowlan Park myself that day and there's no point in saying otherwise – we were embarrassed walking around,' recalled Morris. READ MORE 'You have to go to work, you can't hide away. We were in the trenches after last year, we had to deal with it face-on and take our constructive criticism and move on. 'There was a lot of soul-searching done over the winter, a lot of hard looks in the mirror and seeing what could be done.' But watching the Tipp minors rally back after having two players sent off proved to be a spark for the county, with current senior boss Liam Cahill previously referencing the impact of that underage All-Ireland triumph. Morris says it was the manner of the victory more than anything that resonated with the senior players. It's massive, when you're coming down the home straight of a match down in Ennis or in Semple Stadium and you hear the chanting going — Jake Morris 'It was in terms of looking at a team that fought on their backs together, a united team, a good battling Tipperary team, that never-say-die attitude,' he explained. 'That's what was taken from that day. You never mind losing a game as long as you've shown up and you've performed and you've fought on your back and you can come away together on the bus afterwards and you can look at each other. 'The manner of some of the defeats last year wasn't acceptable. I suppose that's where there were some lessons taken from looking at 16- and 17-year-olds performing last year in Nowlan Park.' The county's seniors have certainly performed this season. Cahill's side posted two wins and a draw in the Munster senior hurling championship to finish third in the group. Tipperary players celebrate after beating Clare in last year's Munster minor hurling final at the Gaelic Grounds in Limerick. Photograph: Ken Sutton/Inpho Last weekend they hammered Laois by 23 points to set up an All-Ireland quarter-final against Galway this Saturday at the Gaelic Grounds in Limerick, 6.15pm. And one of the more noticeable aspects of Tipp games this year has been a growing, returning, fanbase – something that has been recognised by the players. 'It's massive, when you're coming down the home straight of a match down in Ennis or in Semple Stadium and you hear the chanting going, 'Tipp, Tipp, Tipp', and you know that they're going to roar you out over the line,' said Morris. 'I suppose all Tipperary supporters are very fair, they just want to see a team that are battling hard and giving it their all and that's what we're doing this year. I suppose that's why they're getting behind us now, because it's a team that they can enjoy going to watch.' [ 'They do an incredible job': GAA president Jarlath Burns defends CCCC after Jim McGuinness criticism Opens in new window ] Despite being only 26, Morris is acknowledged as one of the real leaders within the Tipp squad. The Nenagh Éire Óg clubman made his Tipp senior debut in 2018. 'Leadership is off the field and on the field and we've a lot of good leaders in that dressingroom,' he said. 'For myself, it was just taking a look in the mirror and saying I need to do more on the field. It's not about giving big, massive speeches in the dressingroom; it's about leading on the field and that's consciously what I was trying to go after.' If Cahill is hoping to create new heroes over the coming seasons, there is little doubt that Noel McGrath remains a colossus within the squad. 'Noel is worth so much to us inside there, he's so good with all the younger lads,' said Morris. 'He'll give you his last bit of energy and he's just such a good lad to have around the dressingroom and then you can see what he does on the field. 'He's like a fine wine, he's getting better. He's a really important player for us, he's been such a good hurler for Tipperary over the years and he just continues to give and give and give.'
Irish Examiner
3 days ago
- Sport
- Irish Examiner
Jake Morris: 'The manner of some of the defeats last year wasn't acceptable'
When Liam Cahill spoke last month about he and the Tipperary players being 'embarrassed' at the county's All-Ireland minor final win over Kilkenny, it was eye-opening. As a 13-man Tipperary pulled off a famous extra-time win, what should have been a joyous day for anyone affiliated with the blue and gold was a bittersweet one for the members of the county's flagship group. For Cahill, Jake Morris and others, it exacerbated their sense of disappointment after failing to get out of the Munster SHC the previous month. 'I was down in Nowlan Park myself that day and there's no point in saying it, we were embarrassed walking around,' recalls Morris. 'Players are in the trenches. You have to go to work, you can't hide away. We were in the trenches after last year. We had to deal with it face on and take our constructive criticism and move on and look in the mirror. 'There was a lot of soul-searching done over the winter. A lot of hard looks in the mirror and seeing what can be done more. To be fair, lads have done it and so have the management team. They have come with us every way in this journey. 'It hasn't been pointed just at the players, they've taken on the flack as well and together as a unit, we've worked hard and we've got ourselves into this situation now where we're still alive in the championship and that's ultimately what we aim for.' Read More Jarlath Burns defends GAA's fixtures body in wake of Donegal criticism In those tigerish Tipperary teenagers, Morris took inspiration. Another All-Ireland final loss after the U20s fell to Offaly in Nowlan Park earlier that June would have been rough but the afterglow of the minors's achievement was lengthy. It was something of a turning point too, Morris concurs. 'It was in terms of looking at a team that fought on their backs together, a united team, a good battling Tipperary team, that never-say-die attitude. That's what was taken away that day. 'We never mind losing games and any of the boys there will tell you, you never mind losing a game as long as you've shown up and you've performed and you've fought on your back and you can come away together on the bus afterwards and you can look at each other. 'The manner of some of the (senior) defeats last year wasn't acceptable. That's where there was a bit of lessons taken from looking at 16 and 17-year-olds performing last year in Nowlan Park.' Morris isn't sure there was a similar seminal moment for the seniors this year even though they emerged from the province. 'I suppose getting to the league final was nice. Drawing against Limerick probably did plant the seed with a lot of Tipp supporters that, 'Ok these lads, they mean business, they're competitive again' but I don't think there was exactly one moment.' Jake Morris of Tipperary is tackled by Cian Galvin and David McInerney of Clare during the Munster GAA Hurling Senior Championship. Pic: Ray McManus/Sportsfile. What's certain is the Tipperary supporters are back behind their team in strong numbers having been away for a while. 'It's massive,' says the Nenagh Éire Óg man. 'You're down the home straight of a match down in Ennis and in Semple Stadium the last day against Waterford and you hear the chanting going, 'Tipp, Tipp, Tipp' and you know that they're going to roar you out over the line. 'All Tipperary supporters are very fair, they just want to see a team that are battling hard and giving it their all and that's what we're doing this year and that's why they're getting behind us now, because it's a team that they can enjoy going to watch.' But Morris doesn't lose sight of the fact that it's about the wins. A fourth straight SHC victory in Limerick this Saturday and what would be a first in four SHC meetings against Galway will earn Tipperary a first appearance in Croke Park since their 2019 All-Ireland final success. 'If you're not winning games, the morale is down. We got a couple of pats on the backs for our second half performance against Cork, but a pat on the back is no good to us at that level. "It's a points business, so it's all about results and from here on in it's about results and performance and that's what we're going to be judged off.'
Irish Independent
7 days ago
- Sport
- Irish Independent
Jake Morris praises Tipp's All-Ireland winning young guns as U-20 star Paddy McCormack gets call-up to seniors
Jake Morris has praised Tipperary's young guns for snapping at the heels of their elder team-mates, with U20 star Paddy McCormack getting called up to the panel ahead of tomorrow's All-Ireland preliminary quarter final against Laois.
