Bonnar brings back Inter-divisional trials in Tipperary as club players given every chance

Niall McIntyre

In one of his first moves as Tipperary senior hurling manager, Colm Bonnar has brought back the inter-divisional trial tournament known as the Miller Cup.

Bonnar made it clear, as soon as he was appointed as manager, that he would look in “every corner of the county” for Tipperary hurlers and by giving this tournament the go-ahead, that’s exactly what he’s doing. The Miller Cup was historically used in the 1950s and 1960s as a method of selecting inter-county panels and in Tipperary, Bonnar’s initiative is being seen as a positive and proactive step to unearthing the best talent within the county.

The trials will take place from the weekend November 20 with management teams already in place to oversee each of Tipperary’s four divisions. The games will be open to the public and just like Pat Gilroy did in Dublin back in 2008, it will give an opportunity to any impressive club players who to date haven’t got the chance with their county.

“We committed a number of months ago that we would look in every corner of the county and in doing this, we are bringing over 80 players from the South, North, Mid and West to play each other over 3 consecutive weekends starting Saturday 20^th Nov,” said Bonnar.

“To support us in running the divisional competition, we have great hurling men from all our divisions to give us an extensive and fresh look at the talent we have right across the county.”

Players want games so for the dual men of Loughmore-Castleiney, preparing to play for their 15th weekend in a row, this is exactly what the doctor ordered.

"We're back. And we're back on the double"https://t.co/bIiksYLBZ8

— GAA JOE (@GAA__JOE) November 11, 2021

The management teams are listed below.

The Mid team is managed by Eamonn Corcoran (JK Brackens), Noel Morris (Loughmore-Castleiney), and Gary Mernagh (Thurles Sarsfields)
The West team is managed by Brendan Bonnar (Cashel King Cormacs), Will Ryan (Clonoulty Rossmore), Brian Leamy (Golden Kilfeacle) and Ger O Neill (Cappawhite).
The North team is managed by Willie Ryan (Toomevara), Seamus Hennessy, ( kilruane MacDonaghs)
The South team is managed by Kenneth Browne (Killenaule), Sean O Regan (Mullinahone), Brendan Cagney (St Marys)

The teams will wear the jerseys of the divisional champions for 2021 and with the idea going down well in Tipperary, it certainly looks like an idea for other inter-county managers.