It's been quite a 12 months for gaelic football in Tipperary. A good run in the qualifiers 2 seasons ago was followed up with the Allianz League Division 3 trophy, and all eyes among Premier county supporters will now be on how Liam Kearns side perform in Division 2. And with forwards like Michael Quinlivan and Conor Sweeney contributing scores like this they shouldn't be too far off the pace.
Eire Og Annacarthys Brian Fox remains one of the premier stalwarts and the fact that the county's west division provided the captain of the Premier footballers indicates the growing spread of football in the county.
Often hurling stalwarts look down on football as an annoyance disrupting the recruitment of decent hurlers. There is a sign of growing belief in the county with the arrival of a new club coach with a record second to none. It all kicked off with outgoing Arravale Rovers Chairman Tadgh Duggan revealing at their AGM in Sean Treacy park in Tipp Town that ex Cork All Ireland winning boss Conor Counihan will be coach for the 2018 season.
The Galtee mountains serve as a natural border between Tipp and Cork and look down on the clubs grounds where the Aghada native will be guiding their fortunes this year.
Counihan first took charge of the Rebels in February 2008 – having previously been involved as a selector with Cork during Larry Tompkins reign in charge – and remained as bainisteoir for six seasons with the 2013 All-Ireland quarter-final loss to Dublin his final game in charge.
Counihans standout achievement was steering Cork to a first All-Ireland senior title in 20 years when they triumphed in 2010 while he also won three Munster senior crowns as a manager and was at the helm for three Division 1 National football league victories.
Who would have thought that someone of that pedigree would have thrown his lot in with a Tipp GAA club a few seasons ago?
As a player Counihan won All-Ireland senior medals with Cork in 1989 and 1990, claiming All-Star awards at the end of both those seasons.
Arravale Rovers exited the 2017 Tipperary senior championship at the quarter-final stage, losing out narrowly by 0-10 to 0-9 to eventual county champions Clonmel Commercials. Their last county senior final appearance was back in 1985.
Their team captain last year Shane Leahy who's dad Denis owns a famous hostelry in the town, featured for Tipperary in the 2016 All-Ireland semi-final against Mayo while current Tipperary senior football captain Robbie Kiely is originally an Arravale Rovers player before he switched to play his club football for Cork outfit Carbery Rangers in 2015.
All of this is surely likely to help Liam Kearns cause.
As as West Tipp man myself we can truly say 'The West's awake! Watch this space.
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