McNamara: Commercials success can ignite Tipp football

Tipperary minor football manager and Clonmel Commercials stalwart John McNamara says the club's progress this season has boosted the game throughout the whole county.

McNamara was in charge of the Tipp minor side that topped their Munster Phase 1 group before losing out to the eventual provincial champions, Cork.

He has since been delighted to see his club Commercials beat Upperchurch in the Tipp final before taking off all the shackles and delivering an exhilarating display against Cork's Nemo Rangers.

This weekend they meet back-to-back Limerick champions Newcastle West in the AIB Munster semi-final at FBD Semple Stadium.

And McNamara says that while the win against the Cork champions is firmly in the past, it reminded people in Tipp and beyond of the standard that can be achieved.

"What you saw against Nemo complimented the work that has been done at club level and also the work that has also been at intercounty level," he tells RTE Sport.

"It reassured people with ideas, the likes of Tipp football chairman Conor O'Dwyer, that such style and success can be gained.

"It complimented the promotion of the game by the Friends of Tipp football and it complimented the wish we have in Tipp football that this is the spectacle we can promote.

"Others from around the county looked at that Nemo game and said, 'these guys are from the next parish’ That’s how close this is. The glory we all have is that young kids can see it, it is not the World Cup in Qatar. Instead, teachers like Richie Carroll were able to bring the likes of Jack and Conal Kennedy out to Grange NS to meet the kids. This is something that is achievable."

Although there was no trophy in the mix on the night they beat Nemo, the nature of the win was special for those