KILKENNY ARE ALREADY there and on Sunday evening at around 5.30pm, we’ll know whether Tipperary or Galway have joined the Cats in the All-Ireland senior hurling final on 6 September.
It’s time for the Premier County and the Tribesmen to lay their All-Ireland credentials on the line but Tipp’s need is greater.
For this current group of players to be remembered as true greats, they need to lift the Liam MacCarthy Cup again, and beat Kilkenny in the process.
Tipp stopped the Noresiders doing five-in-a-row in 2010 but in every season since then, Kilkenny have ended their championship interest.
In 2011 it was the final and a year later Brian Cody’s men inflicted a damaging 18-point semi-final defeat on Tipp, the county’s worst senior championship defeat since the 1800s.
In 2013, Kilkenny won a Nowlan Park qualifier and last year, the men in black and amber claimed victory in the All-Ireland final replay.
Over the previous four seasons Tipp have been good but not good enough to slay their neighbours but history has taught us that success is a cyclical thing for the blue and gold.
It took Nicky English three years to reach the Promised Land before he delivered an All-Ireland title in 2001.
It was same for Liam Sheedy before Tipp claimed victory five years ago and in Eamon O’Shea’s third, and final, season at the helm, climbing the Hogan Stand steps next month would be fitting reward for his efforts.
He took over a bedraggled and psychologically damaged bunch in 2012 and year one was about sifting through what he had and making the team competitive again.
2014 represented another major step forward and this summer, O’Shea finally cracked the Munster code and delivered a first Munster title and his first piece of silverware in charge.
Fine progress has been achieved but O’Shea and Tipp are anxious to take the final steps.
Galway will present formidable opposition, make no mistake, but defeat is not an option for O’Shea and his players.
They are good enough and armed with enough motivation to overcome the Tribesmen at GAA HQ and set up a fifth All-Ireland final clash with Kilkenny in seven seasons.
The law of averages and the talent at Tipp’s disposal suggests that their time will come again soon.
But these Tipperary players can’t afford to wait much longer. Their time is now.
It’s time me hole !
it certainly is time! backed tipp in January and I’m confident
So because you are confident and have a bet on its time?
Yeah right .
anyone outside of the counties are saying oh Tipp are the only ones to stop Kk in the final, but I think Galway have as good if not a better chance than Tipp. O’shea’s biggest challenge this weekend is managing expectation. Galway are in a way almost more settled team, they’re similar to last year but they’re that bit more mature and experienced. too close to call!
gaillimh abu!
How could tipps need be greater galway haven’t won since 88 Hope galway desroy tipp tomorrow and there arrogance gaillimh abú
totally agree. listening to a lot of crap about tipp. there will be little in this and hopefully it’s Galway who shade it. heard 25 minutes on newstalk about the wonders of this Tip team and not a mention of Galways attacking threat when they almost broke the scoreboard against cork and still had 20plus wides .
The worse cork team of all time, don’t get too carried away!!
This Tipp team only beat a Henry less Kk in that final. Fairly one sided piece all told.
There will be an article tomorrow about why Galway should win for the balance
David it’s not the same team, in fact only the midfield and p and bonner Maher are the same, Seamus Callanan only came on towards the end of that game, otherwise totally new team
David also seems to be saying that Kilkenny were a one man team
The piece refers to this group of Tipp men. Says they stopped Kk winning five in a row. Kk minus Henry it should have said
A few fiery Galway supporters on here . . I’m just looking forward to a cracking open and physical game of hurling