Burke warns of Tipperary backlash

GALWAY’S Fintan Burke has warned his team-mates to expect a backlash in tomorrow’s Bord Gáis Energy All-Ireland U-21 semi-final clash with Tipperary.

The Premier men were brushed aside in the Munster final, going down to Cork on a 2-23 to 1-13 scoreline, and Burke (right) expects a much different side to turn up in Limerick tomorrow night.

“We know that Tipp are obviously going to be hurting after the Munster final, they didn’t show up, they just didn’t perform,” Burke said.

“But that’s no reflection on what sort of team they are. We know there’s going to be a good kick-back in them.

“You can’t even look into the game against Cork because they just didn’t perform.

“You can’t judge them off that because they just had a cold day, but the only match we really looked at was their win over Limerick.

“If you were to read off that, they’re a serious team because that was a serious Limerick team. So that’s the one we’re looking at.”

The St Thomas’ man, who has been involved with Micheál Donoghue’s extended senior panel on occasion, believes Tipp will show their true worth in the Gaelic Grounds.

“I know a lot of people are putting us down with the favourite’s tag but we know ourselves there’s going to be absolutely nothing earned easy around the field, and Tipp are going to have a point to prove.

“I know a lot of the Tipperary supporters have nearly turned on them, they kind of gave them the cold shoulder after they lost to Cork and said these lads weren’t worth it.”

Burke has first-hand knowledge of just how good this Tipperary group can be. Two years ago, at minor level, Tipp ran in seven goals on Galway in an All-Ireland semi-final.

“You just have those days. Seven goals they got altogether,” he recalled.

“I suppose the year before, in 2015, we beat them in an All-Ireland minor final and then the following year they came back and got their revenge. But it’s always defeats like that you’d rely on coming back to matches like this, they do drive you on a small bit more.”