TIPP TAKE CONFIDENCE FROM TREATY TRIUMPH
LIMERICK’S Liam MacCarthy Cup success has given Tipperary a huge confidence boost ahead of Sunday’s AllIreland Under 21 HC decider with Cork at the Gaelic Grounds. En route to the Munster decider, the Premier County accounted for 2017 champions Limerick — with a number of players who went on to taste senior glory — on a 1-22 to 1-13 scoreline at the semifinal stage in Thurles. ‘When you see the likes of Kyle Hayes, Seamus Flanagan, Tom Morrissey, all these guys either U21 or just out of the U21 grade for Limerick perform at the highest level in Croke Park on Sunday and win a senior All-Ireland, it just gives that little bit more encouragement,’ said Tipp boss Liam Cahill ‘We beat Limerick in a Munster semi-final. There was a number of their [Limerick] players involved and we beat them and beat them quite comprehensively so we’ve to tap into that and see can we produce the same performance against equally good opposition on Sunday.’ However, Tipp realise it won’t be that easy as they were subsequently defeated (2-23 to 1-13) by this weekend’s final opponents Cork in the Munster decidel at Páirc Uí Chaoimh back in July. ‘Cork have phenomenal pace and if they get space with their pace they’ll hurt you. They have Robbie O’Flynn, [Shane] Kingston, [Mark] Coleman and [Darragh] Fitzgibbon. They were far superior in the Munster final so we have a lot of areas to address if we’re to close that gap.’ An appearance in the U21 decider offers some consolation for Tipperary hurling fans after a disappointing summer and with the county in a state of flux following Michael Ryan’s resignation as manager, Cahill has been linked with the role. ‘You want to say “yes” straight away but that’s not the case,’ he said. ‘It would have to take a little bit of consideration to make sure that you’d have the qualities, number one, and then to have the support, number two. Bord Gáis All-Ireland. Under 21 HC Final - Throwin: Sunday, 5.30pm, Gaelic Grounds. TV: LIVE on TG4 from 4.30pm. Ref: John Keenan (Wicklow).