Dublin battle a benefit for Tipp

GAELIC GAMES:THE LEVEL of physicality in Dublin's resistance last Sunday is being seen as a benefit for Tipperary as they switch focus to meeting Kilkenny in the All-Ireland final on September 4th.

Almost the perfect preparation? “It’s good preparation,” said Tipperary centre back Conor O’Mahony. “It’s always good to get a good hard match before you play someone like Kilkenny because you know when you play Kilkenny you are going to get a fierce intense match, the calibre of players they have.

“They have been around for an awful long time. They know how to handle the big day. We are taking it one step at a time. We are delighted to be in the final.”

So, the Dublin hits were comparable to Kilkenny at their most aggressive?

“Definitely,” O’Mahony continued. “Dublin are really right up there now, and I suppose it won’t be long before they get a Leinster or an All-Ireland title now. You can be sure of that.”

Eoin Kelly adopted a slightly less encouraging stance. Satisfied to have progressed to the final, the Tipperary captain felt the overall team showing needs dramatic improvement. “We wouldn’t be happy with that today. We’ll take it but a performance like that wouldn’t do against Kilkenny.”

Tipperary have no injury concerns to report in contrast to Kilkenny. Colin Fennelly has already made two visits to a cryotherapy chamber in Wexford since pulling his hamstring in Ballyhale Shamrocks’ defeat of Clara last Saturday. It was the last round of club fixtures in the county before the All-Ireland final.

The positive news from that same match was the impressive display of Henry Shefflin, who played the full hour, with no adverse problems. A damaged cruciate knee ligament, of course, saw Shefflin withdrawn from last year’s All-Ireland final after 13 minutes.

Meanwhile, Tomás Ó Sé is expected to feature in Sunday’s All-Ireland football semi-final against Mayo. The former footballer of the year damaged his hamstring last weekend at Kerry’s training base in Fota. It is being reported that Ó Sé pulled up in an A versus B match after feeling a slight twinge but Paul Galvin and Shane Enright (both hamstrings) are struggling to attain the required fitness levels. Galvin has been trying to shake off a hamstring problem all season and didn’t feature in the training game.

Meath’s David Coldrick has been confirmed as referee for Sunday’s semi-final.