Finan well aware the secret to success is hard work

Possibly the hardest part of being Kilkenny under-21 hurling manager is playing down your team's chances. In Croke Park on Sunday they play Tipperary in what is Kilkenny's fourth successive All-Ireland final in the grade - three of which they've won.

They've also got seven members of last Sunday's All-Ireland winning senior panel - including three central players John Tennyson, Richie Power and James "Cha" Fitzpatrick.

Tipperary, in contrast, haven't won this title since 1995 and when they met Kilkenny in the final two years ago they lost by 21 points. Tipperary do have their minor success from last Sunday to inspire them, but still, no matter how you approach Sunday's final Kilkenny are coming in as clear favourites.

"I think we all got a timely reminder last weekend of what favouritism can mean in these kind of matches," says manager Adrian Finan, referring to Cork's slightly surprising defeat to Kilkenny on Sunday, and yet trying in vain to play down those chances.

"But that's always been more for the supporters and media in the build-up to the game. For the players it could be the last All-Ireland final they'll ever play in, so it doesn't matter if they're underdogs or what. They'll just go out to do their best. And the All-Ireland usually gets the two best teams in the country, and I'd say that's the way it is now."

Finan is in his second year with the under-21s, having already guided James Stephens to an All-Ireland club title. He knows Kilkenny are proof that success breeds success, although that doesn't mean they take it for granted. "There's no secret to any success, really. It's all about hard work. And that hard work is going on in every primary school and secondary school and every parish and club in Kilkenny. Obviously you need to have talent to work on, but we're blessed in Kilkenny that there are so many people prepared to work so hard at underage.

"It's about potential as well. Both these teams on Sunday have potential, but there's a big difference between potential and reality. An awful lot of lads go on and achieve their full potential, so all we're concerned about right now is winning this under-21 title, and if that leads to later success so be it."

"Cha" Fitzpatrick's performance against Cork last Sunday - which effectively overwhelmed the Cork midfield - was testament to that potential and yet Finan isn't getting carried away with his talent either.

"He's got his All-Ireland medal now, so from that point of view he has arrived. But stardom is another thing. It's takes a number of years of consistent performances to be mentioned in the same breath as Henry Shefflin or Eoin Kelly. But we have high hopes for Cha, and he has high hopes for himself."

Fitzpatrick was carrying a flu into Sunday's game and Finan is hoping he'll be 100 per cent for Sunday, and won't finalise his team until this evening as a result. But he is sure that Sunday's senior win over Cork won't upset their plans to win back the under-21 crown.