Tipperary assistant manager Michael Ryan insists the county will carry no lingering hangover from last year’s All-Ireland semi-final when they face Kilkenny in the Allianz Hurling League Division One final on May 5th.

Tipp travel to Nowlan Park for the shootout and Ryan is relishing the challenge of taking on the champions in their own backyard.

Tipp were hammered by 18 points when the sides met at Croke Park last August but under manager Eamon O’Shea the Munster champions gained a measure of revenge in February when they beat Kilkenny 2-17 to 1-19 at Semple Stadium.

Ryan is quietly confident Tipp can upset the odds in the all-ticket encounter.

Bragging rights

Ryan smiled: “All the better if we could get in there and take the cup out of their back yard to give us bragging rights for the next few weeks. I work down there – I need bragging rights!”

Ryan, a Kilkenny-based bank official, added: “It’s the best available game at this point. It’s great to play Kilkenny – it’s exactly who you want to play.

Ryan confirmed forwards Eoin Kelly and John O'Dwyer should be back fit in time for the final, with fellow attackers Brian O'Meara and John O'Brien less certain to be ready.

Ryan doesn’t believe the absence of Brian Cody from the touchline will have any bearing on the game. He added: “I don’t think it will have any impact on these (Kilkenny) guys.

“It’s just business as usual. The Kilkenny structures are 100 per cent . . . their achievements are there for us all to see. I don’t think it will have any bearing on the outcome. I certainly hope it’s not thrown up as an excuse if we beat them!”

But Ryan believes Kilkenny could be affected if Cody doesn’t return to the set-up sooner rather than later.

He said: “I think it could change a lot of things in terms of the direction and the presence he brings. But that’s for Kilkenny to sort out.”