TIPPERARY’S minor football campaign this year was a stirring tale long before yesterday’s All-Ireland decider in Croke Park.

HE was fresh from steering Tipperary to a rare All-Ireland football triumph but in the midst of the euphoric celebrations in Croke Park yesterday, David Power was already thinking of the future.

Tipperary 3-9 Dublin 1-14, Croke Park

THE meeting of Dublin and Tipperary may not have been the final pairing envisaged at the start of the year but they have been the leading exponents in this year’s minor championship and their clash tomorrow carries plenty of intrigue.

DUBLIN will be the first team since Cork in 2000 to provide representatives in both All-Ireland minor finals after this victory for Dessie Farrell’s side against a Galway team that proved far stiffer opposition than some had expected.

THE splendour of their performances in Leinster led many to attach All-Ireland-winning credentials to this Dublin minor football team and in Portlaoise yesterday they offered more persuasive evidence they can this year land the county’s first national crown at this level since 1984.

THE Blue army may not have been on hand in their droves to witness it but a new era of Dublin dominance may just have been ushered in at Croke Park.

FOUR Dublin players are chasing a unique provincial minor double in tomorrow’s Leinster MFC final against Meath.