'It would be lovely to have a win and shove a little back at them' jokes Tipp teacher in Kilkenny

“Blessed art thou among Cats, and blessed be your smile should Tipp win on Sunday…”

Young Kilkenny fans from Ossory Park cheer on their hurling heroes. Pic: Pat Moore

Mairead Frisby is from Mullinahone, Co Tipperary, just like former stars Eoin Kelly, John Leahy, Paul Curran et al, but she works at Grennan College in Thomastown and has called Mullinavat, on the far side of Kilkenny, her home for 37 years now.

So her grin will be bigger than most on Monday if her native county’s hurlers do the business tomorrow.