Larry Ryan: How could anyone hate Tipperary?

Isn’t it incredible, really, how well-adjusted Tipp people are considering everything?

NO LET UP: Jason Forde of Tipperary shoots to score his side's sixth goal during the All-Ireland SHC preliminary quarter-final match against Offaly at Glenisk O'Connor Park in Tullamore. Pic: Michael P Ryan/Sportsfile

All over the world, our leaders and legislators are mulling over what to do about hate speech. But these efforts to protect the vulnerable have probably come too late for Tipp. Hatred of Tipp is gone too deep. It may even be enshrined somewhere as a human right.

A few years back Galway’s David Collins was a small bit shy about voicing this condition that most of the hurling world, at least, freely embrace. “We have to take it that we nearly hate Tipperary,” he declared, ahead of one Galway-Tipp fixture.