All-Ireland down to toss of a coin, says Hughes

DEIRDRE HUGHES is one of the most feared attackers in the country. Now in her 14th season as a Tipperary player she has experienced good and bad times.

She won a junior medal in 1992, captained her county to intermediate honours in 1997 and played a huge part in Tipp’s three-in-a-row success during 1999-2001.

However, it is all achieved at a huge cost. Training is reduced to the minimum for fear of further aggravating a back problem that has interfered with her preparations over the last decade.