McCarthy to banish ghost of league past
Defeated in the 1999 final, the county last captured League honours in 1963. McCarthy is bidding to correct that anomaly.
"Forty-one years is too long for a great hurling county to be without a national title, and now that we're through to the final we'll give everything to win it," he said, following their thrilling draw with Tipperary at Semple Stadium.
"The final will be a very difficult one to win at the expense of a really good Galway side. But it promises to be one hell of a day out for our fans," the Deise boss added.
And he has vowed that the upcoming championship will not prove a distraction.
"Whatever others may think, the League is a national competition and it is great that we are through to the decider," he said.
The Munster SHC-winning manager admits that Galway will be favourites, as they decisively defeated Waterford in an earlier group game at Walsh Park.
But he believes his side has improved since, pointing to the comeback from an eight-point deficit against Tipp as proof.
"We needed a goal and Paul Flynn, in a typical Paul Flynn way, pulled one out of the bag. After that we were undoubtedly the better side and put Tipp under intense pressure to the end.
"No one could say we didn't deserve the draw and our place in the final."
Tipperary manager Ken Hogan was equally impressed.
"It was a fantastic battle, and for us it was strange to be playing in Semple Stadium and be outnumbered by the Waterford supporters," Hogan said.
"Waterford went for the jugular and, fair play to them, earned the draw, which on the day was enough. They fully deserve their place in the final."
Tipp's next outing will be their June 6 Munster SHC semi-final date with the winners of the Waterford/Clare first round game.
If they face Waterford, the venue will be Páirc Uí Chaoimh, with Limerick's revamped Gaelic Grounds the venue for a Tipp/Clare showdown.
Meanwhile, Kerry are to make representation to Cork to play their Guinness Munster SHC first round tie in Tralee on May 16.
The planned request follows a poor run of form by the Kerry side in the NHL.
This will be the second occasion Kerry will ask their neighbours to concede home venue. Shortly after the draws were made they made representation, but Cork turned down the request.
"I know nothing about a second request from Kerry," said Cork secretary Frank Murphy. "It would be down to our selectors."
The mood in the Kerry camp is one of reality. "In view of the heavy defeat we suffered at the hands of Westmeath on Sunday, there is little point in us travelling up to Cork for the championship," a spokesperson said.
"Whatever chance we would have of beating them in Tralee, we'd have no hope in Páirc Uí Chaoimh," he added.
The match forms part of a double header in Páirc Uí Chaoimh on Sunday, May 16, involving Limerick and Tipperary in the Munster SFC.
CONNECT WITH US TODAY
Be the first to know the latest news and updates
