It's a huge task, and we'll be up against it: Dunne

IT'S not the glamour clash of the All-Ireland semi-finals, the meeting of the two new boys, Waterford and Clare has seen to that.

However, Tipperary and Kilkenny are still members of the aristocracy, two of the three giants of the game, and as champions over the past two seasons (Tipperary reigning) theirs is also a contest to stir the blood.

Kilkenny go into the game on the up, as Leinster champions, while Tipperary lost their Munster crown to Waterford, then struggled on Sunday to contain the challenge of Ulster champions Antrim, a side they were widely expected to trounce. Far from joining the bandwagon, however, that this proves Tipp are on a downward slope, Kilkenny manager Brian Cody believes the unexpected test provided by Antrim will actually boost Tipp.

“Antrim played great hurling for the first half, their touch was excellent, their movement, everything about them. They got some great scores, and it was great to see that a northern team can play with that kind of skill and assurance, top class, really had Tipperary under pressure for over three quarters of the game.

“Now, Antrim have something to work on. But it was a real test for Tipperary, even if it wasn’t generally expected to be, and that will have done them good. It turned out to be almost as tough a challenge as they would have had from any of the more recognised hurling counties and I’d say Tipperary will be delighted with that.

“They were put under pressure, forced to respond, forced into making changes, learned something new about their team. It was a good game to get three weeks before the semi-final, but in the end, they won by ten points, which goes to show that once they did kick into gear, they had the ability to finish off the game”.

Perhaps the strong showing of Antrim wasn’t generally expected, but one man not take by surprise was Tipperary captain Thomas Dunne: “We knew it was going to be tough, and it was, we had to work very hard for a long time. They got the breaks, but in fairness they were entitled to them, with the quality of hurling they were playing in the first half.

“But we recovered fairly well in the second half and, in the end, probably the experience we have in Croke Park eventually told, and that’s one of the big advantages we have over teams from the north, we’re more used to the big occasions. But it took us a long time to get the better of them.”

Croke Park, however, is home from home for the Cats, the lone Leinster team left in this All-Ireland series. With two Munster teams in the other semi-final, many will see this as a Munster/Leinster battle, Kilkenny fighting to maintain not just the honour of the county, but of the province. Not the way the Tipperary captain sees it: “We won’t be looking at it like that, nor will Kilkenny, though I can see how others would. The Munster teams are there on merit, I think, all of us; Clare had a fantastic win yesterday, and everybody knows what Waterford have done. But it must be taken in context.

“Offaly weren’t as strong as they were in other years, while Wexford, in fairness, didn’t get much of a chance at all, having to play less than a week after losing the Leinster final to Kilkenny. Hardly the ideal preparation, they were hard done by. But this game, for us, it’s just Tipperary against Kilkenny, winner takes all, advances to the All-Ireland final. Kilkenny are a quality team, there or thereabouts for the last six or seven years. They have a very talented squad, DJ back, reports of Denis Byrne playing well again with the club. It’s a huge task, and we’ll be up against it, but it’s great to play against quality teams like that, that’s what hurling is all about. A good test for both teams, and I’d say both teams are looking forward to it”.