Tipp bid to banish ghosts of 2003

TIPPERARY manager Ken Hogan hopes that progression to the Munster SHC final will re-invigorate hurling in the Premier County.

Hogan, whose side crushed Clare in Sunday's semi-final, believes Tipperary supporters have been downhearted since the traumatic 2003 League and championship campaign.

"The disappointment has been there after the defeat to Kilkenny in the League final of 2003 and the All-Ireland semi-final, where we were beaten badly. There has been an air of apathy there since,'' Hogan said yesterday.

Matters weren't helped by the loss to Waterford in last year's championship and the subsequent defeat at the hands of Cork in the qualifiers in Killarney.

"But, it's a new year, a new campaign and a new championship. We're striving to improve and we know we have to improve an awful lot,'' he added.

"As a team management we have been positive in our thinking. We're well aware that we are not the finished product by any means, but the lads are very honest. They'll battle away and they'll work away and that's the way we intend to stay going. There's no room for pessimism when you are working with people three and four times a week in an amateur situation."

And he stressed no stone was left unturned in the development of the squad.

"We're searching the whole time. We have a panel of up to 30 players and we know that we need everybody and everybody playing as well as they can. Anybody who has seen the club championship in Tipperary for the last few years will know that Toomevara are out there on their own and there aren't too many teams knocking on the door. We're trying to make the very best use of the resources we have available.''

In terms of the way Sunday's game against Clare developed, he agreed that his team was better prepared as a result of having met Limerick twice.

The public underestimated Limerick, he feels, and didn't appreciate the serious challenge they posed.

"Really, we were on a hiding to nothing the first day in Thurles. We were going in as favourites on our home patch, it was a tough one and we were lucky to survive. Every match stands to you. The experience makes you battle-hardened. I hope it will improve our teamwork and our overall team play.''

Ultimately, he believes that Limerick and Clare will progress to the All-Ireland quarter-finals, and maybe beyond.

"I can see a recovery in Clare, they can regroup. They are not a bad team because they were beaten on Sunday. I think they are a team with a huge bank of experience and with a couple of championship matches under their belt, they would still be contenders.''

Hogan also revealed that Philip Maher has no chance of being fit for the final against Cork on June 26 after having a cartilage operation a week ago.

Overall, Hogan says Cork are a "fantastic" team, emphasising the value of Brian Corcoran as a player with huge experience and a great temperament. And, he points to their strength down the middle and the influence of Joe Deane and Ben O'Connor.

"They are all pulling the strings up front and then you have Tom Kenny and Jerry O'Connor in the middle of the field, a real machine.

"It's going to be a huge hurdle for our young fellows, but a big thrill playing in a Munster final in Páirc Uí Chaoimh, with its great atmosphere.

"At the same time, it should stand to our lads to play in a game like that.''