Vocational schools final set to be a cracker

CORK go in search of the first leg of a possible double when they take on Tipperary in the All-Ireland Vocational SHC final at Thurles tomorrow (1.45 p.m.).

This will be the first meeting of these two great hurling rivals in the final and with a liberal sprinkling of inter-county minors on both teams, the curtain-raiser to the Clare v Tipperary NHL tie should get the proceedings at Semple Stadium off to an energetic start.

Tipperary are the holders winning the title in 2004 for the first time in 14 years.

Vocational schools hurling has benefited the county senior team over the years with 10 of the current team having come up through the ranks.

The Kelly brothers Eoin and Paul, Paul Curran, Martin Maher, Declan Fanning, Diarmuid Fitzgerald, Tadgie Slevin, Francis Devaney, Donal Shelly, Darragh Egan all played at this level in their school days.

This is a very experienced Tipperary team which has succeeded in breaking the dominance of Cork and Galway at this particular level.

They include Sean Cahill, Sean Fitzgerald, and county minors Ray McLoughney, Joey McLoughney and Kieran Reade.

A 1-17 to 3-9 semi-final victory over Galway will have the Tipperary lads in excellent shape as they bid to put back to back titles together.

Cork will include current county minors David Lynch, Ger O’Driscoll, Ross Cashman, Pat McCarthy, Pat Finnegan, Danny O’Callaghan, as well as two from last year’s Munster winning team Ger O’Driscoll and Kevin Canty.

Like Tipperary several members of the Cork senior team plied their skills at vocational schools level. Among them are, Paul Morrissey, Jerry O’Connor, Mike Morrissey, Ben O’Connor, John Paul King.

Cork’s last All-Ireland victory was in 2000 when they denied Galway three titles in a row. A 3-17 to 3-7 victory over Offaly in this year’s All-Ireland semi-final, suggests this Cork side is well equipped to add to their All-Ireland haul.

Four players, Canty, Lynch, O’Leary and O’Driscoll are in line to win the double.