Under-21s look to lift the gloom in Tipp

TIPPERARY'S U21 hurlers will be looking to lift the air of deepening gloom that has enveloped the county in recent years by capturing their first title at this grade in almost a decade, at Nowlan Park tomorrow.

1995 was the last time the Munster county captured the U21 All-Ireland title with a team boasting Paul Shelley, Brendan Cummins, Tommy Dunne and Eddie Enright. A year later, John Carroll, Declan Browne, Paul Kelly and Eugene O'Neill emulated them with a senior All-Ireland of their own.

With the seniors failing to impress since their last Liam McCarthy success in 2001, furrowed brows are on the increase in the Premier county.