Cool Cat Walsh not feeling the pressure

KILKENNY U21 hurling coach Michael Walsh refuses to accept his team is under added pressure to complete the grand slam of All-Ireland titles on Sunday.

The intermediates, minors and seniors have landed championship titles this month but Walsh is keeping his focus firmly fixed Tipperary and their Croke Park decider.

“While it’s being spoken about around the county and I have no control over that, the fact is that it’s a final we as a team management and players want to win and nothing more. We are not interested in records,” said the former All-Ireland senior winning goalkeeper.

He added: “Despite the hype after the senior win and the build up to that game, we’ve been able to get in some quality preparation for this final. TJ (Reid) was our one injury worry after he got that belt on the hand last Sunday, but no damage was caused and we’ll be at full strength.”

Walsh borrowed from the Brian Cody manual: “As a coach you are always striving for perfection. We’ve had our ups and down this season. We came into this championship as the underdog, and there were occasions when I thought we wouldn’t survive. But survive we did, albeit not playing well.

“We have a very good team, but they’ll have to play to the peak of their powers to beat Tipperary.”

He hopes to use the heroics of Cha Fitzpatrick and company to his advantage. “The success of the senior team has brought a feel good factor to the county and we will be looking to build on that. There is a tremendous buzz around Kilkenny after the three in-a-row win of the seniors and the dramatic victory by our minors. It’s up to us now to keep the winning sequence going. There is no doubt in my mind that Kilkenny will have to be at their very best to win the game on Sunday. Tipperary are a very good team with some excellent hurlers and are going to be well up for the game.”

Tipperary coach Declan Carr is another downplaying talk of pressure. He is ignoring talk that Tipperary must deliver an All-Ireland title after the failure of the county’s seniors and minors to do so.

“Yes, it is a big game for us. Kilkenny are on the crest of a wave, but we can only do what we can, play to the very best of our ability and if we do, I would be very confident of winning.

“I accept we have not played to our potential in any of our games. Perhaps our second-half display against Clare in Ennis was as close as we have come to reaching that point, but I feel there is one big game in our lads. I know there is and hopefully they will deliver on Sunday. Despite the failure of our seniors the county has made great progress, and yes, if we could produce a winning performance on Sunday, it would be a good year for Tipperary hurling.”

And what does he make of Kilkenny’s quest for titles in four grades?

“Kilkenny are going for what has now been called the grand slam and that brings it own pressure. No player wants to be on a team that lets his county down in an All-Ireland final and we hope to capitalise on the added pressure that will bring for them.

“For us to win, we need big games from our big name players. Thankfully we’ve had the squad together now for the last three weeks and training has gone very well. With no injury problems, it’s all systems go. Everyone is looking forward to finishing the season on a high note, but at the same time we realise only too well that you get nothing soft off Kilkenny”.