Kavanagh keen to quench Tipp’s attacking flame

MICHAEL KAVANAGH’S career has spanned over a decade of Kilkenny storming hurling strongholds, but Sunday’s All-Ireland final still has a sense of novelty to it.

Kavanagh’s club, St Lachtain’s in Freshford, is only a stone’s throw from the Tipperary border, but the two great rivals have avoided each other in an All-Ireland decider during Kavanagh’s playing days. Until now.

“It’s unusual alright not to have played together too much,” he remarks. “You’re going back to 1991 for the last one and 1971 before that. It’s unusual but it’s the two form teams of the last few years that are there. Tipperary have shown really good form this year. They were unlucky not to make it last year but are here on merit now.”