The CIAN edge

A season’s work for 70 minutes. How often has it come down to that? Tipperary’s preparations for Sunday began last November, and every step along the way to Croke Park has been measured and minuted. DIARMUID O’FLYNN is offered a forensic insight by Tipp physical trainer Cian O’Neill

DID IT all start with rugby, the advent of professionalism? Where previously Ireland never had top-class professional teams, competing with the very best at the highest level, suddenly we had four, all winning big games all over Europe (and Connacht, by the way, were the first Irish team to win a competitive game in France).

All those teams were home-based, and as their stock rose on the playing fields of Europe, so did their levels of expertise off-field, and Ireland began to breed its own top people in the areas of sport science, PE, physical conditioning, nutrition. The results are there now for all to see, Munster and Leinster having just exchanged Heineken Cup and Magners League titles, Ireland as Triple Crown and Grand Slam champions.