Tipp target era of dominance

SHANE MCGRATH insists Tipperary are better equipped to retain their All-Ireland hurling crown than the team that captured the title in 2001.

Tipp failed to build on their success of almost a decade ago and endured a nine-year wait before finally breaking through last September. But on the back of last year’s senior and U21 double, and with a glut of new players coming through, another famine is difficult to envisage.

McGrath insisted: “I don’t think we’re too conscious of 2001 — that was a different team to what we are. They were top class but we’re a fairly good team as well and we have that confidence going forward. It wasn’t a fluke that we got to the All-Ireland final in 2010 and we’ll be there or thereabouts again this year if we get things right and we train hard enough. I’m not really thinking about 2001 — that’s long in the past.”