Premier can make the extra push

Seconds out, round two.

History beckons for Dublin when they square up to Tipperary in tomorrow’s Electric Ireland All-Ireland MHC final replay at Croke Park. Having lost the minor hurling and football finals last year, Dublin could clinch the double tomorrow. Not since 1954 have the Sky Blues lifted both trophies in the same year, while Cork are the last team to bring home the Irish Press and Tom Markham Cups in one season, back in 1974.

Dublin will surely feed off the success of the footballers in Sunday’s minor final against Meath. The suspicion is that Shay Boland’s stickmen may have missed the boat, however. They hurled well against Tipp on September 9 but the Munster outfit still managed to escape with a draw, despite scoring just 1-2 from play.

The word on the ground afterwards suggested that Tipperary’s players were extremely nervous before throw-in. But now they’ve been around the block, an All-Ireland final day shouldn’t faze them again.

They’ll need a better scoring spread to overcome Dublin, however. John McGrath hit 1-11 from placed balls three weeks ago, with Mark McCarthy scoring a goal and Sean Maher two points.

Four of Tipperary’s six starting forwards failed to register a score. Dublin, meanwhile, will look to the scoring power of Cormac Costello once again. The son of Dublin county board chief executive John has been sensational this year in both codes. And in the drawn hurling final, the Whitehall Colmcille dynamo hit 1-3 of Dublin’s of 1-10 from play. Costello was named at midfield but played in the half-forward line, hurting Tipperary with clever, direct running. Dublin have the skill, strength and athleticism to cause Tipp problems again tomorrow. But Tipperary have more scope for improvement and should celebrate a first minor title since 2007.

* Verdict: Tipperary