Our new hurling columnist says the pressure is on the Rebels to deliver in 2015

I met Jimmy Barry-Murphy underneath the stand last month in Clonmel, says Anthony Daly.

Jimmy is as cracked about the dogs and coursing as myself. He keeps a couple of greyhounds every year, which Michael O’Donovan trains. I’m sure Jimmy would love to train them himself but the hurling season only grants you so much licence as a manager.

He had a right good dog, ‘Backstreet Boy’, that was well ahead in a Derby qualifier final in Borrisoleigh at Christmas but the dog broke down when leading easily.