Jack O’Connor warning as Tipperary football on the rise

He wouldn’t take kindly to be called an old dog, but Kerry minor coach Jack O’Connor has traversed enough hard roads around Munster to recognise the changing of the guard when he sees it.

Time was when Kerry beating Cork at minor equated to a provincial title. Not any more. O’Connor is acutely aware of the threat posed by Tipperary in tomorrow’s noon provincial decider.

“We played them up in Thurles last year and we know how good they are. They are a big physical side and they will relish coming down to Killarney. I saw them against Clare and I was impressed. Football is going real well in Tipperary and they went within a hair’s breath of winning an All-Ireland U21 recently, they have won an Ireland minor in 2011, so they will travel with confidence.”