Conor Sweeney says Cork win was key for Tipperary's confidence

Confidence. That’s been the key. Granted, there have been other subtle improvements, but none as profound or important as the collective confidence of this Tipperary squad.

And it is a graph that began climbing from a particularly low base. On the run into last year’s All-Ireland U21 final, Tipperary management and board officials began talking about a first All-Ireland quarter-final appearance by the close of summer and an All-Ireland final appearance by 2020.

The afternoon of Saturday, July 18 provided quite the reality check.