Brendan Cummins: It looked like hard work for Tipperary in 2017

Tipperary legend Brendan Cummins has claimed this year’s team looked burdened by expectation and as if they were going to work instead of a hurling game.

Michael Ryan’s side, All-Ireland champions in 2016, suffered a mid-season collapse when they lost the Allianz League final to Galway and were shocked by Cork in the Munster championship.

They stuttered beyond Westmeath in the qualifiers before knocking six goals past Dublin, beating Clare and running Galway to within a point in the All-Ireland semi-finals.