Tipp banking on Premier support

Captain Benny Dunne has called on supporters to get behind his Tipperary side as they bid to stop All-Ireland champions Cork's run to a 115th Munster SHC title on Sunday.

Toomevara ace Dunne, who assumed the skipper's role at the start of the season, knows the Premier county's hurlers have not exactly endeared themselves to their followers in recent years.

Tipp are without a senior provincial title since 2001 - the year Dunne's older brother Tommy went on to lift the Liam McCarthy Cup.

In 2002 and 2003 Tipp endured All-Ireland semi-final defeats at the hands of Kilkenny, the second a particularly heavy one, and last year saw Cork rule the roost - 2-19 to 1-16 - in a round three qualifier.

The summer of 2005, according to Dunne, could well see Tipp back on the road to silverware.

"I suppose you can't blame the fans, they haven't been hugely behind us the last couple of years because we had a lot of below par performances to be honest.

"If the team was going well, I think the fans would have been rowing in behind you. I think Cork have showed in the last couple of years if you're successful the supporters will get behind you," said Dunne, who scored a point in Tipp's 2-14 to 0-14 Munster semi-final defeat of a fancied Clare side.

"The supporters have noticed and noted the commitment the players have put in over the last number of months.

"They are really getting behind us. Again, the last few years we hadn't huge numbers in Semple Stadium or Limerick, but any of our genuine supporters will be there again on Sunday.

"Silverware brings back out the supporters and, if we can win Munster, it will have a knock-on effect and bring them out again. We have to give them something to cheer about."

Recent history has favoured Cork. Tipp are seeking their first championship win over the men in red since the replayed 1991 Munster final. Since then, Cork have won all three meetings between the sides, including the 2000 Munster decider - 0-23 to 3-12.