Egan eager for U21 success

Key forward Darragh Eyan believes Tipperary will have to work their socks off if they are to stand a chance of denying Kilkenny an All-Ireland senior and U21 double on Sunday.

Tipp take on Kilkenny in the Erin All-Ireland U21 hurling final this weekend, with the Cats' line-up set to include three of the players who helped Brian Cody's seniors to triumph over Cork last Sunday.

Kilkenny boss Adrian Finan names his side tonight and it will include senior stars James 'Cha' Fitzpatrick, John Tennyson and Richie Power.

Egan, who made his debut for the Tipp seniors last year, has been a pivotal player for the Premier county's U21s this summer, scoring 2-13 in three games.

He will still be eligible for the U21 championship in 2007, and is relishing a chance to pit his wits against the Leinster champions this weekend.

"Training has been very sharp and very lively. For the last two weeks we have picked it up big time," said Egan. "We've been doing hour-and-a-half sessions and they have been very intense. It's all about intensity at the end of the day.

"We need to keep the game as intense as we can. Same as the Munster final against Cork. Our forwards have to work very, very hard (on Sunday).

"Our half-forward line is vital because talking to a few of the Galway lads, they reckon that the Kilkenny half-back line dominated the game and didn't give them a platform to deliver the ball into their full-forward line," he added.

"Our intensity and work rate in the forwards is going to be a big factor. I think we are even going to have to up it about 25 to 30% on the commitment shown against Cork and hopefully we can do that."

Tipp have not won an All-Ireland U21 title since 1995, when current senior goalkeeper Brendan Cummins was on the team, but Egan believes that not even the pressure of playing at Croke Park will effect his team-mates.

He told the Nenagh Guardian: "Everyone is flying fit so the size of Croke Park and the occasion should not be much of a problem. A lot of this team has not played at Croke Park, so it might add a small bit of pressure but hopefully we will get to grips with it early on.

"These are a great bunch of players and everyone is very committed. Everyone is at the same ability level so that is a big factor. We can all perform as a unit and that will be a big thing on Sunday."