Tipp captain hoping to oust former classmates

When it comes to hurling clashes in modern times, there is nothing that can quite beat the Kilkenny-Tipperary rivalry and for current Tipp captain Eoin Kelly, a win over the Cats would prove extra special this Sunday with four of his former St Kieran's College class-mates in the current Kilkenny panel.

The Mullinahone marksman can lay claim to Brian Hogan, Jackie Tyrrell and Tommy Walsh as starting team-mates on St Kieran's 2000 All-Ireland Senior Colleges Hurling Championship winning side, while Carrickshock's Michael Rice was also part of the squad.

Kelly recalls his time in the Kilkenny city institution which has an equally rich educational and hurling history.

"I enjoyed my time down in St Kieran's College. I was lucky enough on the hurling front down there to win that colleges All-Ireland title in 2000," he said.

"You cherish winning that All-Ireland there. We had some great times and great friends were made there as well."

The following year brought a quick elevation for him into the Tipperary senior panel, and a left half-forward berth as the Premier County won their first All-Ireland SHC title since 1991, thanks to a 2-18 to 2-15 win over Galway.

Kelly says it is amazing that almost a decade on, the Liam MacCarthy Cup has not rested in his native county since then.

"We have had a lot of heartbreak since then, but we haven't contested too many finals since that win - just last year and this year.

"That's all history I suppose, but it's probably driving a couple of us on that we haven't got to these finals and that can only be a good thing for the future.

"We had to rebuild a squad and thankfully we have a squad there now that is capable of contesting these All-Irelands and hopefully winning them."

From a Munster perspective, Cork have been the province's standard bearers when it comes to the All-Ireland series for most of the last decade.

Tipperary were ousted from this year's Munster Championship by the Rebels, but Kelly says that early defeat was a blessing in disguise for his troops.

"There were a lot of lessons learned that day. We have to complement Cork as they were excellent that day too in their play and the way they went about the game and their hunger.

"We came out of it and came through the qualifier route, a couple of the players got their chance (to shine) and took it.

"It has really upped the ante in the squad as lads are fighting for places. Once you have that there, it's a healthy position for (our manager) Liam Sheedy to be in."

Twelve months on from the heartbreak of an All-Ireland final loss to Kilkenny, Kelly says there is not much need for change in the Tipp preparations this time around.

"The hurt is still there and we don't want to be going back into a losing dressing room again," he proclaimed.

"I think they (the preparations) were handled very well by us last year, and we are hoping that will be the exact same this year, but you can't tell I suppose until the day - and your team goes out and performs.

"The experience of knocking around Croke Park and playing big games I think is definitely standing to us.

"The more times we are playing at Croke Park, the more times we know that we are playing in quarter-finals, semi-finals and finals. It's only good for Tipp hurling."