Fennelly: We're hungry to regain MacCarthy Cup

The cream eluded Kilkenny's Cats 12 months ago and it is that hunger which their 2009 All-Ireland winning captain Michael Fennelly hopes will drive them to glory tomorrow afternoon.

Two years ago Fennelly led Kilkenny to their historic fourth All-Ireland title in succession and a 32nd crown overall thanks to a 2-22 to 0-23 win over Tipperary.

The hype of the 'drive for five' gripped Kilkenny last year, but thanks to a strong final quarter from Tipperary it was the Premier County who captured their first All-Ireland since 2001 with a 4-17 to 1-18 victory.

Fennelly says thoughts of last September's painful defeat are still very much in the mindset heading into tomorrow's encounter.

"We are not reigning champions any more, Tipperary were the winners in 2010," he said.

"We want to get the Liam MacCarthy Cup back, whether we can or not we will find out on Sunday, but we are playing one of the best teams around.

"Over the last two or three years Tipperary have been coming, and they have a great bunch of players now.

"They have youth and maturity there and they are mixing well, so they are really flying to be fair to them and they are scoring a lot of goals.

"It's going to be one hell of a performance that we need to beat them, so it's 70 minutes to play for it now and it won't be easy."

For Fennelly, a year in the Kilkenny panel without an All-Ireland final appearance is something which is unknown to him.

However, his own personal journey in All-Ireland deciders has been a topsy-turvy one. Featuring as a non-playing captain, he lifted the Liam MacCarthy Cup in 2009.

"I've probably had more highs than lows alright," he reflected, ahead of this weekend's trip to Croke Park.

"I've been on and off the team over that period. I was mainly a sub over the first three or four years, but coming on in Championship games.

"It was hard to nail down a spot with the likes of Derek Lyng, James 'Cha' Fitzpatrick and Michael Rice around.

"There was a lot harder competition I suppose a couple of years ago with Kilkenny, but that's the way it is.

"You have to take your time and you have to be patient and thankfully now I have nailed down a position for the moment anyway.

"You can never take it for granted. You have to keep performing in training and that's key really. If you don't perform in training you are not going to start and it's as simple as that."

It is the usual cliché to say that competition for starting places is keen, but that is certainly the case when it comes to Brian Cody's Cats. Michael's own brother Colin has also been added to the mix this season.

"There's a few more new lads after being bred into the team this year. The likes of Paul Murphy and my brother Colin, Richie Doyle and Conor Fogarty.

"They are hurling well, they are good young lads and they are good players for the future."

Turning his eye on tomorrow's opponents, Fennelly says he has been impressed by Tipp's journey through the 'front-door' this summer.

"Goals are really their 'competitive edge' over every other team. Lar (Corbett) just seems to be getting goals for the fun of it at this stage.

"Their forwards are well able to move and they seem to know each other inside out at this stage.

"They don't seem to hold their positions, even their backs are awesome as well. Padraic Maher is a great half-back as well, just 22-years-old and is showing great maturity as well.

"These are serious hurlers and their hunger for success we have seen it all through this year. They'll be gunning for this All-Ireland final again, to go for the two in-a-row, so it's going to be a tough one."