Defeat would see Tipp lose five SHC games in a row for first time

Taking in last year’s Munster final and All-Ireland quarter-final reverses against Limerick and Waterford respectively, another loss tomorrow would be a fifth straight SHC defeat for Tipperary

Jason Forde is the latest in a long list of absentees for Tipperary. Photo by Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile

Twenty-four points separated Tipperary from Limerick in the 2009 All-Ireland semi-final but no grey cloud has gleaned such a silver lining.

After a plea from an elderly supporter who visited his hardware shop, that embarrassment inspired Joe McKenna to approach his friend JP McManus about establishing the county’s academy. It was also what prompted John Kiely to phone then Limerick chairman Liam Lenihan the following day and ask to be involved.