Dónal Óg Cusack: 'Nobody rises or falls faster than Tipperary.'

David Reidy, Clare, Ronan Maher, Tipperary, Robert Downey, Cork, Mark Fitzgerald, Waterford and Cian Lynch, Limerick at the Munster Championship launch. Pic: ©INPHO/Morgan Treacy

Cork great Dónal Óg Cusack turned up the dial on the Munster Championship opener between Tipperary and Cork by suggesting nobody "rises or falls faster than Tipperary".

In explaining his rich anticipation of this year's Munster round robin series, Cusack appeared to question if the All-Ireland champions would be able to handle the pressure of targetting what has been elusive for Tipperary hurling - back to back titles. 

Speaking on Allianz League Sunday on RTÉ, Cusack said: "I think of Tipperary as All-Ireland champions and nobody rising or falling as fast in my experience of being a hurling person.

"Their battle cry very much now is that they want to get back to back. Will they be able for that?

"As long as I’m involved in hurling, I think they can rise very fast, but they also fall faster than anybody else. 

"I think the battle cry coming out of Tipperary, ever since the All-Ireland last year, all the talk is Tipp are going to do back to back for the first time since the 60s."

Expanding on this year's mouthwatering instalment of the old competition, Cusack added: "I think of Kyle Hayes, I think he’s the kind of person that Limerick people in years to come will say, 'I went and saw him play'. I actually think he’s underestimated in terms of how great a player he is.

"I think of Clare, All-Ireland champions two years ago. Tony Kelly a generational player. 

"Cork, the story they have. I think the next 21 days with Cork, league final today, and they will have played Tipperary and Limerick in that 21 days. That’s some battle.

"And Waterford, the likes of the Bennetts, great great players, really important to hurling. Do I think they could upset some team this year?  I definitely do. I can’t wait for the hurling championship to start."

Cusack also took exception to the idea that Tipperary are coming into this championship unheralded, despite being champions.

"I don't understand how Tipp are coming underneath the radar. With all their victories over the last number of years, with documentaries, which is great to see, about their victory last year. But it’s a big story, that they haven’t won back to back since the 60s."

Despite that, Cusack picked Cork and Limerick as his two to come out of Munster, with the third spot between Clare and Tipperary, in his view, offering a tentative nod to Tipp.