Nine-time All-Ireland winner Jackie Tyrrell has highlighted inside forwards Colin Fennelly and Richie Hogan as key players for Kilkenny heading into this weekend’s All-Ireland final.
Fennelly was a force in the Cats All-Ireland semi-final triumph over Limerick scoring 1-3 from play while Hogan has been an ever-present threat once again for Brian Cody’s side.
TJ Reid will most likely play a central role once again for Kilkenny but Tyrrell believes that Adrian Mullen’s strong recent form may open things up for his side at Croke Park.
“I suppose from a Kilkenny point of view it’s the inside forward line,” said Tyrrell at the launch of a range of official GAA county jerseys available on LittlewoodsIreland.ie.
“They’ll bring Adrian Mullen out from corner forward into the half-forward line and they’ll leave two inside with Collin and Richie.
“We’ve got a lot of joy with those two inside getting a lot of ball in there. Colin has been in scintillating form this year. He’s getting goals, he’s doing a lot of damage setting up scores so that’ll be an area Kilkenny will really go after.
“Tipperary’s back-line is probably a bit disruptive in terms of personnel this year. That’d be an area if they can get good quick ball into Colin, with his pace, and Richie working off him, that’ll definitely be an area for them.”
As for Tipperary, Tyrrell hailed Liam Sheedy’s side resilience after they were blown out of the Munster final by Limerick and praised them for bouncing back against Wexford in the All-Ireland semi-final, but he notes that a lot of their hopes will hang on star forward Seamus Callanan.
“In Seamus Callanan they have a game changer,” said Tyrrell.
“They have a guy that when he’s in form can hit anything from 3-3 to 2-10. He’s scored a goal in every championship game this year so all things suggest he’s going to score again this weekend.
“He can win the game on his own. He’s very hard to mark but Hugh Lawlor will be hugely dependent on his number 5-12 putting huge pressure on the Tipperary forwards so they can’t distribute clean ball to him.
“If Tipperary can do that, as we’ve seen in years goneby, no defender in the country can mark him.”
Jackie Tyrrell Launches Littlewoods Ireland Collaboration with O’Neills #StyleOfPlay
Style icon and hurling legend Jackie Tyrrell has collaborated with Littlewoods Ireland to design a bespoke O’Neills jersey ahead of the 2019 All-Ireland Hurling Final. The jersey is to celebrate the launch of a range of official GAA county jerseys available on LittlewoodsIreland.ie in partnership with the GAA and O’Neills.
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