EDITORIAL: Tipperary can do it, but they need your support

The All-Ireland Hurling Final is arguably the biggest day on the Irish sporting calendar, writes Seán Ryan.

Supporters from both counties are getting ready to make the pilgrimage to Croke Park this Sunday for what promises to be a titanic battle between two giants of the sport. One can’t help but embrace the excitement that comes with a day like this.

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Us Tipperary supporters can count ourselves lucky to be among the few counties who frequent these finals as often as we do. There is always a possibility heading into championship season that we’ll end up in Dublin on final day, no matter the odds. And these are the days we never forget as supporters.

Many across the country are not as fortunate as we are in this regard. Tipperary have won an All-Ireland in every decade since the 1880s, when the GAA was founded within our very county. Every single generation in Tipperary stretching back almost 150 years has seen Tipperary reign supreme on the biggest stage of them all. It truly is a remarkablel spectacle to be apart of.

Cork have a famously loyal and loud network of supporters, who will no doubt be hoping to influence the game with their support from the stands on Sunday. However, if what we saw from our own supporters last time out against Kilkenny was only a taste of what is to come this weekend, the Tipperary support will be sure to rival the ‘Rebel Army.’

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Darragh McCarthy’s second yellow card in the semi-final could have been a disastrous turning point, in what was an immensely close game, but the huge Tipperary support that travelled to Dublin kicked their passion up a gear in the closing stages of the game, no doubt firing the team up and getting them over the line with a two-point victory.

If that support can be mirrored this Sunday, who knows what way the result will go?

The talent is certainly there within the squad, but the battle in the stands could arguably be as influential on the outcome. So get out and support the boys. They need you just as much as you need them.