TIPPERARY PICKED UP only their second ever Munster U21 football title last week yet their appetites have not been sated.
It’s already been a stellar season for midfielder Steven O’Brien with a Sigerson Cup success with DCU a precursor to provincial U21 glory.
Back in 2011 O’Brien picked up an All-Ireland minor football medal with Tipperary. The memories of failing to repeat that feat in 2012 when they bowed out at the quarter-final stage against Mayo, still rankles with O’Brien.
“We don’t want to rest on our laurels. There’s a lot more in this team. I felt when we were minor (in 2012), one of my biggest regrets was not to get to an All-Ireland final. It’s a great chance to get back against the Dubs now and have a right crack off them. You can only test yourself against the best and Dublin certainly are.
“I’ll be coming up against a few of the lads I know (from DCU) but look you’ll just have to put friendships behind you when you cross the white line. It’s going to be a great battle. Everyone wrote us off (last Thursday), they just didn’t know what we were capable of. Dublin know they’re going to have a battle and hopefully we’re going to bring it to them.”
The Munster success was one for O’Brien to savour after he had been part of the Tipperary U21 football teams that had lost the last two provincial finals against Cork.
“It’s brilliant. Words can’t really describe it. It (was) my third go to win a Munster U21 medal against these Cork boys. I knew it wasn’t going to be easy and it wasn’t out but I’m just delighted to come out the right side of the result.
“Last year we didn’t do ourselves justice, we didn’t really show up on the day. There was no way we were going to leave this one behind us, especially after the last two performances.”
And O’Brien was fulsome in his praise of Tipperary’s inspirational captain Colin O’Riordan, whose participation had been in doubt before the game.
“If you knew Colin, you knew he wasn’t going to miss days like (that). Not a hope was he going to miss Cork in Thurles. He’s influential, we’d be lost without him and he’s a great player to have on our side.”
Here’s how Dublin’s U21s will line up against Tipperary in All-Ireland semi-final
Job done by Tipp as they claim 12-point Munster minor success against Waterford
Cork overcome loss of injured stars to see off Limerick in Munster minor football opener
