TIPPERARY MAY HAVE had a catalogue of injuries earlier in the season but ahead of their first All-Ireland senior football semi-final in 81 years, manager Liam Kearns has a full deck to pick from.
The Tipperary boss confirmed last night that Clonmel Commercials player Ian Fahey – an All-Ireland U21 finalist in 2015 – and Golden Kilfeacle club man Shane O’Connell have both returned to full fitness.
“Touch wood we’ve nothing at the moment. A couple of bumps and bruises from the two matches over the eight days but no we’re clear.
“We actually got two back, Ian Fahey should be in contention off the bench Sunday week and Shane O’Connell who came on as a sub in the Munster final, he got the boot off.
“He’d a stress fracture so he’s back in training. We’d 30 lads out on the pitch the other night and we were saying it’s great to see it. Big turnaround.”
In the wake of Saturday’s All-Ireland quarter-final, Tyrone manager Mickey Harte hinted that captain Sean Cavanagh was provoked by Mayo that resulted in his sending-off.
Kearns insists he is not expecting that to be an issue ahead of their clash on 21 August.
“For Mayo to start sledging, I don’t expect them to do that. I would be an admirer of Mayo’s football and the way they play football.
“They play a manly game, they are physical but I don’t expect sledging to come into it. Maybe, I am naïve. Maybe in two weeks time I will revise that opinion.
“That would be my opinion of them now. I just don’t expect it. I don’t expect that will be an issue.”
And the Tipperary manager revealed they have not encountered any sledging in their championship games to date.
“Cork game, no, absolutely not. Derry game, no, I’d have to say.
“The Kerry game, no and the Galway game, no. We haven’t to be honest.
“We play the games on their merits and certainly my players won’t be instigating that but yeah, we want to play football and we’ll play the opposition fairly and squarely, and let the best team win.”
The42 is on Snapchat! Tap the button below on your phone to add!
