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Fitzmaurice: 'Tipperary looked very unified'

Kerry players sign autographs following the Munster SFC semi final win over Clare.

Kerry players sign autographs following the Munster SFC semi final win over Clare.

By Cian O'Connell

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It isn't the Old Firm Munster SFC Final that was expected, but Eamonn Fitzmaurice's respect for Tipperary runs deep.
The Kerry manager played when the Kingdom defeated Tipp in the 1998 provincial final so knows that the Blue and Gold always carry passion and potential.

Was Fitzmaurice surprised that Tipp toppled Cork?  "Surprised is the wrong word," Fitzmaurice replies. "Of course it's a head turner. 

"You say okay Cork are playing Tipperary, Kerry are playing Clare. The expected outcomes are that Kerry and Cork are going to win. 

"But we know that there's nothing guaranteed in sport. I mean even if you look at other codes, just in the recent past, you had either Ireland beating South Africa in South Africa where they'd never beaten them because the South Africans weren't at it and Ireland were really at it. 

"In the European Championships, there's been loads of shocks or what people outside might call shocks. Even Ireland's result against Italy, it was a very positive performance and the minute Seamus Coleman put in the tackle they set the tone. 

"They were going at the Italians. Mayo losing to Galway is another example that if you're not at it, a team that's perceived by the outside world to be weaker than you can beat you. From that point of view, it's not that much of a surprise then."

Kerry manager Eamonn Fitzmaurice.

Kerry manager Eamonn Fitzmaurice.

Considering that Tipperary have lost several players in recent years, though, meant that it was a serious achievement with the losses suffered.  "They were, but it's funny now since the game and I've thought about it and I've seen that game against Cork. 

"It's funny that sometimes when you've a very strong group - as they had last year and the last couple of years - that had a particular pedigree, when they come through then, maybe into a group that had been there already and the older group aren't quite getting the credit that they deserve and there can be a bit of a division within the squad and within the panel. 

"Whereas to me, the team that played against Cork anyway looked very unified, there seemed to be a serious spirit in the group and sometimes when you lose a few big names, the sum of the parts becomes more important rather than relying on one or two big names. 

"And the thing about when you've one or two big names, if you quieten those one or two big names, maybe the other fellas aren't used to having to do a bit more. 

"Whereas this year I think that Tipperary to me looking at it from the outside, they look to be very close knit, to have a serious spirit, they're obviously well coached, they've good players, some young players have been forced into action sooner than they would have been if the other players were around."

To illustrate his point Fitzmaurice highlights the role occupied by Kevin O'Halloran during the Cork triumph.

"Kevin O'Halloran was outstanding the last day, he was a fella that was really good for Tipperary both in general play and with a couple of excellent frees. 

"So I think they're actually better this year and that's not just me saying it because I'm sitting here and we're playing them in a Munster final."

Tipperary manager Liam Kearns.

Tipperary manager Liam Kearns.

Fitzmaurice feels that the Tipperary team Kerry face on Sunday will differ slightly compared to previous years.

"There's a couple gone, Colin O'Riordan, Stephen O'Brien, Paddy Codd and there's a couple of their more experienced players that were the core of their team. 

"But at the same time, they've some other very good young players that are coming through. You've Quinlivan, Brian Fox - who was outstanding the last day - George Hannigan, you've Acheson, you've Conor Sweeney, you've McDonald at the back, their goalkeeper Evan Comerford is a good goalkeeper, he's good kickout. 

"He can vary his kickout. They've a lot of those plus they've added the likes of Kevin O'Halloran and a couple of other good young players. Bill Maher. They're playing to a very set system. They're going to be a tough nut for us to crack."

The amount of contenders in Munster is increasing according to Fitzmaurice too.  "Absolutely but if you look at the last day, Clare kicked 17 points against us. 

"We played well, particularly offensively we played well, but you know on another day, if you'd shut it down at the back, 17 points could be enough to win a game. 

"So the myth that there is just two very strong teams in Munster, I don't think is as true as people make it out to be. 

"We know the challenge ahead, if we're at it, we've a great chance of winning. But if we're any way off, and like all the favourites that have been beaten in the last while, from the start if we're off, well then we're going to make life very hard for ourselves."

Eamonn Fitzmaurice and Brendan Cummins in action during the 1998 Munster SFC Final.

Eamonn Fitzmaurice and Brendan Cummins in action during the 1998 Munster SFC Final.

In 1998 Fitzmaurice featured for Kerry when they defeated Tipperary at Semple Stadium.  I don’t remember a whole pile about it," Fitzmaurice said. 

"I had played with the U21’s in Thurles so I had experience of playing there. I was wing-back that day, I was marking Brendan Cummins. 

"He was playing football that year. It went fine for me. I enjoyed it. Sure, at that stage I was 20 years of age and you are being thrown into that. 

"It was bonus territory for me to be in there that young and to be coming into a team that had won the All-Ireland the year before. I really enjoyed it and we won. 

"I remember it was a tight enough game. We played quite well, but Tipperary got a goal in the last 15 minutes and came at us quite a bit. We saw it out. I have only good memories of it really. It went fine for myself and it was a good win for Kerry."