Leahy says it's time for Tipp to deliver

Former great John Leahy believes Tipperary's poor return of three All-Irelands in 38 years needs to be improved upon if the county is to regain its place at hurling's top table.

Tipp have not won the Liam MacCarthy Cup since 2001, when Leahy missed out on an appearance in the final after suffering a cruciate ligament injury.

Leahy, who also won All-Ireland medals in 1989 and '91, admitted in an interview with the GAA's official website, GAA.ie.: 'It's a record that we are not proud of. I suppose we are traditionalists down there, with a great tradition of hurling and the whole lot. I suppose the last 30 years we haven't lived up to that.

'If you take out the 60s, Tipp dominated a lot of the All-Irelands and were competing. After 1971 it took 18 years and we won an All-Ireland in 89 and 91 and then we had to wait ten years for 2001.

'It's something that is disappointing that we are not contesting more with the likes of Cork and Kilkenny in the titles. We are not challenging that roll of honour, but hopefully it might start in September.'

He added: 'Tipperary is my home of hurling and we are proud Tipperary hurling men and always have been. You would like to be competing more.

'You say: "does it hurt?", and you look at the reality of it and something has gone wrong in the last 30 years. From a club structure and from a coaching point, we haven't been as prominent.

'I read the other day that we have four All-Irelands in 40 years. When you look at Kilkenny, I don't know how many they have won (31 in total, 14 since 1972).

'In '71 we were three or four All-Irelands ahead, but we would be hoping that tradition will count on Sunday week!'

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