Brendan Maher says the Tipperary hurlers are getting a “great buzz” out the fortunes of their footballers as both sides gear up for All-Ireland semi-finals.
The hurlers, Munster champions after beating Waterford, are in familiar territory as they prepare to face Galway in Croke Park on Sunday (3.30pm , live on RTÉ One), a repeat of last season’s game at the same stage, which ended in a one-point loss for the Premier.
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But it’s the exploits of the footballers that have caught the imagination of the country, Liam Kearns leading his side into a semi-final for the first time in 81 years, beating the likes of Derry and Galway along the way.
They face Mayo on 21 August.
Tipp captain Maher told RTÉ Sport: “A lot of the boys went up to the [quarter-final against Galway] and we’ve been following the footballers all year.
“I was down in Killarney myself to watch them against Kerry [in the Munster final loss].
“Of course, it’s a great buzz to have around. We have a hurling team and football team in an All-Ireland final.
“It’s not something that the hurlers are looking down or the footballers looking down on the hurlers, it doesn’t work that way. We support each other”
Maher’s manager Michael Ryan added that the footballers’ qualifier run is a positive influence on their camp as it highlights the value of hard work.
“Those guys have worked really hard and you don’t get those kind of results unless you have"
“I think it’s a great pressure,” he said.
“What we saw last Sunday from the footballers was just really, really good for sport in every county but particularly in TIpperary.
“Those guys have worked really hard and you don’t get those kind of results unless you have. They are really getting their due rewards at the moment.
“It’s a fantastic situation to be in to have two [teams] competing in All-Ireland semi-finals but look, we are very focused on our task. It’s a huge task.
“The right to go forward to contest this year’s All-Ireland final is a massive prize for this group and for us all and we’re entirely focused on that.”
