O'Dwyer backs Tipp to succeed
Dublin senior hurler Ryan O'Dwyer has backed his native Tipperary to succeed in this afternoon's All-Ireland SHC final against Kilkenny at Croke Park.
The Cashel native, who scored 2-12 while on the losing Kilmacud Crokes side in yesterday's All-Ireland Sevens final, says he is fully behind the Premier County.
"I've two things to look forward to (today), Dublin in the minor and then Tipperary in the senior final," he said.
"Ideally we would rather be in the final instead of Tipperary, but if Dublin aren't in the final there is only one team I would like to win and that is Tipp.
"My parents are living in Tipp and as long as they are living in Tipp that's my home.
"Your home is where your parents are and that's all I am concerned about. I've a lot of friends still down there so I'll definitely be shouting for Tipp.
"At the back of my mind I'll be thinking if only we were there, and I think that is a natural reaction."
Natural indeed that O'Dwyer's heart should steer towards supporting his native county, but does he feel that they have enough to become the first Tipperary side to take back-to-back All-Ireland SHC titles since 1965?
"I honestly think - and I could be crucified for saying this - that Tipperary will prevail by two points.
"That's an amateurs opinion, but the reason I am saying that is that I think that the pace of Lar Corbett inside will be too great.
"We were lucky in that we had one of the fastest hurlers in Ireland, Peter Kelly, on him and that kind of counteracted him.
"I know he still scored 1-3 against us, but I don't think anyone in the Kilkenny set-up are as fast as him.
"Now I know I am saying they are not as fast as him, but they will make up for it with experience and they will be where the ball is rather than reacting to the ball.
"It's going to be a tight match-up, it definitely is, but I think Tipperary by two points."
Dublin showed great resilience after Lar Corbett's semi-final goal, a trait which wouldn't have been seen by a lot of teams.
"Kilkenny's game-plan for a long time was to blitz them at the start and they'll die, like they did in so many finals - they did it to Waterford and also to Limerick in All-Ireland finals and it worked for them.
"That probably runs through everyone's mind, especially when you concede an early goal like that against quality opposition like Tipperary - you are thinking what are we going to do here.
"But the one thing about this Dublin set-up is our belief and a core certain belief that you can throw anything you like at us, but we are going to react in a positive way and we did."
O'Dwyer also believes that the sterner test which Tipperary got in the All-Ireland semi-final against the Dubs should stand them well on Sunday.
"I think a good tough game is great for you in the match afterwards," he added.
"But, Kilkenny are an experienced side, they have been in this situation before. How many times have you seen them come through to play in a final with more or less no real test and they still blow their final opponents away.
"I don't think they are going to blow Tipp away, but it is going to be a serious game and you might say Tipp had a tough game against Dublin which they had.
"But for all the experience Kilkenny have they dealt with what was put in front of them in the semi-final, and it was just their experience which told in the end."
