Minor longevity

Precociousness in underage hurlers is nothing new but the feat of three of Tipperary's victorious minor team yesterday bears recounting. Three of the forward line - Dermot Gleeson (scored 0-2 yesterday), Donal Shelley (1-1) and Eoin Kelly (1-5) - were playing inter-county minor hurling for the third successive year. Shelly came on a substitute in the '97 Munster final and scored the two goals that brought victory over Clare. Gleeson and Kelly also marked each other in the All-Ireland Colleges' final this year. Kelly, who played alongside his brother Paul in '97, has another year at the grade. The one downside - they have yet to win an All-Ireland title. Maybe in a few weeks time . . .