Brett believes in Tipperary's football ability

AT times like this, Tipperary football selectors are apt to wish there was more substance to the traditional GAA. assertion that the minors are the stars of tomorrow.

There are only two members of the county's impressive 1984 A Ireland under 18 finalists in the senior side to face Kerry on Sunday's opening round in the Munster championship in Clonmel.

They are the Callan based corner back Sean Brett and midfielder Brian Burke.

Brett recalls the optimism in the minor side of 1984 beaten by Dublin at the last hurdle.

"It was always in the back of our minds that our team was the start of greater things for Tipp football. The same team, three years on, only lost out to Kerry, in extra time, after a replay in the under 21 Munster final".

Brett (29) has been in the senior team since 1988. During that time he has ruefully seen his minor team mates disappear from the scene. "Some of them would have emigrated for work others lost interest. There was five of us together on the 1994 Munster final team beaten by Cork".

Despite Tipperary's demoralising experience in the first round last year when Kerry bombarded their posts, scoring five goals in seven minutes, Brett emphasises the mood in the present team. "We have a firm belief in our football ability, of that there is no doubt. What we must achieve on Sunday is for all the lads to play well on the day as a team". An injury kept him out of that disaster first round game against Kerry.

Because of this he can perhaps, feel a little amused on reflection. "It was unbelievable to watch. You cannot concede six points never mind 15 to Kerry, but believe it or not we pulled it back to four points in the second half. If we don't concede goals like that on Sunday it should be very close at the finish".

Favourite memories for Brett include beating Clare, the then champions in Limerick in the first round in 1994. "We beat them by a p9int. Certainly it was one of those days when you get a great sense of enjoyment from it".

Then there were those two rare Munster final appearances in and 1994 even though eaten by Cork on both occasions at Semple Stadium in 1993 by 1-16 to 1-8 and by 2-19 to 3-9 in Pairc Ui Chaoimh the following year. Of those finals he recalls "We were very disappointed in `94. I suppose in `93 it was an achievement to get there. It was our target up to that point. In 1994, I suppose the novelty had gone. We went down to Pairc Ui Chaoimh with the intention of .winning and I honestly thought going down that Sunday morning that we were going to win it. With four minutes to go we were still in with some chance.

"On Sunday, against Kerry, I have no doubt that there is enough football in the team to win, if we can apply ourselves on the day," he added.

"Training has gone very well this year for us. Preparation has been as good as you could wish. We have the ground work done. If we get beaten on Sunday, for whatever reason, we will not be able to blame the preparation work. l strongly feel that if we did not consider ourselves to have a reasonable chance of winning, we should pack it in".

Brett feels that football is at a disadvantage in a county where hurling is the primary sport. "We. have a number dual players like Nick English John Leahy and Declan Ryan but they are lost to. the football side. And you cannot blame them," says Brett.

"Hurling is priority and anybody who is good at both games in Tipp tends to give the hurling priority which is understandable. You obviously have a better chance of going further with the hurlers when all is said and done. Top dual players have been approached but it is difficult to give commitment to both games.

"Sky television notwithstanding we expect to have good support especially in Clonmel on Sunday," he says.