HEAD-TO-HEAD: The goalkeepers

(Tipperary)Age: 22. Height: 6' 2". Weight: 12st 8lbs. Club: Ballybacon-Grange.

Honours: National Hurling League 1994, All-Ireland under-21 1995, Fitzgibbon Cup with Waterford RTC 1995. Has also represented Tipperary at all levels of football.

Championship debut: v Waterford, 1995. Appearances 1997: Four. Substituted 1997: Not to date.

Goals conceded 1997: Four (one v Clare, Munster final; three v Down, All-Ireland quarter-final). Reaction to the season? "We've had our ups and downs, but normally your downs would mean no more ups." Most memorable match this season? "Limerick in Thurles. The crowd had built it up as our chance to beat Limerick after being beaten in the previous two years. We had a point to prove that there was no bogey team for us in the championship." Most difficult? "Munster final. That day we were really stuck to the ground. I don't know was it that Clare were so fast or we were so stuck to the ground - I suppose we'll find out. Clare's pace and their speed running off the ball was phenomenal." Best of the rest? "I think possibly Galway. It was hard luck in the sense that they had their first championship match and lost a 10-point lead. They were probably the most dangerous team outside of Clare." League and championship reforms? "At the start it was great to get League games that were like championship matches, but I suppose at the end the League just served a purpose up until the championship. After that no one really bothered with the League, as was shown below in Ennis when we played Galway. "The championship changes worked out great for us. If you want to be AllIreland champions, you've to beat the best teams and if we do win it this year, although they say it's the back door, we'll have beaten the All-Ireland champions of '95 and '96 and I suppose nobody can begrudge us after that."

Insider's view: Len Gaynor (Tipperary manager) - "His dual status didn't bother us. We'd no problem releasing him to play a couple of matches with the footballers. He prefers hurling, but he's also a great footballer and we wouldn't like to deprive him of that. He's lively and agile in goal with a sharp eye and a good hand. Puckouts are good and fairly long, he's able to vary them and find the right man. He's good to come to the ball and safe under lobbed-in shots." Outsider's view: Tom Ryan (Limerick manager) - "Brendan Cummins had a dual role in the early part of the season and playing football isn't great for his position in goal. I'd say he's more comfortable with the football out of the way. He's a great puck-out, a strong physique and plenty of experience. I'd rate him top class."