THEY'VE started to lick their lips in anticipation down Tipperary way, the arrival of knock out hurting combining nicely with the chance to get one over on a favoured son who has departed for the opposition camp.
Tipperary's George Frend, who lines out at right half back in their Church and General National Hurling League semifinal encounter with Laois at Nowlan Park on Sunday, sums up the meeting with former manager Babs Keating's new charges nicely when he says, "there is no doubt Babs' presence will add a little bit of extra interest to the occasion, he has loyalty to both sides".
Not that Keating can or would expect an easy ride from his fellow countymen on Sunday, especially with so many new arrivals making a mark in the Tipperary side since his departure. Even Frend only arrived on the scene in the latter days of Keating's reign.
"The good days were over when I got called into the senior squad in 1992," he said. "I came in towards the end of Babs' management and missed out on the All Ireland final win in 1991, but there is a freshness back in the squad again. After last year's All Ireland under 21 success, it was inevitable that players would come through and the new lads have shown they are more than capable.
"I can assure you everyone listens very carefully when the team is being called out nowadays because there is such competition for places, and that has to be beneficial for everyone," added Frend. "It is an indication of the depth of talent in the squad."
Along with Galway, Tipperary qualified directly for the National League semi finals from the Division One campaign, thereby missing out on the league's initial knock out stages. "I love the knock out flavour of competition," says Frend, "there is a finality about it that gets the adrenalin pumping that little bit quicker."
Strangely, given that Tipperary and Laois are bordering counties - Frend can only recall ever playing Laois once in a competitive match, a league encounter in Roscrea two years ago. "There really isn't a traditional rivalry between the two counties, but the win over Kilkenny confirms their capabilities and we won't be taking them lightly on Sunday. I'm looking forward to the match," he said.
Frend's only taste of championship glory came with the under 21 All Ireland success back in 1989 - when Tipperary beat Offaly in the final - but they lost to Kilkenny the following year and were then beaten by Limerick at the third time of asking in 1991, after which he was elevated to the senior panel. "We may be the only Minister side left in the League, but the power structure has changed in the province. The days when either Cork or ourselves were expected to win Munster has changed with the re emergence of Limerick and Clare, and that, in a way, has taken some pressure away from us."
While the two National Hurling League semi finals (Laois Tipperary in Nowlan Park and Wexford Galway in Limerick) hold the Inter county centre stage on Sunday, there will also be a good deal of interest in the McKenna Cup senior football final between Down and Armagh, at Clones, especially with the Ulster Championship edging ever closer.
Down's line up has been affected by a number of factors: Ross Carr has been forced to cry off because of injury, while ham string victims Cathal Murray and Ger Colgan are not deemed fit enough to start, but are named among the substitutes, while Barry Breen and Gary Mason are both suspended. However, Conor Deegan has recovered from injury and takes his place at centre field.
Armagh are not affected quite as badly, although star forwards Diarmuid Marsden (hamstring) and Des Macken (ankle ligaments) have lost their fitness battles and miss the encounter.
