Jackie Tyrrell's advice to Waterford and Galway players preparing for the All-Ireland SHC final is to avoid all distractions over the next two weeks.

In his Irish Times column today, the nine-time All-Ireland winnning Kilkenny defender writes about the importance of staying focused in the lead-up to the decider.

"When you're getting ready for an All-Ireland final, there's no easing yourself into it. This is something you want more than everything else in the world - either start acting like it or you'll be bypassed by someone who is. Be relentless, from here until the final whistle. Foot to the floor. Focus forward," he states.

"The big job is avoiding the noise. Suits, ticket orders, sports gear, boots, media days, player profiles for the programme. Distractions and noise. This is the week to get all that done. Get done and get rid.

"Especially tickets. Do not get caught up in the circus that exists with them. This is the week I always got the orders in and the money collected. After that, I was able to bang out a simple text or give a simple answer to any request - "Sorry bud, I have the tickets got already and given out". I've seen lads carrying around the guts of €3,000 in their bag the week of an All-Ireland final or messing around chasing fellas for the money.

"No way. Not for me. A fortnight out, I was done with tickets. No point even asking me - the answer would get shorter with every passing day.

"No distractions. Everywhere you go people will all talk about the match. Work, gym, shopping, in town, outside Mass, you name it. I got into a routine of just doing enough those few weeks and limiting my life's exposure to the outside world.

"I only went out when I had too. I did one big shop or got someone else to do it. My girlfriend or family did the coffee run for me. And when I did head outside I pretended to be on my phone most the time. Why? So I didn't have to listen to idle talk about the match. Potential teams, injuries, opposing team players, this lad said this and that pundit said that. I couldn't care less."

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