One of the stars of the Offaly team which denied Kerry of a five-in-a-row of All-Ireland football titles in 1982 has stressed the need for Tipperary to keep their discipline against Kilkenny.

Sean Lowry, who lined out at centre back in Offaly's famous 1-15 to 0-17 victory, recalled how the Faithful County stuck rigidly to a plan. He also admitted that a number of their players played above themselves, yet they still needed a last-minute Seamus Darby goal to deny the Kingdom.

"All our lads played very well," the Ferbane man said.

"And maybe 10 or 12 never played as well before - yet we still only win a goal in the last minute. It was a superhuman effort.

"We didn't muscle them out of it, either, we played well. We gave away three frees inside the 50-yard line. Mikey Sheehy was given no chance, and a lot of the wides that Kerry kicked were from 40, 50 yards. We had a great system, but we also had the lads with the discipline to carry out the system. You can have a fantastic player on the panel, but if he won't play to the system then you're as well to leave him at home.

"We were lucky enough that the players didn't deviate from the plan because if you started ball-watching against that Kerry team you were finished."

He continued: "I think Tipperary have a good chance but Kilkenny, like Kerry that time, could have a different match-winner every day." Tweet

Most Read Stories