Ken Hogan has no worries about Tipperary's young stars not being anything but 100 per cent focused on next Saturday's Bord Gais Energy All-Ireland U21HC final, regardless of the outcome of today's senior decider.

Eight of Liam Sheedy's senior panel are also members of Hogan's under 21 set-up and the former All-Ireland winning goalkeeper insists they are every bit as focused on the under 21 final as the senior clash with Kilkenny.

"There was plenty of talk before the under 21 game (against Antrim) about trying to rest the lads with the senior in mind and making sure they didn't get injured, but all they wanted to do was play," he recalled of Tipperary's All-Ireland semi-final hammering of the Saffrons.

"They weren't thinking of the senior final, they were thinking of the under 21. Their attitude is top class. When you have that in any team, it's a huge bonus for a manager."

The Lorrrha clubman believes his young stars have had a lot of growing up to do this year.

"They came onto the team at a young age and received plenty of praise last year. But after the Cork game in the Munster championship in May, they saw the other side of the coin. They had a lot of criticism thrown at them within Tipperary, which probably wasn't justified.

"But they've responded in the right manner. I read an interview with Paul Scholes recently, where he said he prefers criticism than praise. He likes to defy critics. I think they are in the same mould." Tweet

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