Eoin Kelly believes a strong start to the Allianz League can set the tone for Tipperary's year.

The former All-Ireland winning captain, who brought the curtain down on his illustrious 14-year inter-county career at the end of last year, has stressed the need for Tipp to develop a winning habit and put silverware on the sideboard.

"I'm looking forward to the first game in the league against Dublin in Parnell Park because if you look at our first league game for the last four or five years - we haven't hurled great," the Mullinahone clubman said at yesterday's Fitzgibbon Cup launch.

"The Waterford game last year, we won but struggled, Cork the year before, we got annihilated. The year before, Kilkenny beat us easily at Nowlan Park, the year before Kilkenny beat us under lights in Semple, 2010 lost first game to Dublin in Parnell Park and in 2009, we beat Cork in our first game but it wasn't their normal team (due to a players' strike).

"I hope Tipp hit the ground running in the first league game to build confidence. I think they'll really take that Dublin game head on in Parnell Park."

Having spent most of last season on the subs bench, Kelly knew his days as a Tipperary hurler were all but numbered.

"Everyone has their time. I have no problem moving on with it," he said.

"There is serious potential in that Tipperary forward line and I just hope that we can see it again this year like we saw it last year. I hope Tipp can get to those finals (All-Ireland and Allianz League) this year and get their hands on a bit of silverware. The team and those younger players need that.

"People might say the league is not taken that seriously but there are psychological wins in the league.

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