Callinan: Pressure is on Kilkenny

September 12, 2008
Tipperary's Seamus Callinan insists that all the pressure ahead of this Sunday's All-Ireland Under 21 Hurling Championship final is firmly on Kilkenny. The Cats will look to complete a 'Grand Slam' of minor, intermediate, senior and Under 21 All-Ireland titles for their county against the Premier men on Sunday, with Callinan hoping that those expectations can work to his side's advantage for the Croke Park encounter. "It is very important for us to win because this is our last chance to win an All-Ireland this year after the disappointment of the seniors," said Callinan. "But I don't see it brining any added pressure. I think all the pressure is on Kilkenny to win this Grand Slam. "After our performances this year we are expected to be blown away. All we can do is hurl to our ability and if we can do that I can't see anyone beating us." However, the Tipp star does acknowledge that it will take a massive effort from the team to overcome Michael Walsh's Cats on the day and has pointed out that they must improve on their provincial efforts this year to put in a performance like that of Kilkenny's impressive semi-final victory over Galway last month. "You'd have to hope that there is a big performance in us alright," he admitted. "I'd say Galway were fancied on the day but for Kilkenny to beat them the way they did was unreal, typical Kilkenny, they showed great hunger. "We know that if we play anything like we played in the Munster Championship we'll be blown away in the first ten minutes and it'll be game over. "In the Munster Championship we didn't peak. We didn't get near to playing our full potential so hopefully there is one biog day in us."

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