Four times All-Ireland Senior Hurling winner Jackie Tyrrell is madly in love. The James Stephens clubman might introduce himself with the following - 'My name is Jackie Tyrrell and I have a hurling problem!' Tyrrell's love-affair with hurling stretches back over a long number of years, like all of his Kilkenny team-mates - All-Ireland and Leinster titles with St Kieran's College, two Fitzgibbon Cup's with LIT and a variety of other medals Tyrrell says that all of the hard work and preparation that goes in over the year is well worth it when you are in another All-Ireland decider. Ah the hard slog of Winter training - now banned at least collectively, and it has moved from the mucky pitches and the cold weather to the cosier confines of the gym - but for the inter-county GAA player and guys like Jackie Tyrrell there is still the hard slog to be done in the early months of the year braving the elements and testing conditions. But the Glanbia Sales Manager, and former Quantity Surveyor Tyrrell says that it's all well worth it, when the glory days in September come around. "At the start of the year it is the cold and mucky nights and you are wondering what it is all about. But I suppose when you have witnessed the final whistle on All-Ireland final day in Croke Park it is something special, that you will bring to the grave with you and at the start of the year that's what you are driving on for," he told Hogan Stand. "There's no problem with motivation on my behalf anyway. I love hurling and I love being a part of the Kilkenny panel. I want to be here as long as possible, because you haven't that much time really when it boils down to it - the time flies." He added, "It's something I love doing. I love training and being a part of the Kilkenny set up as I said, so I just want to keep all of that going." Motivation is the driving force for Tyrrell, but it's not just about the personal motivation in the Kilkenny camp. With such a competitive squad of players it is extremely hard to hold down your place on the starting 15 according to the James Stephens defender. "You only have to look at the subs and the Noel Hickey's, the John Dalton's, the PJ Delaney's - Canice Hickey and Sean Cummins; to see that on any given day they can come in and do a job. Sean Cummins came in at corner back against Galway and done a great job. "Everyone knows that and no one rests on their laurels, because if you do you will be on the subs bench and someone else will be in your place, but that's right throughout the field and midfield is the same - Derek Lyng didn't start the last day and our captain Michael Fennelly wasn't playing either. "That's just the way it is within the panel and it is a great way to be. Brian (Cody) said our great strength is the panel and it is certainly true." While the big prize of an All-Ireland Senior hurling title is up for grabs this weekend, and a four-in-a-row on the cards for the Cats - hurling isn't just about winning according to Tyrrell. Friendships play a major role also, and Jackie says that he is extremely to have two good friends of his on the Tipperary panel this weekend, with whom he soldiered to two Fitzgibbon Cup titles with at Limerick I.T. "I know Shane (McGrath) well and he is a good friend. Shane is awesome, and also Conor O'Mahony. I hurled with the two of them in Limerick IT and had a very enjoyable time with them down there. That's what college is about and that's what the GAA is about - is creating friendships. But I suppose obviously on All-Ireland final day that will go out the window. But after the match we'll have a chat and a drink together and that's the beauty of hurling. "70 minutes is war, but after that you are best friends really!" And Tyrrell confesses that while he doesn't see much of the two lads, he meets Eoin Kelly a bit as the Tipp attacker is now domiciled in the Marble City. "Eoin Kelly lives down in Kilkenny and you might meet him around the odd time alright. There won't be any communication over the next few weeks, but I'm sure after the All-Ireland I'll see some of them and we'll have a drink and catch up." Speaking about Tipperary, Tyrrell isn't surprised that they have got to an All-Ireland decider, and he points to the underage successes in recent years by the Premier County, as an indicator that they were on the cusp of becoming a major force in the Senior ranks. "I would think so, but I think if you go back even further they have been successful at minor and under 21 levels over the past couple of years. There has been great work done in the county, and I suppose when you have the likes of Conor O'Mahony and Shane McGrath it's only a natural progression that they will make the breakthrough and win the All-Ireland. But Tyrrell is hopeful that Tipperary's year won't come this season at Kilkenny's expense, but somewhere further down the line. "However we'll be hoping that it won't be this year and that it will be another year. "They have some great hurlers up there and outside of the two lads you have Eoin Kelly, Lar Corbett and Noel McGrath. These lads are super hurlers and all great scorers. It's going to be a great battle. We are two very similar teams in the way we play and the types of players that we have so its very intriguing, but it's one that we are looking forward to." Kilkenny's defence has been somewhat rattled this year, by the likes of Joe Canning (Galway), David 'Dotsy' O'Callaghan (Dublin) and Waterford's John Mullane. Indeed it has been a tough year for their rear-guard, with the Cats only scraping through all of their Championship games by single digit margins. Tyrrell says that while it has been a tough year to date, with the cailbre of Tipperary forwards on show an even tougher task awaits his side this weekend. "You need eyes in the back of your head really with how the Tipperary forwards operate - Cats Eyes!" And Tyrrell is particularly mindful of the impact that Lar Corbett could have on this years All-Ireland final - quiet for 56 minutes, Corbett bagged a hat-trick against Limerick in the semi-final. Tyrrell expects to have his hands full this weekend. "I suppose with the way Larry Corbett runs you would need a motorbike to get after him! It's just about trying to keep the concentration levels high and trying to stay on top of him and try and frustrate him, but that's easier said than done, especially if you look at their game against Limerick and throughout the year they have been banging in goals, so it's going to be very tough." Tweet

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