"The bottom line is sure, I'm a Tipperary man and I love Tipperary hurling. I said during the week that if the opportunity arises to sit down to talk to the relevant people selecting the next Tipperary manager, I'd love to sit down to talk to them."

Liam Cahill did his chances of taking over as Tipperary senior hurling manager no harm at all after his team upset the odds against Cork in yesterday's All-Ireland U-21 HC final.

"We knew coming down here it was always going to be a tough battle against Cork, especially after the last day but we believed in ourselves and I think that was the main thing."

Centre-back Robert Byrne and his Tipp team-mates didn't lack for belief going in to the decider with the Rebels.

"Being part of an All-Ireland is a great experience. Obviously, you want to win and it is hugely disappointing for all of us. There is no sugarcoating that. At the same time, they are gaining valuable experience every day they are going out."

There was bitter disappointment for Cork manager Denis Ring and his players in the Gaelic Grounds.

"We believe we can upset the odds."

A defiant Mickey Harte insists Tyrone are not travelling to Croke Park next Sunday just to make up the numbers.

"You have to have that belief. I was speaking to Mickey on Wednesday and he was starting to make me believe that we're going down there to win!"

Three-time Tyrone All-Ireland winner Brian McGuigan is coming around to Harte's way of thinking.

"We never reference the past. We have tried to learn from it and they are learning in every game we play, as recently as Galway, and there is rich learning within the group. We have never traded off the past. Never."

It's all about the here and now as far as Dublin supremo Jim Gavin is concerned.

"I actually feel the other teams are falling away. I don't see Dublin coming back into the chasing pack."

Three-time Leinster winning Dublin full-back Paddy Christie doesn't envisage anyone knocking Jim Gavin's men off their perch any time soon.

"Waking up? I don't know if I went to sleep. I wanted to make sure I wasn't dreaming."

Limerick sponsor JP McManus' dream became a reality in Croke Park last Sunday week!

"We were talking about this a couple of weeks ago and we were just saying that if we were lucky enough to get to the All-Ireland final that there should be a massive crowd. September all of a sudden - where we've always looked forward to our games - (people are thinking) what are we going to do? I think that'll actually help the women's game for the middle of September."

The All-Ireland final against Cork will be a great promotional opportunity for ladies football, according to Dublin manager Mick Bohan.

"We are absolutely thrilled. It was disappointing last year we lost a close semi-final and we were determined this year that we'd go one step further. We're here now so we're absolutely delighted."

Bohan's Cork counterpart Ephie Fitzgerald is looking forward to taking on the holders.

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