Declan Ryan (Tipperary centre forward)

Age: 29. Height: 6'. Weight: 15st 2lbs. Club: Clonoulty-Rossmo re.

Honours: All-Ireland SHC 1989 and '91, All-Ireland under-21 HC 1989, NHL 1994, Munster SHC 1989, '91 and 93, Railway Cup 1997.

Championship Debut: v Limerick 1988.

Appearances 1997: Three (suspended v Down).

Substituted 1997: Not to date.

Scored 1997: 0-3 (v Limerick); 0-4 (v Clare); 0-1 (v Wexford).

Reaction To The Season? "It's been a great year for hurling overall, there's been some terrific games shown on television, but from a Tipperary point of view, we've been hurling all year and won nothing yet."

Most Memorable Match This Season? "I suppose the Wexford match, but I think the Wexford players would agree that they weren't mentally tough enough. They were very gracious in defeat, but I know they felt they didn't do themselves justice."

Most Difficult? "The Munster final was played on a very hot day in Pairc Ui Chaoimh and Clare came out with all guns blazing. We never seemed to get it going. If we start as slowly in the All-Ireland final, we'll be beaten by twice as much."

Best Of The Rest? "Wexford were tremendous champions. Maybe the same hunger wasn't there for them, but they were super champions."

League And Championship Reforms? "I was delighted not to be hurling in the muck of the winter, that was a tremendous idea, but the final could be moved forward or finished before the championship. "We're playing in an All-Ireland final. If it were this time last year, we would be a couple of pounds heavier and watching it on the television. We'll wait and see when the two-year trial period is over and get everyone's opinion at that stage. We didn't make the rules. It's an All-Ireland and in a couple of years, people will remember whoever wins."

Inside View: Len Gaynor (Tipperary manager) - "We moved him from full forward (last year's position) because Declan is happier with a bit more space and he doesn't like to be confined to looking for scores all the time. He's a better man at making scores rather than taking them. He's a useful man to have to get the ball into the inside line. He's a very strong man also - very important to our forward line."

Outside View: Tom Ryan (Limerick manager) - "I'd rate him as one of the best in the game. He's kept Tipp's forwards intact for the last couple of seasons. He's great to get possession, even if he's not getting scores himself, and I think his best role is as a target man.