Tipperary's ‘secret weapon’ will put the team’s forwards under his own personal microscope tomorrow in the hope that they will provide the recipe for success against Waterford in the All Ireland Hurling semi-final.

Eamon O’Shea is credited with having instilled into Tipperary the deft touch, silken skills and clinical finishing which have been so much in evidence this year.

O’Shea, from the Kilruane McDonaghs club, won a raft of honours with the Tipperary senior team before focussing on specialist coaching.

And such has been his impact as part of manager Liam Sheedy’s (pictured) backroom team that praise has been heaped on him for his contribution to date.

A professor of economics at NUI Galway, O’Shea is steeped in hurling and his voracious enthusiasm for the sport has transmitted itself to the Tipperary players to such an extent that they most of them are now playing the best hurling of their careers.

Damian Lawlor, a Kilruane McDonaghs stalwart and renowned GAA journalist, is in no doubt that O’Shea’s input has helped to transform Tipperary’s fortunes.

“He has been encouraging players to use space better, to improve their touch, to make every pass count and to always take the right options when it comes to shooting. I can tell you he has had a profound effect on the team,” maintains Lawlor.

It was after clinching the National League title that Tipperary turned their attention to the Munster title.

Now it’s a case of two down and one to go.

“But, of course, the All Ireland is the biggest and hardest to win. We are looking no further than tomorrow. Kilkenny may be in the final but Waterford is our total focus. David Fitzgerald has revitalised the side and we know we have a major task on our hands,” says Lawlor.

Waterford have regained their self-esteem and poise following that defeat by Clare in the Munster Championship (2-26 to 0-23) on June 1, having chalked up qualifier wins over Antrim and Offaly before disposing of Wexford (2-19 to 3-15) in the quarter-final although they were hard pressed in this match.

Tomorrow offers them the opportunity to make a big statement in terms of their All Ireland title intent - but Eamon O’Shea’s detailed homework may on this occasion prove an exercise too far for them.