Sunday, September 4th

All-Ireland SHC final

Kilkenny v Tipperary, Croke Park, 3.30pm

All roads lead to Croke Park on Sunday as Kilkenny and Tipperary collide on the hurling calendar's biggest date.

The ruptured Achilles injury to Michael Fennelly has largely been the topic of conversation surrounding the champions heading into this one, with some citing the Ballyhale Shamrocks man's loss as what could end up being the difference between these two titans.  

While Fennelly is a definite casualty for Sunday's decider, the Tipperary camp were quick to pour cold water earlier this week on the notion that Seamus Callanan - their chief score-getter at full-forward - could also be side-lined. The big Drom Inch man reportedly suffered a hand injury last week, but Tipp officials have said he'll be good to go for their county's sixth final date in eight years against Brian Cody's men.

When these sides met on the same stage two years ago only three points separated them after a replay, which had Lester Ryan lifting the Cats' 35th Liam McCarthy Cup, and another airtight finale is anticipated here. Even the bookmakers concur, pricing them both at around 11/10 and a draw at 8/1.

Kilkenny had to come through two epic battles with Waterford last month in order to get here, after having cruised through Leinster, while the Premier men did much the same in Munster before edging Galway in another Croker classic. The fact that both sides have had contrasting wins over each other's provincial final opponents isn't something to read into either really, with Galway having improved so much from their Leinster final mauling while Waterford did likewise after their disappointment in Munster.

One thing that is for certain is Tipp boss Michael Ryan having to get his match-ups right on Sunday. TJ Reid, Richie Hogan and Colin Fennelly will line-out as three of 15 big names in the opposition's pack and, as past evidence has so often suggested, they're more than capable of doing irreversible damage to even the best defences on their day.

At the other end, Ryan could well end up deploying John 'Bubbles' O'Dwyer alongside John McGrath in the attack around focal point Callanan, who is set for a truly fascinating tussle with Kilkenny's number three Joey Holden over 70 minutes.

Fennelly's absence is going to open up a starting berth at Kilkenny's centre-field, with former skipper Ryan the most likely candidate having replaced him in the replay victory over Waterford, and if there's one thing Cody's incredible reign has shown us it's that his squads are typically both deep and adaptable.

There's an argument to be made for this current Tipp outfit sharing the same traits though and Ryan will need everything from them if they are to be walking up to the Hogan Stand podium come Sunday evening.

The occasion is set to be a mighty one, but who'll step up to the plate when it matters most?

Verdict: Kilkenny

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