Henry Shefflin remains to be convinced that Tipperary possess the mental strength to overcome Kilkenny when it matters most.

Previewing tomorrow's Liam MacCarthy showpiece in his Irish Independent column, the 10-time All-Ireland medalist points to recent history to back up his theory.

"Tipperary just haven't had a strong enough mentality in Kilkenny's company since that 2010 final, 2012 being the most obvious example but even in 2013 and 2014. Do they have it now? Until they beat Kilkenny in a game of this magnitude again you'd have to say they don't.

"Tipperary have taken a more robust, direct approach this season but you can't say the level of intensity they would have wanted to test themselves at really manifested in Munster. Cork, Limerick and Waterford all set out with extra defenders and that, inevitably, leads to a slight drop.

"Galway did bring that intensity and Tipperary were a bit at odds with it until two wonderful pieces of skill got them home."

He continued: "They hadn't played in five weeks which has been a problem for Munster champions so the benefit could be there for them tomorrow.

"I've questioned the leadership within Tipperary at the beginning of the championship. So far they've done everything asked of them. But they know this is the big test, this is the day they've been waiting for to really prove it."

So who's going to win?

"Like 2013 and 2014 there won't be much in this but Kilkenny's intensity is always a given and that's too much of a guarantee to overlook."

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