Jamesie O'Connor is expecting Tipperary to secure a long overdue win at Nowlan Park in today's league final with Kilkenny.

The Clare great believes the Premier County's greater strength in depth will be the decisive factor when these two arch rivals lock horns.

"Nowlan Park is not an easy place to get a result, and Tipperary haven't won there since 2008," he points out in his Sunday Independent column today.

"They've had the opportunities, especially on their last couple of visits, but yet haven't been able to get it done. Further motivation comes from the fact that Brendan Maher and some of the older Tipp players have played in four league finals and have yet to win one. Three of those four defeats have been at the hands of Kilkenny. They surely can't contemplate another.

"When the sides met back at the end of February, and the game was in the melting pot, Michael Ryan wisely resisted the temptation to unleash Pádraic Maher and Noel McGrath from the bench. One or other of them may well have swung the match Tipp's way, especially given the solitary point Kilkenny had to spare at the end."

He concludes: "There'll be no such hesitation today. Tipp have the greater weapons on the bench and overall, look the stronger side. Tipp to win."

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