By Tomas Mulcahy

This has all the ingredients of being a cracker as bragging rights are always a big thing among neighbouring counties. The Deise are Munster champions and looking for another All-Ireland final appearance. Indeed they are hoping to go one better this time.

Tipp will probably start as favourites on the basis of their performance against Galway and that will suit Waterford just fine. Love him or hate him, there is no doubt that Davy Fitzgerald has this team primed and conditioned much better than they have ever been.

They have a serious backroom team in place with no stone left unturned in player preparation and they have duly responded in impressive fashion.

They have the best centre back in the country at the moment and all great teams are built around this position. Individuals don't win matches on their own but their ability to lead from the front is their greatest asset and in Brick Walsh they won't be found wanting here.

But as I said it is not all about one man but the team and panel, and this has been used to great effect by the Waterford management this year. Everyone has played their part - I am sure Big Dan will be waiting for his chance again and if the result is similar to the Munster final, he will be more than happy with his contribution. It is all about pacing himself!

Confidence will not be a problem with the Tipp lads but over confidence might be, as sometimes there is a tendency with Tipperary to think that they are better than they actually are and they take the foot off the pedal. Now and again they leave it up to someone else to do the dirty work and the rest sit back and admire.

If that is the case, they will be right back where they were in the last weekend of May during the Munster defeat against Cork, but this time around there will be no second chance.

This is the business end of the season - it has to be all hands on the pump and if that is the case, I expect Tipperary to make it a second All-Ireland Final appearance in a row. Tweet

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