The meeting of Kilkenny and Tipperary has had an air of inevitability about it all year and what a game we have in prospect between these two neighbouring counties and fiercest of rivals.
Tipperary supporters are feeling very upbeat and confident about their team’s chances of victory. Deep down, however, they are not so sure given the defeats of the recent past against the men in Black and Amber.
Kilkenny supporters are as always quietly confident, but they are clever enough to know that Tipp are better than they have been for a few years and that their own team is creaking, with the end of the most successful period in their history looming.
The bookies are never too far out and they cannot decide who will win the game, with the odds pretty much even on both teams. The majority of expert pundits are unable to make up their minds with any conviction either.
Tipperary have been very impressive in their march to the final with comfortable victories over Cork, Limerick, Waterford and Galway, the latter encounter being their closest contest. A repeat of that performance would not beat the Cats.
That said, the Premier have a cut and swagger about them in this campaign and a no-nonsense style of hurling that says ‘we are not going to lie down this year or be found wanting for effort’.
Team selections are consistent with a good mix of ball winners and score-getters.
Michael Ryan has introduced a number of new players who have added considerable athleticism and strength to the side, in particular Seamus Kennedy, Michael Breen and John McGrath.
Tipperary's strength is built on a formidable and experienced back line, powered by Cathal Barrett and Padraic Maher, and a good midfield partnership with the hard-working Brendan Maher and the mobile Michael Breen. They are very strong and settled from numbers 1 to 9.
The jury is still out on the potency of their forward line but the addition of John McGrath and the return of Bubbles O’Dwyer will strengthen this sector.
Meanwhile the Cats sailed through the Leinster Championship with comfortable victories over Dublin and Galway, before two titanic battles with Waterford which should stand them in good stead for the final.
Cody's men were very lucky to survive the first drawn game with the Déise in which they had to call on all their experience and craft to carve out a draw but they improved considerably for the replay.
Kilkenny have had some real form players and the likes of Eoin Murphy, Paul Murphy, Cillian Buckley, Colin Fennelly and Richie Hogan has shown well in this campaign, while TJ Reid has been unerring from placed balls.
"Tipperary are motoring well and I fancy them to shade this one by a couple of points."
However the defending champions can afford no passengers on Sunday and will need a big contribution from every player if they are to triumph.
They know they are not firing on all cylinders and possibly going into the game as underdogs will bring out the best in them. The loss of Michael Fennelly, who always plays well on the big day is huge and their bench is not as strong as recent years.
Having carried out a close examination of the likely match ups I reckon both Kilkenny and Tipp will each score around 1-10 to 1-13 from play and add on six to eight points from placed balls each and a final score of around 1-18 to 1-20 each is very likely.
It will be down to individuals to rise above their normal performance level on the day to create the difference between the teams.
The creation and scoring of goal chances could be the difference. Tipp supporters will look to Seamus Callanan for goals while Kilkenny will be counting on Colin Fennelly or TJ Reid.
Kilkenny will keep it very tight at the back and work very hard up front to pin back the Tipp defenders, while the Munster champions will be applying similar tactics hoping to score from distance.
The battle to win the majority of the possession in the middle third will be crucial. Expect some battle here and this is where Michael Fennelly’s loss will be sorely missed.
In the 2014 final, Tipperary missed the boat in the drawn game and lost out by three points in the replay. Since those games the Cats have lost legendary players such as JJ Delaney, Brian Hogan, Jackie Tyrrell, Richie Power and Henry Shefflin, who came off the bench.
The Kilkenny players that have come in are very good but not of the calibre of those that have departed.
Tipperary are motoring well and I fancy them to shade this one by a couple of points and finally get the Kilkenny monkey off their backs on Sunday evening.
One final thought - Davy Fitzgerald mentioned in his recent RTÉ documentary that he would love his players to experience "the bus journey into Croke Park on All-Ireland final day" and I have to say it hit a nerve with me personally, bringing back great memories of those bus journeys into Croker on the biggest day of the year.
You would love every player to experience it at least once.
Best of luck to both teams and enjoy the bus journey into Croker and the occasion.
Watch live coverage of Kilkenny v Tipperary on RTÉ One and RTÉ Player from 1405 and follow our live blog on RTE.ie. Listen live on RTÉ Radio 1 from 1300 to include coverage of the Tipperary v Limerick minor final and watch highlights of all the weekend's GAA action on The Sunday Game from 2130 on RTÉ Two.
