I have been very fortunate to have been given the opportunity to go to hurling matches, sit in the best seat in the house and describe to those listening on RTÉ Radio the game which I love.
There's always something particularly special when I get to sit in the car and head towards Jones’s Road in Dublin for the knockout stages of the Liam MacCarthy, where I am reminded of how lucky I once was to be the player on the field for these games.
This week is different as for the first time in what feels like an eternity, I will be going to talk about my own county and even better than that, my son will be with me in the car for his first time to see Tipperary play in Croke Park. He’s only seven, so it’s not like he has been waiting decades for this opportunity, but there will be so many travelling up in a similar boat on Sunday
On the field it will be a first outing at GAA HQ for many of the Tipp players.
As a player, it takes a couple of outings in Croke Park to become accustomed to it and how it plays.
The 65 feels like it is 80 yards away and the breeze that is outside the ground will never be the same out on that pitch as it is caught by the stadium and swept right around. It could take someone two shots to try and figure that out. It will be advantage Kilkenny in that regard as they are so used to the surroundings, but everywhere else I look I see it as very much 50/50.
Tipp have been really tested both physically and mentally in their games against Limerick and Clare, compared to Kilkenny’s more breezy route to the penultimate stage.
Match-up wise, I think you will see Mikey Breen and Bryan O’Mara tasked with curtailing TJ Reid and Adrian Mullen respectively. If Eoin Cody starts, I would expect Robert Doyle to pick him up given his performances to date.
The midfield battle will be intriguing as Cian Kenny has proven just how vital he is to everything good for Kilkenny, so I can see Seamus Kennedy getting the nod to curb his influence.
Up front for Tipp, Jake Morris, Andrew Ormonde, Jason Forde and John McGrath are all one good game away from being serious All-Star contenders.
In Huw Lawlor, Kilkenny have one of the best ever to wear number three and his clubmate Mikey Butler will relish the challenge of man-marking Forde or McGrath.
How do I call it? I am going with my heart and edging towards my fellow county men.
Man for man, I feel Tipp are a better team right now. They have been tested, they have impact off the bench and they’re hurling with a freedom we haven’t seen in a long time. It will be close - very close - but I’m going with Tipp to get it done.
On Saturday two tribes will go to war at a sold-out Croke Park, not surprising given the Cork supporters have packed out most places on this summer journey with their team.
The Cork public are demanding of their sports stars and they judge them on one thing and one thing only – titles. Liam MacCarthy has eluded them for 20 years. How heavy is the burden weighing on this Cork group now that the safety net is gone?
Against Limerick, Dublin served up the biggest hurling upset in 50 years. They played with a pride, passion and work-rate for each other that was worth 10 years of trying to develop hurling in the capital.
Can Dublin actually go and win this game and knockout the best team in the country this year?
I give them a massive chance. Their use of the ball against the Treaty men was exceptional, often giving the impression it was them, rather than John Kiely’s side, that were enjoying the numerical advantage.
The Rebels will have learned a great deal from that scalp, while the loss of captain Chris Crummey is a huge loss for the Dubs.
Cork too it must be said are without a spiritual leader of their own with Seamus Harnedy ruled out.
Sports psychologist Declan Coyle has the phrase "the bigger the day the better I’ll play". Harnedy has epitomised this over the years for Cork. Limerick tried to isolate him on puckouts and he made hay, once again demonstrating his ability to win primary possession as well as chipping over a few scores from play.
When it comes down to it, Cork I feel are a better team and will be fully motivated by last year’s All-Ireland final defeat. I take them to win by four points.
No matter where in the world you are this weekend, I hope you get to see this festival of hurling unfold, where drama, joy and despair will be plentiful.
The All-Ireland dream is getting closer, but will only be a reality for two groups after this weekend, for the others the wait will go on. What a game we have.
Watch the All-Ireland Hurling Championship semi-finals with RTÉ Sport. Cork v Dublin on Saturday from 4.30pm on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player and Kilkenny v Tipperary on Sunday from 3.30pm on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player. Follow live blogs on rte.ie/sport and the RTÉ News app. Listen to commentaries on RTÉ Radio 1. Watch highlights on The Sunday Game at 10.15pm on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player
