Even if there is a sense in Tipperary this weekend of stars aligning, of providence, of a full tide turning and of this being a cusp game for a special bunch of players, they will still have to go out and produce the game of their lives to bring down the All-Ireland champions.

The great send off for the ‘De Park’ starts here if Cork fans are to be believed, as the first of two Munster deciders takes centre stage at Páirc Uí Chaoimh this week.

THERE has been plenty of comment since Kerry’s last outing in Killarney against Dublin. Many of the observations have come from outside the county with former players, particularly from Ulster, offering their opinions on where things are going wrong and on how long the period of transition is going to take.