Premier have the ammo... but will they fire?

These All-Ireland final opponents, Kilkenny and Tipperary, might be familiar to the point of fatigue, but the atmosphere surrounding this meeting is unusual in the extreme.

Around Kilkenny, the atmosphere has been one of measured gloom, which is a bit like seeing a kipper in an aquarium of tropical fish. Almost nobody reckons the three in a row will be done. I am not joking.

Mark the contrast with 2011. Then, optimism about Kilkenny’s chances with Tipperary was in scant supply in light of an underwhelming semi-final performance against Waterford. Now, the same story in the wake of a tremendous semi-final performance against Waterford.