Kilkenny backs can contain Tipp hotshots

SINCE the beginning of this year I’ve had Tipperary as my All-Ireland favourites with Kilkenny a close second. Throughout the season I had seen nothing to make me change that opinion.

That was until the All-Ireland semi-finals and Tipperary’s clash with Dublin.

In their run through Munster, Tipperary were imperious. They brushed Cork aside in a bigsecond half (3-22 to 0-23), and while Clare gave them an examination in the Munster semi-final the Premier county recovered and again finished strongly (4-19 to1-19). The Munster final was one of those freak days when nothing goes right for one team, everything in tune for the other with Tipp crushing Waterford by seven goals (7-19 to 0-19).