Tribe working hard not to get lost in occasion

Since 2006, Kilkenny have played Limerick, Waterford and Tipperary in All-Ireland finals.

It was the first All-Ireland final for any of the Limerick and Waterford hurlers who lined out in 2007 and 2008 respectively and in 2009 it was a first final for most of the Tipperary players.

Kilkenny had the upper hand, then, when it came to the pre-final build-up, having soldiered into September for so long.