Premier rise to the occasion

Tipperary 2-17 Kilkenny 1-19

Since that famous day in September 2010 when Tipperary ended Kilkenny’s record All-Ireland five-in-a-row bid, the Premier County had struggled against the Cats, had lost their last four competitive meetings (two championship, two league) and were now trying to prevent yet another Kilkenny five-in-a-row.

It hadn’t helped Tipperary’s cause that they had been shellacked by Cork in the league opener, pressure added here in that Kilkenny were without five established first-teamers, former hurlers-of-the-year (Henry Shefflin, Michael Fennelly) and multiple All-Stars (Jackie Tyrrell, Michael Rice and TJ Reid), plus newcomers Cillian Buckley and Walter Walsh.