Maher: Tipp can lay down a marker

In eight competitive meetings since the glory of the All-Ireland final in 2010, Tipperary have beaten Kilkenny just once, in round two of last year’s league in Thurles (2-17 to 1-19).

Included in those losses were two high-profile high-octane meetings in Nowlan Park last year, the first in the Allianz League final (2-17 to 0-20), the second a couple of months later but this time in an even more crucial game, a knockout All-Ireland qualifier, Tipperary again coming up short (0-20 to 1-14).

Sunday offers Tipperary another opportunity, again a league final, albeit this time in their home patch. The Tipp management and players may be making all the usual sounds about that recent poor record and that what happened before has no bearing on what happens on Sunday. But it does have a bearing, and Tipp captain Brendan Maher — not a one for spouting platitudes — accepts it as such.