Tipp require the composure of Beckenbauer and the steel of Gentile

Inside the white lines, Kilkenny do the simple things well. They no longer have the capabilities to blow inferior teams away, as they did in 2007/08. 

The irreplaceable Michael Fennelly’s absence is a huge low and that extraordinary pool of forward talent, who regularly created multiple goal chances in a game, is no longer available.

However, above all other teams in this Championship, Kilkenny still possess the ability to pounce on opposition mistakes and mete out the severest punishment.