Three key battles between Kilkenny and Tipperary

These three contests could decide the destination of the Liam MacCarthy Cup...

Joey Holden v Seamus Callanan

It’s aerial ball that Holden has on occasion struggled with but that isn’t the type of delivery Tipperary intend sending the way of Callanan. Holden is a better defender in foot-races but it’s essential that for every ball Callanan does gather that the full-back, like JJ Delaney did in the replay two years ago, gets something on him. John McGrath will drift out with the intention of creating space in front of Callanan but Tipperary may consider the consternation caused by Clare’s aerial bombardment in the Division 1 quarter-final. McGrath is a slightly better fielder of the ball than Callanan.