All Ireland Hurling Final 2014- Kilkenny vTipperary

As always though, there is one given. Kk will turn up, and they will hit the ground running.
If tipp can stay with them for the first fifteen mins, they have every chance.
I honestly say, I don’t know why any of the tipp lads would think they are God 's gift. They have won nothing yet.
Whatever happens, the kk panel will shrug and move on. Meet with triumph and disaster just the same, if you like.
If they lose, every forum in the country will be clogged with kk roasters saying “sure they owe us nothing”. An inane platitude they drag up every time it looks like they might not win the AI.

If Cody, as you’d expect, drops his full and halfback line really deep, how would you expect tipp to counteract it?

Flood the midfield with people who can take long range scores and force the half backs to step up. Callinan, Mc Grath x2 , Bubbles and Woodlock can all take points from 60/70 yards. Add in Bergin and B maher coming forward from the half back line. I can see Fogarty playing as a sweeper to protect Joyce and JJ. Joyce is there to hold the middle and while a good player, he lacks some pace.

Tipp have too much pace for Kilkenny. They created 7 or 8 goal chances the last day and took just one. I full expect them to finish the job next Saturday

Only one winner for me - Tipp by 5

Pitching in a 27 year old journeymen to the pivotal position is quite the call.

Cody needs to adopt a sweeper, but he’s afraid the media will ask him if he’s adopted a Davy Fitz tactic

Cody’s biggest fear alright

Kilkenny for me have given themselves best possible chance with that team. The selection of john power poses an interest re Cathal Barrett. The latter for me is YHOTY, Dowling has frees really inflating his total this summer, plus Barretts league final performance was exceptional. The only time I’ve seen him beat was against Cunningham early in the u21 match, ball he wasn’t out on meant forward ran at pace past him. Considering Wally couldn’t chase balls that went past him cb had a great afternoon. Power could well do a Cunningham.
Joyce never the most mobile but will be much better than Brian Hogan. In the other Tipp corner I still think Stapleton is accident waiting to happen, Cahill is far far better- don’t rule out a Pat Mulcahy performance 06!

Cody has dropped the 2 poorest performers from the last day in Hogan and Walsh anyway.

What’s the word on the street about tickets, gents? Starting to look unlikely I will get 2 beforehand-presume it will be handy to get them over there?

[QUOTE=“Horsebox, post: 1022746, member: 1537”]Cody has dropped the 2 poorest performers from the last day in Hogan and Walsh anyway.

What’s the word on the street about tickets, gents? Starting to look unlikely I will get 2 beforehand-presume it will be handy to get them over there?[/QUOTE]

@thedancingbaby is the man to ask about tickets

[QUOTE=“Special Olympiakos, post: 1022718, member: 366”]Kilkenny for me have given themselves best possible chance with that team. The selection of john power poses an interest re Cathal Barrett. The latter for me is YHOTY, Dowling has frees really inflating his total this summer, plus Barretts league final performance was exceptional. The only time I’ve seen him beat was against Cunningham early in the u21 match, ball he wasn’t out on meant forward ran at pace past him. Considering Wally couldn’t chase balls that went past him cb had a great afternoon. Power could well do a Cunningham.
Joyce never the most mobile but will be much better than Brian Hogan. In the other Tipp corner I still think Stapleton is accident waiting to happen, Cahill is far far better- don’t rule out a Pat Mulcahy performance 06![/QUOTE]

Cunningham didn’t get a sniff after that early goal and Barrett proceeded to hurl him up a stick. I agree with you re Stapleton though. You have got to start your strongest 15 and he was naive at stages the last day. Hopefully he learns from it.

I’m getting word that it is fast approaching a sell out, Mac.

whats the story with Pa Bourke…is he in the panel?

No, he’d probably be better than a few of the forwards on the subs though

Shane Bourke is the Bourke forward option on the bench.

sorry pal, but I’ve severed all links with you after your latest savage attack on my character…you’ve lost a friend…a good friend …

Kilkenny by 5 they aren’t losing this All Ireland to Tipp.

I’d hardly call a lad starting CB for kk in an all Ireland final a journeyman.

Sean Moran may cover this in his article - I haven’t the time to read it now - Kilkenny have a 50% record in AI final replays, won 2 (1905 & 2012) lost 2 (1931 in a 2nd replay & 1959), Tipperary have only ever played in one replay in 1908 and won it. Not much to read into all that. Kilkenny handled the three week lay off well two years ago, but I suspect it will be the other way around this time.

As regards tomorrow, I expect Tipperary to win with a bit to spare, maybe 6-8 points. Few general rule of thumbs I have on replays, team that needs goals the first day tends to lose them and forget theories about momentum, psychological advantages from drawn games, better and more balanced team invariably wins the replay. There has not been much between these two sides but my hunch is Tipperary are now the better side. Kilkenny are carrying too many thirty somethings and they ran out of gas the last day in the last 10 minutes.