The cream of the available crops.
The more things change, the more they stay the same. For all the talk of youth-inspired risings in Clare, Limerick, Wexford and further afield, it’s still Tipperary and Kilkenny who will contest the first of the year’s National Hurling finals.
The old rivals will lock horns again in the League final at 3.30 on Sunday in Nowlan Park and the occasion will mark their tenth meeting in either a National decider in the same amount of years.
The outlook is slightly different now though. It’s not as if this is a moment where we can say the Championship is just going to be a two horse race again. Galway are still favourites for that and deservedly so. Waterford didn’t have a good league but their claims for the championship are just as pronounced as either Tipperary’s or Kilkenny’s.
But that only makes getting to this stage even more noteworthy for these sides.
With both down many key men throughout this campaign, their youngsters and fresh faces have grasped the chance they’ve been presented with. More assertively and more confidently than any of their rival counties.
That’s a credit to Brian Cody, to Michael Ryan and to the underage structures in place in the Premier county and Noreside.
Injuries have played their part, so have retirements and even army duty, but the Kilkenny and Tipperary teams that will take to the field on Sunday are so different to when they last met at this stage in 2014.
They’re even so different to when they met in that famous 2016 All-Ireland hurling final which seems to many of us like only yesterday.
Only 14 of the 30 starters on that day will line out from the word go this weekend.
But the conveyor belts in two of the proudest counties in hurling just keep on producing, and that’s why they’re back again.
Here’s the teams that have been chosen to start the game.
Tipperary’s selection.
Kilkenny’s selection.
Our combined selection.
1. Eoin Murphy (Kilkenny)
The best goalkeeper in the country.
2. Alan Flynn (Tipperary)
Michael Ryan has been experimenting in this campaign and to good effect, too. No experiment, however, as gone quite as smoothly as his probe into Tipperary’s last line of defence.
The Premier County have had no shortage of corner backs in recent years. Many brilliant defenders, such as Conor O’Brien, Donagh Maher and even Paddy Stapleton struggled at times to make themselves fixtures of the number 2 or 4 blue and gold jerseys, and this competitiveness is still present.
Alan Flynn has been one of the finds of the League. The Kiladangan club man never represented his county at minor or under-21 level but he has been a key man in his club’s rise to one of the county’s best over the last few years.
Assured in possession, he can be relied upon to mop up any dangerous situations. Tigerish in defence, he’ll make any corner forward earn his score.
This man is a coming force.
3. Padraig Walsh (Kilkenny)
It’s such a testament to Walsh’s all-round class as a hurler that he’s slotted from his natural wing back position to full back without many of us even taking notice.
Deceptively quick and athletic, the Tullaroan man is so tight to forwards. He’d remind you of his brother Tommy such is his prowess in the air and he still managers to score points and make an impact for his side going forward with those searing runs from deep.
One of the game’s very best.
4. Michael Cahill (Tipperary)
You know what you’re going to get from Mickey Cahill, who has been at the top of his game for the last decade. Still as sprightly as he’s ever been.
5. Cillian Buckley (Kilkenny)
In Cillian Buckley, Kilkenny have the most composed and athletic half back in hurling. His ball-striking is so smooth, just like his touch, his direct-running, his tackling.
The Dicksboro native is one of Kilkenny’s most important players.
6. Paudie Maher (Tipperary)
Any ball that comes within reaching distance of this man’s shovel-like claw of a right hand, or his 35″ wand of a hurley will be gobbled up, and will be sprayed invitingly for Tipperar’s forwards to chase within seconds.
The most dominant hurler in the country.
7. Ronan Maher (Tipperary)
The best ball-striker in the the game right now. Maher has been restored to the half back line for this clash. From there he can hurl the field.
8. Brendan Maher (Tipperary)
Just like Michael Cahill, Borrisoleigh’s Mr. Consistent never lets Tipperary down. The quintessential midfielder really. He’s a weapon in attack, but his defensive instincts, honed from his former role as a back man are always in tune.
9. Richie Leahy (Kilkenny)
Kilkenny’s find of the League. Anybody with their finger on the pulse in Kilkenny hurling circles knew it was only a matter of time before the Rower Inistioge man broke through.
He’s done just that and he’s breaking through defences just as easily.
A gifted young hurler.
10. Martin Keoghan (Kilkenny)
A real Brian Cody player. Keoghan is only nineteen but he plays each game with the hunger of a man playing his last. A tireless work-horse, he’s well able to mix it physically but he has plenty of skill too.
11. TJ Reid (Kilkenny)
Enough said.
12. John McGrath (Tipperary)
The best man to take a score in the country. The Loughmore-Castleiney man might have a quiet enough game but he could still end up with five or six white flags to his name. So deadly and efficient, his coolness in possession makes the game look so easy.
So important to the Tipperary cause.
13. Michael Breen (Tipperary)
Breen doesn’t look like a natural corner forward but he’s still acquitted himself well. Good to take a score, but the impression is always there that he’d be more suited to a role in midfield or even in defence.
14. Jason Forde (Tipperary)
A man who has came of age in this campaign. The Silvermines club man has been shooting the lights out, he’s been winning his own ball, he’s been leading by example in Callanan’s absence.
This, against Padraig Walsh, will be the biggest test he’s ever faced.
15. Walter Walsh (Kilkenny)
Big Walter will pose problems for any defender he comes up against. Throws his weight around and makes himself the biggest nuisance in a defender’s life.
Something he doesn’t often get the credit for, however, is his accuracy, but give the Tullogher Rosbercon giant a chance and he’ll put the umpires to work.
