No room for error now.
Dublin and Tipperary clash in a monster bill of minor hurling action Sunday in Croke Park with both semi-finals as part of the day’s schedule.
Tipperary have been out of action since their Munster final win over Limerick last month, while Dublin have enjoyed success with a back door win over Antrim since their Leinster final loss to Kilkenny.
Tipperary’s team is unchanged for the game after their July provincial success, while Dublin are understood to have no new fresh injury worries for the game.
Ahead of the 2pm encounter, we’ve taken a look at three key battles that could decide who’ll be lining out in a September final against either Galway or Kilkenny.
Cian Hendricken v Lyndon Fairbrother
Tipperary corner forward Lyndon Fairbrother scored 0-7 in the Munster final win over Limerick and, along with Alan Tynan, is at the razor sharp end of the Munster side’s attack.
He’s the Premier’s top scorer in the Munster championship with 0-14, and has taken over the free taking duties from Daragh Carey.
He’s lit up the championship since his introduction in that first game and was central to the Munster final win over Limerick.
He’ll meet one of the most impressive defenders in the championship this Sunday in Cian Hendricken as the the corner back has been part of an impressive Dublin rearguard who almost toppled Kilkenny last month.
His direct marker that day, Niall Walsh, was taken off  after 42 minutes, but he did concede two scores to the replacement Edmund Delaney.
Dublin’s also conceded 2-11 to Antrim, but Hendricken is an impressive man-marker and we expect a wonderful battle between the two teenagers on Sunday.
Matthew Oliver v Daragh Carey
The clash of two-free scoring midfielders.
Matthew Oliver’s accuracy from placed balls is a joy and any indiscretions by Tipperary from 60 metres or less will be punished severely by the Na Fianna man.
Tipperary’s captain Daragh Carey is also a man well used to finding his range from frees as he scored 0-8 in the win over Waterford, but since the introduction of Fairbrother he has been able to concentrate on pure hurling.
Oliver’s most dangerous when he’s linking play and Carey’s job will be to try and cut out that supply by sticking as closely to his man as possible.
Both players are a huge threat from all over the field and we expect at least both men to pick up one or two points from play.
Mark Maguire v Brian McGrath
The youngest of the fabled McGrath family from Loughmore-Castleiney, it’s almost certain he will follow Noel and John’s path to the senior ranks shortly.
But for now the centre-back slot is manned by the dual star who combines natural hurling ability with wrists that are well able to score points from long range.
He grabbed 0-3 in the win over Waterford while his leadership from centre-back was crucial to hold out a late charge from both Clare and Limerick in the Munster series.
Maguire will prove a mobile opponent for McGrath and he may find himself in a role that will seek to negate McGrath’s influence more than focus on getting scores on the board.
His 0-3 in the win over Antrim were all fine efforts and the game marked a much better return for the St Jude’s man who found Darragh Joyce of Kilkenny a sticky customer in the Leinster final.
McGrath may not have the physical heft of the Rower Inistioge man, but this could be the battle that may decide if Dublin’s forwards get enough ball in the danger zone or Tipperary launch attack after attack from their half-back line.
