Kilkenny and Tipperary Prepare for Intense All-Ireland Hurling Semi-Final Clash

For most of the previous decade, it felt like Kilkenny and Tipperary had Croke Park booked as a time-share. The neighbours met in exactly half the finals of the 2010s, Tipp winning three (2010, '16 and '19) to the Cats’ two (2011 and the '14 replay). Though Brian Cody’s men had won the four-in-a-row in 2009 and also prevailed in a semi-final at headquarters in 2012 and Nowlan Park qualifier the following year.

The Premier made hay in the absence of red-carded Richie Hogan to win 3-25 to 0-20 six years ago but haven’t been back to Jones’ Road until today. Where the old enemy await. To see who will play a potent Cork, the last and longest-waiting member of the 'Big Three’ in the All-Ireland final, who eviscerated Dublin in Saturday's first semi-final.

It might not be 20 years but 10 is Kilkenny’s joint-longest title drought (with 1922-32 and 1947-57) since claiming their first in 1904. So falling at the semi-final stage for the second successive season would set an unwelcome record, one that would have seemed laughably pessimistic when Cody’s juggernaut secured an eighth All-Ireland title in 10 campaigns in 2015.

They have lost four finals since, those two to Tipp and their hurling superpower successors Limerick in 2022 and '23, the latter in Derek Lyng’s first campaign in charge. Last year, they were beaten by Clare despite leading by five points at half-time and for almost the entire game. Watching the Banner go on to pip Cork in the final while the Treaty were out of the picture must have particularly stung.

Kilkenny have bounced back in the only way they could have, by cruising to a sixth Leinster title in a row. The lack of provincial competition is concerning at this point - the second half against Dublin and ten minutes against Galway in the provincial final the only time they have seemed under any real pressure this summer so far. Taking the foot off the gas when in a winning position is a slight concern, going back to that semi-final exit.

Whether the four weeks off will prove a positive against opponents who have played twice since will only be confirmed today - it certainly didn't seem to hinder Cork - but at least it has allowed key forward Eoin Cody time to recover from a leg injury sustained in the late-April win over Antrim. Shane Murphy comes in for Tommy Walsh in the corner while Tipp are unchanged.

Cody will likely be marked by pacy corner-back Robert Doyle, who has nailed down a starting position in his debut season. As have U-20 All-Ireland winners Darragh McCarthy and Sam O’Farrell, and Peter McGarry, who only made his championship debut in the preliminary quarter-final win over Laois.

After two years of seeing his team gradually run out of steam, Tipperary manager Liam Cahill put his faith in youth this year and it paid off. Following a miserable 2024, when the 28-time champions finished bottom of Munster with just one point from four games, they only lost to Cork in the round-robin this year – having played the entire match with 14 men when McCarthy was dismissed – and the heavy nature of that defeat was all that kept them out of the provincial decider.

Comfortable wins over the O’Moore men and long-time bogey team Galway, who had ended Cahill’s maiden campaign in 2023, mean the year is already one of progress and the pressure is off Tipp. For a county whose confidence is easily restored once they get to Croke Park, that makes them dangerous. The Cats looked to have barely 10,000 fans at last year’s semi-final so Tipperary could have the majority of the stadium behind them as well, not always the case in Semple.

Kilkenny look closer to the finished article overall but nine of the Tipp panel were All-Ireland winners six years ago, including captain Ronan Maher, Michael Breen, Jake Morris (now a key man in a swift and strong half-forward line) and the rejuvenated duo of John McGrath (4-12 from play) and Jason Forde (2-12, plus 26 placed balls) in the starting XV today. Kilkenny have TJ Reid but the Premier have their own magician on the bench in the shape of Noel McGrath, just over three years younger at 34.

Reid is among seven Kilkenny players who featured in the last meeting - Eoin Murphy, Huw Lawlor (in his first season terrifying forwards), Paddy Deegan, Adrian Mullen (fully fit and flying this year), John Donnelly and Billy Ryan (a sub that day) are the others.

The feeling was that the Cahill-managed U21/20-winning sides of 2018/19 hadn’t really delivered the senior dividend they promised but there are eight players from those two finals on the panel today, including late bloomer Andrew Ormond, who has shone at centre-forward since his first start in the season-sparking victory over Clare and scored 0-05 in the quarter-final. The likes of Gearóid O’Connor and Conor Bowe have also featured this year but find themselves outside the 26 today.

Tipperary’s victory over Galway was a tough watch at times, conditions in Limerick making for a lot of slipping and handling errors. Further showers are expected today but a wet surface can lead to goal chances as well. Tipp coughed up several of those last day out but the Tribesmen only converted two, one of which came far too late to make a difference. Giving the same opportunities to Cody, TJ Reid (5 goals from play) or Martin Keoghan (6) could be fatal today.

Rain may lead both sides to go more direct and could also lead to more mistimed tackles, but hopefully there won’t be a flurry of red cards like in the bizarre league meeting in March when four players (three Kilkenny and one from Tipp) saw the line. Funnily enough, James Owens, who (correctly) sent off Hogan in ’19, is the man in the middle again today.

This one looks evenly poised. Kilkenny have more experience of Croke Park and perhaps an edge in the inside lines. But then Tipperary have come through tougher tests this season and look to have more game-changers in reserve. It might be a year too soon for Tipp unless they can strike goals.

Kilkenny: Eoin Murphy; Mikey Butler, Huw Lawlor, Shane Murphy; Michael Carey, Richie Reid, Paddy Deegan; Cian Kenny, Jordan Molloy; Adrian Mullen, John Donnelly, Billy Ryan; Mossy Keoghan, TJ Reid, Eoin Cody.

Subs: Aidan Tallis, David Blanchfield, Tommy Walsh, Pádraic Moylan, Killian Doyle, Zach Bay Hammond, Fionan Mackessy, Stephen Donnelly, Luke Hogan, Luke Connellan, Billy Drennan.

Tipperary: Rhys Shelly; Robert Doyle, Eoghan Connolly, Michael Breen; Craig Morgan, Ronan Maher, Bryan O'Mara; Willie Connors, Peter McGarry; Jake Morris, Andrew Ormond, Sam O'Farrell; Darragh McCarthy, John McGrath, Jason Forde.

Subs: Brian Hogan, Joe Caesar, Sean Kenneally, Seamus Kennedy, Brian McGrath, Noel McGrath, Oisín O'Donoghue, J Ryan, Conor Stakelum, Darragh Stakelum, Alan Tynan.

Referee: James Owens (Wexford).

Watch the All-Ireland Hurling Championship semi-final between Kilkenny v Tipperary on Sunday from 3.30pm on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player. Follow a live blog on rte.ie/sport and the RTÉ News app. Listen to commentary on RTÉ Radio 1. Watch highlights on The Sunday Game at 10.15pm on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player.