While some neutrals might consider it arrogance, both the Cats and Premier are born with an expectation of being involved in games like these, finals against their age-old rivals. This is as special as it gets for them and they truly revel in these circumstances.

This pairing did not look likely back in June when Tipperary were dumped out of the Munster championship by a Limerick side that willed themselves over the line. That was a low for Eamon O’Shea and his team and they came in for serious questioning at the hands of their supporters, who don’t take defeats on their home patch too well.

Three months is a long time in hurling and Tipperary are riding the crest of an impressive wave into this Sunday’s final. Incredibly, since their two-point loss to Limerick at the start of June, Tipp have beaten Galway by eight points, Offaly by 17, Dublin by 13 and Cork by 10. They have won every game comfortably since that first-round loss – and by an average of 12 points per match.

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It is generally accepted that the Galway game, which came five weeks after the loss to Limerick, was the match that turned everything around for Eamon O’Shea. Tipp were under pressure in that game midway through the second half when Galway’s Jonathan Glynn struck for two goals in the space of a few minutes. They recovered, Seamus Callanan caught fire and those flames burn still.

Over the last 10 years, Kilkenny have only lost one All-Ireland final and that was back in 2010, when Tipperary, having lost heavily to Cork in the first round of the Munster championship, regrouped significantly and played the game of their lives in that thrilling All-Ireland decider.

That is the only time Tipperary have beaten Kilkenny in a match of consequence in 12 attempts, including a few league finals, championship clashes and the All-Ireland finals of 2009, 2011 and the infamous semi-final of 2012. That was the day Lar went to extreme lengths to avoid the attentions of Jackie Tyrell. They utterly collapsed in the second half, and lost 4-24 to 1-15. Only victory on Sunday will consign that afternoon to history and restore the Tipperary psyche.

There is no getting away from the fact that this Kilkenny team have had the upper hand over this generation of Tipperary players. It has been Tipp’s misfortune to be around at the same time as the greatest hurling squad ever assembled under the most productive coach of all time. There is little shame in that as this Cats team can say that about all of their opponents these past 10 years.

The misfortune for Tipp lies in the fact that from about 2008-2012 they had the second best team in the country and have laid claim to that label again this year. One All-Ireland (to date) for this exceptional crop of hurlers is a little light when viewed through Tipperary lenses.

The Kilkenny version of that one Tipperary All-Ireland of 2010 usually begins with the reminder that Henry Shefflin left the field with a cruciate recurrence after just 13 minutes, while Brian Hogan didn’t even line out because of injury.

They’re not lying. Along with those missing friends, Eddie Brennan, James Cha Fitzpatrick and TJ Reid were all substituted and yet Tipperary still needed a performance of the ages to win, scoring 4-17 but not wrapping up the game until about three minutes from the end. The moral of this story is that this Kilkenny team always turns up. Perhaps it’s the one certainty we can carry into Sunday: the Cats will arrive to play – they will perform. It is from there we can go to analysis.

Seamus Callanan has scored 40% of Tipperary’s scores this summer – a whopping 7-38. That’s a phenomenal scoring rate and, despite claims to the contrary, Kilkenny will be basing much of their defensive game plan around Callanan. It would be madness not to.

JJ Delaney has been the regular Cats full back since Noel Hickey’s retirement and he is probably first port of call for Callanan. Jackie Tyrell looks nailed on to keep an eye on Lar, while Paul Murphy could be a dance partner for John O’Dwyer. Brian Hogan will pick up Noel McGrath but will probably not stray too far past midfield, as McGrath tends to do.

Referee Barry Kelly will have his work cut out early on, trying to let the game go while some of the backs on both sides let themselves go. Markers will be laid down.

The possible permutations among Tipp’s front six and Kilkenny’s back six are fascinating but we do know the personnel involved in that patch of Croke Park. Writing this five days out from the game we really have no idea of what Kilkenny’s forward line will be. Take six from Richie Power, TJ Reid, Michael Fennelly, Walter Walsh, Eoin Larkin, Colin Fennelly, Pauric Walsh, Aidan Fogarty, Henry Shefflin, John Power and maybe even Tommy Walsh and that is just some of what Brian Cody has available.

My spies tell me that Walter Walsh will play a part in this game and he is one that has put his hand up in training. Someone will have to quieten the influence of Pauraic Maher in the half-backs, probably a job for Michael Fennelly, while the Tipp full-back line is potentially open for sporadic but deadly attack. Tipp do have the calibre of Michael Cahill on the bench, mind you – not a bad replacement on days like these.

Both goalkeepers will have the spotlight on Sunday too because their positions have been scrutinised in recent matches. One of them will answer the critics.

There’s no getting away from what Kilkenny need to do: stop Seamus Callanan’s influence on the game. Tipp’s task is a little more evenly spread but on final day there is always a previously unheralded man that steps up and sets fire to the occasion. I think he’ll be wearing black and amber on Sunday.

The football championship has rightly garnered all the plaudits these past few weekends for it has been truly pulsating. Something tells me that the spectacle that is All-Ireland hurling final Sunday will restore the balance.

Kilkenny to win. Henry to lift Liam for the last time. History. CL Don’t miss it.