Welcome to Croke Park. We’re building up to the crunch showdown between Tipperary and Kilkenny which is set to start at 3.30pm. Both teams will be out on the pitch shortly to commence their warm-ups but already there is a large crowd in situ.

Here’s all you need to know about today’s game.

And here are the pre-match views of TheScore.ie’s hurling analyst Daithi Regan.

Both teams have just come out on the pitch to huge applause. Kilkenny will warm up at the Hill 16 end while Tipperary will warm up at the Davin End. It’s overcast in Croke Park but the rain is holding off at the moment. There’s a crowd of approximately 50,000 predicted  with all the lower stand tiers filling up, as well as the upper tiers of the Cusack Stand and Hill 16.

There was some rumors going around that Tipperary captain Paul Curran was ruled out due to illness but he has taken to the pitch and is currently going through the warm-up. We’re expecting him to play at this juncture. Here’s the Tipperary team.

TIPPERARY SH: 1. Brendan Cummins (Ballybacon-Grange); 2. Conor O’Brien (Éire Óg Annacarty), 3. Paul Curran (Mullinahone), 4. Michael Cahill (Thurles Sarsfields); 5. Thomas Stapleton (Templederry Kenyons), 6. Conor O’Mahony (Newport), 7. Padraic Maher (Thurles Sarsfields); 8. Brendan Maher (Borris–Ileigh), 9. Shane McGrath (Ballinahinch); 10. Pa Bourke (Thurles Sarsfields), 11. Patrick Maher (Lorrha & Dorrha), 12. Lar Corbett (Thurles Sarsfields); 13. Brian O’Meara (Kilruane MacDonaghs), 14. John O’Brien (Toomevara), 15. Noel McGrath (Loughmore Castleiney).

And here are the Tipperary substitutes.

16. Darren Gleeson (Portroe), 17. Shane Bourke (JK Brackens), 18. Seamus Callanan (Drom-Inch), 19. Eoin Kelly (Mullinahone), 20. Donagh Maher (Burgess), 21. Shane Maher (Burgess), 22. John O’Keeffe (Clonoulty-Rossmore), 23. John O’Neill (Clonoulty-Rossmore), 24. Gearoid Ryan (Templederry), 25. Paddy Stapleton (Borrisoleigh), 26. James Woodlock (Drom-Inch).

Tipperary may be unchanged from the Munster final but Kilkenny have made two changes with Brian Hogan returning to their defence instead of Richie Doyle while in attack TJ Reid replaces the suspended Richie Hogan. Here’s the Kilkenny team.

KILKENNY SH: 1. David Herity (Dunamaggin); 2. Paul Murphy (Danesfort), 3. JJ Delaney (Fenians), 4. Jackie Tyrrell (James Stephens); 5. Tommy Walsh (Tullaroan), 6. Brian Hogan (O’Loughlin Gaels), 7. Kieran Joyce (Rower-Inistioge); 8. Michael Fennelly (Ballyhale Shamrocks), 9. Michael Rice (Carrickshock); 10. Henry Shefflin (Ballyhale Shamrocks), 11. TJ Reid (Ballyhale Shamrocks), 12. Eoin Larkin (James Stephens); 13. Colin Fennelly (Ballyhale Shamrocks), 14. Richie Power (Carrickshock), 15. Aidan Fogarty (Emeralds).

And here are the Kilkenny substitutes.

16. Eoin Murphy (Glenmore), 17. Noel Hickey (Dunamaggin), 18. Richie Doyle (Barrow Rangers), 19. Conor Fogarty (Erins Own), 20. John Tennyson (Carrickshock), 21. Paddy Hogan (Danesfort), 22. Cillian Buckley (Dicksboro), 23. Matthew Ruth (James Stephens), 24. Walter Walsh (Tullogher-Rosbercon), 25. Mark Kelly (O’Loughlin Gaels), 26. Joe Brennan (St Patrick’s).

There is likely to be a Tipperary change it seems with centre-back Conor O’Mahony not togged out and not currently involved in the Premier warm-up. No word yet on who will replace him in that pivotal position but Padraic Maher moving to centre-back with John O’Keeffe or Donagh Maher coming in could be an option.

Conor O’Mahony has just come onto the pitch and joined in the Tipperary warm-up. Looks like he will play now.

The teams are about to commence the pre-match parade. A huge game for all concerned and particularly for the likes of Kilkenny’s Kieran Joyce and Tipperary duo Thomas Stapleton and Brian O’Meara who did not feature during last September’s decider.

The referee is Cathal McAllister of Cork, the linesmen are James McGrath of Westmeath – the standby referee – and John Sexton of Cork while Derry’s Eamonn Hasson is the sideline official.

We’re going to get started shortly. The parade is drawing to a close and excitement is building ahead of this clash. Let’s hope for a cracking encounter in keeping with the quality that has been served up in recent years when Tipperary and Kilkenny meet. The national anthem is just about to be sung.

Kilkenny 0-1 Tipperary 0-0: 1 mins – Ten seconds elapse and Aidan Fogarty grabs the game’s opening point for Kilkenny. Skirmishes develop all over the pitch, it looks like it’s going to be a really physical battle.

An early yellow card for Tommy Walsh after Noel McGrath fires a Tipperary wide. There is a great atmosphere building here already with the crowd getting behind both team.s

Tipperary 0-1 Kilkenny 0-1: 4 mins – Brian O’Meara is fouled, Pa Bourke converts the free and we are level early on in Croke Park.

Tipperary 0-2 Kilkenny 0-2: 6 mins – An excellent score by Tipperary midfielder Shane McGrath is cancelled out by a similar effort by his counterpart Michael Fennelly.

Early Tipperary goal chance falls to Noel McGrath but David Herity with the help of his Kilkenny defenders scrambles the ball to safety.

Kilkenny 0-3 Tipperary 0-2: 8 mins - Eoin Larkin is fouled by Conor O’Mahony and Henry Shefflin with his first placed ball of the day is on target to register a point.

Kilkenny 0-4 Tipperary 0-2: 9 mins – Aidan Fogarty with another Kilkenny point but it looked like Richie Power fouled Brendan Maher in the build-up to that score.

Kilkenny 0-5 Tipperary 0-3: 11 mins – Hectic opening to this game. Michael Fennelly loses possession and Noel McGrath collects, gives a reverse handpass to Conor O’Mahony with the Tipperary centre-back firing over from 65 yards. But Richie Power quickly cancels that out with a score for Kilkenny.

Kilkenny 0-5 Tipperary 0-4: 12 mins – Pa Bourke strikes over a free for Tipperary after Shane McGrath was fouled.

Kilkenny 0-6 Tipperary 0-5: 14 mins – Brilliant play from Noel McGrath to catch the ball under pressure and swing over a point for Tipperary. Then Kilkenny’s Michael Rice is on target after great work by TJ Reid.

Poor wides for Tipperary from Pa Bourke and Noel McGrath.

Huge moment in the game. Colin Fennelly has a brilliant goal chance for Kilkenny when he is played through by TJ Reid but his close-range shot is blocked by Brendan Cummins.

Temporary Kilkenny substitute with Cillian Buckley on for Michael Rice.

Kilkenny 0-7 Tipperary 0-6: 20 mins – Fine point for Kilkenny by TJ Reid after he caught the ball under pressure around the half-forward line. Pa Bourke grabs a score back for Tipperary with a free after Brian O’Meara was fouled. Whirlwind match so far and extremely tight. Earlier Kilkenny felt they could have got a penalty when Eoin Larkin was grounded after Colin Fennelly’s goal attempt was stopped.

Tipperary 0-7 Kilkenny 0-7: 21 mins – Draw match with Pa Bourke pointing a ’65 that was awarded after Bourke’s earlier goal attempt from a 20 yard free was stopped on the line by Tommy Walsh.

Kilkenny 0-9 Tipperary 0-7: 24 mins – Kilkenny hit the front and open up a two-point gap. Firstly Colin Fennelly does well to engineer the space to hit over a tidy point. Then a mistake by Paul Curran in controlling the ball, sees Tipperary concede a ’65 which Shefflin points.

Kilkenny 1-9 Tipperary 0-7: 26 mins – Goal for Kilkenny and what a crucial score that could be. It’s all the work of Ballyhale Shamrocks players with Henry Shefflin creating the opening with a forceful run and hand passing to TJ Reid in space who fires the ball across Brendan Cummins and into the bottom corner of the net.

Kilkenny 1-9 Tipperary 1-7: 29 mins – Tipperary hit back with a crucial goal of their own. Lar Corbett challenges David Herity for the ball and it breaks loose for Pa Bourke to strike the ball into the empty net.

Kilkenny 1-9 Tipperary 1-9: 33 mins – Pa Bourke adds another point for Tipperary from a long-range free and then Noel McGrath ties the match with a point from play. Cracking match so far.

HALF-TIME: Tipperary 1-10 Kilkenny 1-9: Pa Bourke brings his total for the half to 1-6 as he bangs over a ’65. That ensures Tipperary edge ahead by the minimum at the break. It’s been a breathtaking match so far, frenetic action packed with several brilliant scores. Tipperary will be really happy with that situation at the interval, given that they trailed by five points at one juncture. But 1-3 without reply before the interval has put them back in the hunt.

There was a furious start to the game as illustrated by this image. Pic: ©INPHO/Lorraine O’Sullivan

Here are the scorers from the first-half of today’s game.

TIPPERARY: Pa Bourke 1-6 (0-4f, 0-2 ’65), Noel McGrath 0-2, Conor O’Mahony, Shane McGrath 0-1 each.
KILKENNY: TJ Reid 1-1, Henry Shefflin (0-1f, 0-1 ’65), Aidan Fogarty 0-2 each, Michael Fennelly, Michael Rice, Colin Fennelly, Richie Power 0-1 each.

50,220 is the confirmed attendance for today’s clash.

TJ Reid has been excellent so far for Kilkenny, that goal the centerpiece of his display. When he raised that green flag in the 26th minute it looked like Kilkenny would pull comfortably clear before half-time but the match has been changed by that Pa Bourke goal. David Herity looked like he should have cleared the ball but Lar Corbett’s fierce, yet fair, challenge resulted in the ball spilling loose.

Delicately balanced ahead of the second-half, which will commence shortly. Kilkenny are back out on the field already.

Now Tipperary are back out. It looks like Cillian Buckley is on permanently at midfield for Michael Rice in the Kilkenny side as well.

Kilkenny 1-10 Tipperary 1-10: 36 mins – Henry Shefflin ties the match with a pointed free for Kilkenny. Bizarrely the second-half started without Lar Corbett who has just come back out on to the pitch.

Kilkenny 1-11 Tipperary 1-11: 38 mins – Aidan Fogarty fires over an excellent point for Kilkenny before Pa Bourke converts a ’65 after Paul Murphy was hounded over the end line by the Tipperary attack. Hint of a Tipperary goal before that when Bonner Maher collected the ball following Noel McGrath’s shot striking the upright yet terrific defending by JJ Delaney snuffed out the chance.

Kilkenny 1-12 Tipperary 1-11: 39 mins – Shefflin hits over a free after Colin Fennelly was fouled.

Kilkenny 1-12 Tipperary 1-12: 41 mins – Level once more after John O’Brien hits his first point of the game for Tipperary.

Kilkenny 1-14 Tipperary 1-12: 42 mins – Richie Power scores a long-range free for Kilkenny before yellow cards are shown to Lar Corbett and Jackie Tyrrell. The Cats almost grab a second goal after Henry Shefflin sets up Colin Fennelly but as he is about to strike, Michael Cahill hooks him brilliantly. Shefflin then converts a ’65 to stretch Kilkenny’s advantage.

Kilkenny 2-14 Tipperary 1-13: 46 mins – Goal for Kilkenny as Aidan Fogarty bounds through the defence and fires in a shot that Brendan Cummins gets a hurley to but the ball still ends up in the net. That could be a critical score. Shane Bourke is on to the Tipperary team for Brian O’Meara while Pa Bourke grabs a vital point back for Tipperary through a ’65.

Paddy Stapleton replaces Thomas Stapleton in the Tipperary defence.

John O’Brien’s point attempt for Tipperary hits the post and David Herity gathers the rebound before being fouled.

Kilkenny 2-16 Tipperary 1-13: 50 mins – Kilkenny are opening up a sizable gap now. Cillian Buckley snaps over a point from play and then they place ferocious pressure on the Tipperary rearguard which causes a turnover and after Aidan Fogarty is fouled, Shefflin smacks over the free.

Kilkenny 3-16 Tipperary 1-13: 52 mins – Is that the match put to rest? Eoin Larkin tears inside Paul Curran and fires home Kilkenny’s third goal with a shot inside Brendan Cummins near post. Tipperary have a mountain to climb now.

Yellow card for Kilkenny’s Henry Shefflin.

Kilkenny 3-17 Tipperary 1-13: 55 mins – Now Paul Curran is booked after hauling down Eoin Larkin as he tears in on goal and Shefflin knocks over the free.

Kilkenny 4-17 Tipperary 1-13: 57 mins – And that certainly looks like game over now. TJ Reid smashes in his second goal of the day and Kilkenny’s fourth after being set up by Eoin Larkin.

Kilkenny 4-19 Tipperary 1-13: 59 mins – Another converted free by Henry Shefflin stretches Kilkenny’s lead even further and it’s followed up by a stunning score by TJ Reid. This is turning into a rout and Tipperary supporters around the stadium are already heading for the exits. Donagh Maher in on for Paul Curran in the Tipperary defence.

Kilkenny 4-20 Tipperary 1-13: 62 mins – Shefflin fires over a free after TJ Reid was fouled by Padraic Maher. Yellow card for Maher for that wild pull but it could easily have been a red card. John O’Neill onto the Tipperary team for John O’Brien with the Toomevara player getting a warm reception from all supporters as he comes off after the tragic death of his brother this week.

Triple substitution for Kilkenny with Noel Hickey, Richie Doyle and Matthew Ruth all on for Paul Murphy, Kieran Joyce and Colin Fennelly.

Kilkenny 4-22 Tipperary 1-14: 67 mins – John O’Neill grabs a consolation point for Tipperary but Henry Shefflin cancels that out with a free for Kilkenny and then Brian Hogan gets his name on the scoresheet. Conor Fogarty replaces Aidan Fogarty in the Kilkenny ranks while James Woodlock is on for Brendan Maher in the Tipperary side.

Kilkenny 4-23 Tipperary 1-15: 69 mins – Shefflin with another free for Kilkenny but John O’Neill strikes another one for Tipperary in reply. This has been absolutely awesome from Kilkenny, an incredible second-half display.

FULL-TIME: Kilkenny 4-24 Tipperary 1-15: That is that. Henry Shefflin’s 11th point of the game brings the curtain down on a phenomenal Kilkenny display as they prevail by an incredible 18 points. Tipperary lead by a point at the break but were wiped out in the second-half by Brian Cody’s outstanding side. They will go forward to the final against Galway on September 9th.

That’s all from today’s game, thanks for joining us and for all your comments. We’ll be back later with reaction and analysis from that stunning Kilkenny victory.