All-Ireland SHC Final: Kilkenny v Tipperary Match Pick...

Kilkenny take on Tipperary in Sunday’s GAA Hurling All-Ireland Senior Championship Final at Croke Park @ 3:30PM.

Derek Lyng and Richie Hogan have been drafted into the Kilkenny team for this encounter. Lyng comes in at midfield for last year's captain James 'Cha' Fitzpatrick, while Hogan gets his first start of the championship at right half forward with Martin Comerford making way. Lyng's inclusion also means there is no starting place for team captain Michael Fennelly.

Henry Shefflin switches to centre forward, while the management have decided not to start fit-again All-Star full back Noel Hickey, with JJ Delaney continuing on the edge of the square.

There are three changes from last year's All-Ireland final with John Tennyson, Michael Rice and Richie Power coming in for Noel Hickey, Fitzpatrick and Comerford.

Kilkenny Team:
PJ Ryan, M Kavanagh, JJ Delaney, J Tyrrell, T Walsh, B Hogan, J Tennyson, D Lyng, M Rice, R Hogan, H Shefflin, E Larkin, E Brennan, R Power, A Fogarty.

Tipperary boss Liam Sheedy has named an unchanged side for the final against Kilkenny.

Conor O’Mahony will captain the side, having overcome a dead leg following the Premier’s semi-final victory over Limerick.

It means there will be no place on the starting fifteen for squad captain Willie Ryan, who will lift the Liam MacCarthy Cup should Tipperary overcome the four-in-a-row-chasing Cats.

Tipperary Team:
Brendan Cummins, Paddy Stapleton, Padraic Maher, Paul Curran, Declan Fanning, Conor O’Mahony, Brendan Maher, James Woodlock, Shane McGrath, Pat Kerwick, Seamus Callanan, John O’Brien, Noel McGrath, Eoin Kelly, Lar Corbett.

The current Cats team are touted as possibly the greatest team of all-time, and as they head for four-in-a-row on Sunday, I can't see them losing this final.

Paddy Power Match Betting Odds:
Kilkenny 4/9
Draw 10/1
Tipperary 9/4

Handicap Betting:
Kilkenny (-3.0) evens
Handicap Draw (-3.0) 11/1
Tipperary (+3.0) 10/11

Winner: Kilkenny

___