Croke Park Timeline

3mins: First blood to Tipperary, as Shane McGrath catches the ball on the run and strikes it perfectly between the posts at the Hill 16 end. Tipperary: 0-1; Kilkenny: 0-0

5 mins: All out Tipp attack, and Patrick “Bonner” Maher’s original shot is saved, then recycled out to Noel McGrath, who shoots a sweet point. Tipperary: 0-2; Kilkenny: 0-0

8 mins: Richie Hogan, operating at centre forward, fetches and shoots, Kilkenny's first shot at goal and their opening point. Tipperary: 0-2; Kilkenny: 0-1

11 mins: Hogan is gifted his second point, after a misdirected clearance from James Barry, and with that the sides are level again. Tipperary: 0-2; Kilkenny: 0-2

11 mins: An unmarked Eoin Larkin takes his chance from the left hand side, close to the Cusack Stand, and over the bar it sails, Kilkenny's third point in three minutes and suddenly they're in front. Kilkenny: 0-3; Tipperary: 0-2 12 mins: TJ Reid steps up for Kilkenny's first free, just inside the 45m line, and they go two points up. Kilkenny: 0-4; Tipperary: 0-2

14 mins: John O’Dwyer takes a pop shot, from his right, close to the Cusack Stand sideline, with brilliant accuracy. Kilkenny: 0-4; Tipperary: 0-3

15 mins: Séamus Callanan comes into the game, wining a free off JJ Delaney, just outside the 45m, and he strikes it himself straight between the posts. Kilkenny: 0-4; Tipperary: 0-4

17 mins: JJ Delaney wins the puck out, passes it off to Michael Fennelly, who shoots Kilkenny back in front. Kilkenny: 0-5; Tipperary: 0-4

20 mins: Tipp concede another free, again under ferocious pressure in the corner of the Cusack and Davin Stands, and this one is sent over the bar by TJ Reid. Kilkenny: 0-6; Tipperary: 0-4

28 mins: After a minor scoring drought, Tipp are back to within one after another brilliant fetch and long range point from Shane McGrath. Kilkenny: 0-6; Tipperary: 0-5

28 mins: Another all out Tipp attack, this one started by “Bonner” Maher, setting up Lar Corbett for a cutting run at goal, who then unselfishly passes off the Séamus Callanan, and he promptly shudders the Kilkenny net. Tipperary: 1-5; Kilkenny: 0-6

32 mins: Richie Power wins a free, TJ Reid again converting with ease. Tipperary: 1-5; Kilkenny: 0-7

33 mins: Kieran Joyce is called back for over-carrying, affording Callanan the free to convert. Tipperary: 1-6; Kilkenny: 0-7

34 mins: Michael Fennelly almost immediately steals one back, with a soaring point from near dead centre field. Tipperary: 1-6; Kilkenny: 0-8

35 mins: Noel McGrath helps provide the last score of the half, setting up Shane McGrath once again, who strikes gracefully between the posts, giving Tipp a two-point advantage at half-time.

Half-time Tipperary: 1-7; Kilkenny: 0-8

38 mins: Richie Power coolly converts a free to bring Kilkenny back to a point. Tipperary: 1-7; Kilkenny: 0-9

39 mins: Kilkenny win another free, again by putting Tipp under ferocious pressure, this one converted by TJ Reid to draw the sides level. Tipperary: 1-7; Kilkenny: 0-10

39 mins: Suddenly and easily Kilkenny are back in front, Colin Fennelly scoring his first from play with great intent. Kilkenny: 0-11; Tipperary: 1-7

41 mins: Colin Fennelly strikes again, cool as ice, after a sweet pass from Cillian Buckley. Kilkenny: 0-12; Tipperary: 1-7

43 mins: Richie Power wins another free, as the Tipp defence starts to creak, this one converted to TJ Reid, giving Kilkenny their fifth unanswered point. Kilkenny: 0-13; Tipperary: 1-7

46 mins: A vital and urgent response from Tipp, as Noel McGrath pops over a hard-earned point. Kilkenny: 0-13; Tipperary: 1-8

47 mins: Tipp win a free, thanks to Noel McGrath, which Callanan duly converts. Kilkenny: 0-13; Tipperary: 1-9

50 mins: Still relentless pressure from Kilkenny, a series of shots finally finished off by John Power, who ominously opens his account. Kilkenny: 0-14; Tipperary: 1-9

51 mins: Again a vital response from Tipp, Noel McGrath setting up John O’Dwyer for the point, reducing the gap to the minimum. Kilkenny: 0-14; Tipperary: 1-10

54 mins: Eoin Larkin, apparently about to replaced by Henry Shefflin, suddenly fires a great point from close to the Cusack Stand, and with that probably keeping himself on the field. Kilkenny: 0-15; Tipperary: 1-10

57 mins: A Tipp penalty, after “Bonner” Maher is fouled, is decidedly and perhaps rightly put over the bar by Callanan. Kilkenny: 0-15; Tipperary: 1-11

59 mins: Bang! Richie Power fetches a brilliant sideline cut from Michael Fennelly, turns and from 20 metres out fires an unstoppable shot into the net. Kilkenny: 1-15; Tipperary: 1-11

62 mins: Not dead yet, Brendan Maher prompts a captain’s response, winning a free which Callanan converts. Kilkenny: 1-15; Tipperary: 1-12

63 mins: The killer response from Kilkenny, despite Darren Gleeson’s best efforts in front of goal, as John Power finishes off a ruthless attack with a second goal for the Power brothers. Kilkenny: 2-15; Tipperary: 1-12

64 mins: Another response from Tipp, who refuse to lie down, as O’Dwyer converts a 65. Kilkenny: 2-15; Tipperary: 1-13

66 mins: Suddenly Pádraig Walsh pops up with a magnificent point, calming some Kilkenny nerves. Kilkenny: 2-16; Tipperary: 1-13

67 mins: Yet another replay of leadership from Tipp captain Brendan Maher, who shots bravely from out the field. Kilkenny: 2-16; Tipperary: 1-14

69 mins: Bang! Tipp finally get the breakthrough on goal, Callanan getting the final touch, closing the gap to two points, but is it too late? Kilkenny: 2-16; Tipperary: 2-14

72 mins: Last word and point then to Kilkenny, as Henry Shefflin sets up Colin Fennelly to close out and seal the deal.

Final score Kilkenny: 2-17; Tipperary: 2-14

Ian O’Riordan