The Kilkenny dressing-room stayed closed for quite some time. Not surprisingly.

There were speeches to be given, applause to be offered, thoughts to be absorbed. After a winter when questions were asked about their appetite, and a day when they answered them, Kilkenny were saying goodbye to each other for three weeks, going home to their clubs to start the county championship.

"At half-time Tipp expected to win the game," said Brian Cody. "With 15 minutes to go just about everybody would have expected them to win the game. I can just say that our players fought and fought. It wasn't inspiration that won it for them, it wasn't changes. It was a bit of grit, a bit of guts, more grit and more guts again. A refusal to give in. There is nothing to beat honesty in players."

That's a theme of Cody's and it befits great champions to be thinking of such things. Kilkenny are in that zone where, with the occasional intrusion of Tipp, they have nothing to compete against except their own lassitude. They need to motivate themselves on the prospect of achieving excellence, of being great, of playing as honestly as they can. They won everything last year. Yesterday they discovered to their relief they are still lean.

"I was certain positive it was there in the panel," he said of the appetite on display. "You don't know from day to day who'll end up playing. They are all on the panel because they are skilful players. Ally that to honesty, guts and ambition. Today I learned there is a ferocious will to go on and win things there. The most reassuring thing is that when their backs are to the wall they won't turn around and try and get over that wall. They kept going.

"Outstanding achievement to come along and win the league the following year. Tipp were outstanding at times. They are going into the Munster championship realising they have an outstanding chance of being successful in it. We're happy this evening. We'll take a break and reassess."

DJ Carey lingered in the dressing-room. People want to talk, take photos, get stuff signed. Gives his thoughts a chance to settle, if nothing else.

"We played well for 15 minutes then Tipp took over and got a couple of goals. They were looking good, came out hurling well after the break. Went seven or eight points up. We got a goal, they got one back and I thought it was over. It was one of those days you just put down your head and went for it with nothing to lose. We had momentum."

Somehow during DJ's long career Kilkenny and Tipp mainly kept missing each other in terms of rivalry.

"We met them once in 1991 and the league matches after that weren't so big. Now Kilkenny and Tipp are really back with the real rivalry. If Tipp won we'd have walked off the pitch and said we were part of a marvellous game. Our concentration starts tomorrow on the Leinster championship. Tipp will know they have a bit to do."

Charlie Carter took up the theme of championship fare. "There's never been anything between us over the last couple of years. We were a bit scalded that they beat us the last day. Personally I was just anxious to get in. I would have liked to have started, but sure it's history now. You can't do a whole lot from the stand. Now we can bring the cup back to Gowran for the first time ever."

DJ Carey took credit for Carter's first goal, a glancing touch before the ball went in.

"What matter. If he wants it he can have it," said Charlie. "What matters is that Kilkenny scored."

That sort of unity of purpose girds them well for the summer.