The town

Main drag: The whole town counts - as local publican Pat Hayes (Arch Bar) says: "It takes over the town like few other places. If you go to Dublin for an All-Ireland and take a wrong turn the people living there mightn't even know the match is on" - but Liberty Square, with its market town plaza, is at the heart of the festivities.

Pubs: Drinking houses of note include the aforementioned Arch Bar, Hayes' Hotel, Brennan's and new addition Bonnar's (yes, those Bonnars) in Liberty Square. Others of note off the main drag include Glasheen's and the Brewery, while at the back of the old stand there's Larry Mackey's and the Thurles Sarsfields clubhouse. Price of a pint/ £2.10 to £2.25 Mineral: £1.20 to £1.30 Luncheon Hayes hotel, Anner hotel, Munster Arms, Park Emporiums: Avenue, The Brewery. Bring your own. The train: The station's proximity to the town centre (five minutes) and the stadium (10 minutes) makes it the perfect way to travel for the big match. Nearby pub Bowe's is renowned as a first stop for many punters. Back when train and bike were the main modes of transport, the story goes that locals would gather on the railway bridge to watch fans - "who would go off the drink for a month to save before the final" - depart Thurles in various states of elation and inebriation.

The venue

The stadium: Semple Stadium. Named after Tom Semple, a famous Tipperary and Thurles Sarsfields player from the early part of the century who as an administrator was instrumental in acquiring the lands from the Thurles Show Committee. Capacity is 54,500, with the old, partially covered stand holding 17,000 and the covered stand 10,500. The Killinin end terrace holds 14,000 and the Town end 12,000, with around 1,000 sideline seats. Redeveloped at the beginning of the Eighties for the Centenary final in '84 with the new stand built at a cost of £750,000. The fundraising committee was headed up by Michael Lowry, who, with the help of a couple of Feile concerts, cleared the debt without too much difficulty.

The pitch: 160 yards long by 87 yards wide, the pitch is maintained by full-time groundsman Jimmy Purcell with the help of chief grasscutter Bobby Mockler. Speaking on Saturday, Purcell was understandably proud of the pitch. "We put about 600 tons of sand on the playing surface about six years ago and it helped a lot with the drainage. We still put about 100 tons of sand on every year. Bobby would have cut the grass four times this week - one to 1 1/2 inches is the ideal length for hurling, three inches for football. I lined the pitch on Friday and will again this afternoon."